Me and General Design

photo by Claire Esparros

If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? 
Cristina: Somewhere in Spain or Italy 
General: Anywhere there are palm trees, warm ocean air and clean clear blue waters 

What are three words to describe your style?
Cristina: Elevated / Textured / Unexpected
General: Layered / Essential / Innovative

Tell us about your childhood bedroom?
Cristina: Yellow and wall to wall shag is what comes to mind about my childhood bedroom. We lived in an old farmhouse and my room was at the very top, so the ceiling sloped and there were 2 huge windows from the floor to the ceiling. In the autumn the maple trees in front of those windows would turn the brightest yellow which lit my room up like the sun.
General: I didn’t have my own bedroom. I shared a room with my two older sisters. But we did have a garage separated from the house that I spent lots of time in, dreaming of redesigning it into my own room.

What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house?
Cristina: Commissioned black and white prints of our daughters blown up larger than life, taken by a famous photographer in Chile who prefers to remain anonymous.
General: The first collector’s edition of SWICK Board painted by a fellow collaborator and artist Laolu Senbanjo. The first of many limited editions to come.

In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? 
Cristina: Cazu Zegers
General: Julian Abele

No room is complete without: 
Cristina: Wood 
General: Dimmers

Cristina: People think of me as on all the time, but I love stillness
General: People think of me as General, but that’s just my name 

Things you omit from:

• A flower arrangement  
  C: Anything artificially colored or scented
  G: Nothing if it’s done well and the plant selections are top notch

• An hors d’oeuvre platter 
  C: Unnecessary garnish 
  G: Processed meats

• A bar cabinet 
  C: It all serves a purpose
  G: Jagermeister

A song for: 

• Dinner at home  
  C: Antonio Carlos Jobim 
  G: I agree with Cristina 100% on this one…Antonio Carlos Jobim 

• Working at your desk 
  C: Lately I’ve been into podcasts at the desk, but if not, Erykah Badu 
  G: Tears for Fears

• Going for a run:  
  C: Mos Def, Brooklyn...predictable I know
  G: Rage Against the Machine, Bulls on Parade

Biggest Vice? 
Cristina: Vintage cars
General: Butter pecan ice cream

If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy?
Cristina: Ok that’s dangerous…I would probably property shop 
General: Sonor SQ2 vintage custom 4-Piece drum set

Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how?  
Cristina: Yeah definitely. Prefer tailored but casual with unusual lines and cuts.
General: Yes. I have always loved fashion. Never one style to be defined by but usually topped off with a kick ass hat. 

Who is your star crush? 
Cristina: Pedro Pascal
General: Rhianna

What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it?  
Cristina: When there is a gap between the top kitchen cabinet and ceiling
General: Matchy matchy, but I kind of like it

If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be?  
Cristina: You got me here
General: Save the family first, then the dog, and oh shit its too hot to look for a book?

For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for?  
Cristina: Elevating the human experience through design
General: Its cleverness, that brings a half grin to your face.

photo by Peter Margonelli

A Few Favorites: 

• Movie: 
  Cristina: Roman Holiday
  General: To Sir with Love

• Book: 
  Cristina: The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
  General: The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

• Scent: 
  Cristina: Sandalwood 
  General: Clementine

• The fabric you always come back to: 
  Cristina: Fil Doux-Otratex for their initiative and commitment to the planet.
  General: Anything and everything wool

• Dream project: 
  Cristina: Designing our next home to make a multi-generational, multi-cultural heratige masterpiece 
  General: SWICK Hotel; one on every coast of the world.

• Meal: 
  Cristina: All…I LOVE food and cooking and entertaining!
  General: Thanksgiving dinner at our home. I throw it down Southern style. 

• Drink:  
  Cristina: Pichuncho
  General: Old Fashion

• Hotel: 
  Cristina: The Beekman in downtown Manhattan for the old-world charm and one of the best staycations so far
  General: The Raleigh Hotel Miami was a favorite. 

• Travel Destination: 
  Cristina: An Irish castle, but my go to is always somewhere warm with palm trees
  General: The Maldives

• Artist: 
  Cristina: Francisca Sutil
  General: Jeff Donaldson

• Thing to collect obsessively: 
  Cristina: plants 
  General: Ideas! they come and go and you can keep them as long as you like. Or give them away. 

• Era in the history of design: 
  Cristina: The era that brought the conversational pit
  General: Right now! I’m really enjoying what designers are bringing to the table today. A great mix of old and new!

• Museum: 
  Cristina: Museum of Ice Cream 
  General: Brooklyn Museum

• Paint Color that always looks great: 
  Cristina: Benjamin Moore Simply White never disappoints 
  General: Benjamin Moore Baltic Gray 1467

• Favorite person to follow on Instagram: 
  Cristina: @traceeellisross
  General: @violadavis

• Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? 
  Cristina: Dog
  General: Thor our TV watching French Bulldog