January 12, 2010

Q+A .Jill Sharp Brinson








This home is absolutely a reflection of it's owner. It has charm, wit and character apparent in every room. I fell for it's rustic sensibilities and industrial fittings when I first saw it on the House Beautiful site. Then and there I did a blog post this wonderful space. It was soon after I saw it gracing the December cover of HB magazine. When out of the blue one day I received an email from it's owner, who was having a blast seeing her "funny little house all over the world", I knew this was a lady I liked. When she said she would love to answer any questions as she was "very opinionated", I couldn't wait to hear her answers. So I purposely asked random questions, the kind that give you some insight into the person, not just the great designer. So I am thrilled to give you my Q + A with Jill Sharp Brinson. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

jsb.WHAT A STRANGE RANDOM BRAIN YOU HAVE - I LOVE IT - I CAN RELATE
( thanks Jill! )
ss.My husband and I had the opportunity to live in Columbia SC for a short time. I fell head over heels for the South. ( not just Columbia itself, but Charleston and the history and plantations, and the stories that surround the area. ) How did you end up in Atlanta? Are you originally from there? Are you a southern girl?

IF ONLY ATLANTA HAD THE CHARM, SOPHISTICATION, COASTLINE AND ALLURE OF CHARLESTON - SADLY, IT DOES NOT AND WE HAVE TO CREATE OUR OWN MYSTIQUE HERE!
I WAS BORN IN TEXAS, LIVED THERE 5 MINUTES AND THEN MOVED TO CONNECTICUT - NEW CANNAN, TO BE EXACT - AT THE END OF EIGHTH GRADE MY FATHER WAS TRANSFERRED TO TOKYO, JAPAN WHERE WE LIVED FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS - FABULOUS, INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE - MADE ME THE GIRL I AM TODAY -
ALL DURING MY CHILDHOOD WE TRAVELED LIKE MANIACS - MY PARENTS ARE COLLECTORS SO WE WERE ALWAYS ON THE HUNT- DRIVING IN OUR STATION WAGON ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND GOING ANTIQUING WAS NORMAL FOR ME AT 6! MY PARENTS ARE SOUTHERN SO WE WOULD DRIVE TO ATLANTA FOR L O N G SUMMER HOLIDAYS TO VISIT OUR GRANNIES, AUNTIES AND MY DADDY'S ALMA MATER, GEORGIA TECH

Coffee or tea?

TEA - IRISH BREAKFAST IS MY BESTIE AT THE MOMENT

When are you most productive?

MORNING MORNING MORNING LOVE THE MORNING
EARLY TO BED IS OUR PROGRAM - MY HUSBAND AND 3 DOGS ALL PILE INTO THE BEDROOM - THE PUG (RICKY BOBBY BRINSON) IS IN THE BED WITH US, THE STANDARD POODLE (BIANCA JAGGER BRINSON) IS IN HER FLEECE-Y BED AND THE SCOTTISH TERRIER (ANGUS BRINSON) SLEEPS IN THE LARGE WINDOW ON A HUGE PILE OF FOLDED RUGS MADE OF FIG-GATHERING CLOTHS (CAN U STAND IT?) ((I LOVE FIGS AND THE FOLIAGE))

What keeps you going to work every day? Why do you love it?

THERE IS NO SEPARATION BETWEEN WHAT I DO AND WHO I AM
I LOVE TO LOOK, READ, STUDY, PONDER, DRAW, DREAM, CREATE, SHOP, PRUNE, DANCE, DOG WALK, MAKE BEAUTIFUL IMAGES AND MEANINGFUL INTERIORS - SO I HAPPENED TO FIND THE RIGHT ROLE FOR ME IN LIFE
SOME DAYS I STAY HOME AND DO NOTHING AND THESE DAYS ARE AS IMPORTANT TO MY PSYCHE AS THE DAYS I WORK LIKE A MANIAC (UH - OH - SAID MANIAC TWICE SO FAR)

Favorite place to holiday.

OUR HOME (TRULY)-BEYOND THAT: MARRAKESH, ST BARTH'S, EAST HAMPTON, CONNECTICUT, PROVENCE

Kids?

ONE FABULOUS STEP-SON WHO IS STUDYING PHOTOGRAPHY LIKE HIS DADDY, MY HUSBAND, ROB BRINSON

You have a color scheme.. love that - I'm the same way. What happens when you fall for something that doesn't fit?

I BUY IT ANYWAY AND IT ENDS UP FINDING ITS SPOT -
I AM VERY DECISIVE
I GET PAID TO SHOP AND MAKE SURE AND QUICK DECISIONS
MY EYE IS RELENTLESS
I KNOW IN A FLASH WHETHER IT WILL WORK - I DON'T WAFFLE
I OFTEN BUY THINGS AND REWORK THEM TO HOW MY EYE SEES THEM

I love that you make your bed the way my mom taught me when I was a little girl. Do you always make it this way?

WE REALLY JUST MADE IT FOR THE PHOTO SHOOT - HALF THE TIME ALL WE DO IS PULL THE DUVET UP AND GO!
I DO LIKE USING THE NUN'S SHEETING, HOWEVER - KIND OF IMPENETRABLE TO THE DOGS - I BUY THEM WHEREVER I FIND THEM IN FRANCE - THEY ARE WOVEN OF LINEN AND HEMP AND LAUNDER BEAUTIFULLY
I JUST BOUGHT (TODAY!) 2 STRANGE KING SHEET SETS FROM WEST ELM IN THIS WONDERFUL GREIGEY-PALE AMETHYST COLOR TO MAKE A DUVET FOR THIS SEASON - I AM REALLY ENJOYING BEING AROUND THAT COLOR - LIKE WHAT WAS IN THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL SHOOT ON OUR SETTEE - THAT GOOD SQUISHED BEET COLOR - BUT THESE SHEETS ARE WAY GRAYED DOWN FROM THAT HUE

Your website is lovely - did you design it?

YES - I WORKED FOR 6 MONTHS WITH THE COOLEST TEAM, SOAPBOX STUDIOS, HERE IN ATLANTA - I THINK I MAY HAVE DRIVEN THEM OVER THE EDGE - BUT THE END RESULT TRULY IS LOVELY
I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT - I WANTED IT TO TURN LIKE A BOOK - BUT IN THE END, I WANTED CLEAN, SPARE AND COOL AND THEY DELIVERED TEN-FOLD

Tell me about the Hominy project! Do you have any interior pictures yet?

AHHHH - HOMINY - THE COOLEST TOWN HOMES YOU CAN IMAGINE - NOT BUILT YET, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE
I DESIGNED THE PROJECT, WITH THE HELP OF 2 LOVELY ARCHITECTS, BUT THEY ARE VERY HIGH-END AND THIS MOMENT IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO LAUNCH THEM
THEY WILL BE LOCATED AT SERENBE - WHICH IS THIS WONDERFUL HAMLET 30 MINUTES SOUTH OF ATLANTA, THAT IS T H E PLACE TO OWN - ORGANIC GARDEN, GENTLEMAN FARMING, PAIRED WITH 5-STAR RESTAURANTS, SUPER COOL SMART PEOPLE AND FABULOUS WOODS TO WALK IN - MY HUSBAND AND I ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING A STONE BARN THAT WE WILL BUILD AT SERENBE - HOPING TO START IN THE SPRING

What are you famous for?

HAVING EXCELLENT DOGS AND BRINGING THEM EVERYWHERE I GO

Favorite shoes?

GREY WOOL MULES FROM INDIA THAT I BUY FROM "LES INDIENNES.COM"
I ALSO REALLY LOVE PRADA 5" HEELS

Most loved clothing item in your closet.

WOW-FUR VEST FROM ISABEL MARANT/PARIS THAT I BOUGHT IN THE FALL
IT MIGHT ALSO BE MY SIMPLE SUEDE SAFARI JACKET THAT I BOUGHT A FEW YEARS AGO
AND I LOVE MY JEANS AND RIDING PANTS

Is there one thing you do every day that sets the tone for your day?

NO BUT I PROBABLY NEED TO START

Jill, I can't thank you enough. xo S


9 comments:

paula said...

what a great post and interview! so happy you asked. this is one of my all time favorite homes.

Sarah said...

Great interview! I too was sooo taken with this home --don't forget to listen to the Skirted Round Table at 'CotedeTexas' - Stephen Drucker, the editor of HB talks about the Brinson cover...I truly could not stop looking at the pictures of the home thinking how creative it is and the colors! Lucky you!

Smitten Design said...

awesome interview. i am so glad i am reading through your blog this morning. this house has been such a hit around the blogs and it's great to hear another side of jsb. I wonder if she would give me a Q & A on dog training.

WickedThrifty said...

i think i just died and went to a heaven where eaved ceilings become libraries and everything has a touch of pink. wow.

Tracy Watier said...

This is really something! Good for you, great questions. She's crazy talented, isn't she?
First time I'm here and liking what I've seen so far. I'll be back!

La Dolfina said...

Wow, it's obvious you two really hit it off! That was a great interview... seriously great. And what a coup to interview the the cool woman behind the most talked about house in the design world. I really enjoyed it. Great job!!

Bridget said...

that living room w/ the book cases on the second level is to die for.

Erika Ward said...

i had the pleasure of meeting her last month at an event here in atlanta. such a lovely and amazingly talented woman. i thoroughly enjoyed your interview. thanks!

Splenderosa said...

What a fab interview, so much fun reading it. Now, tell me, where can I see more photos of the precious house? xx's