John Ferguson

photo by Read McKendree

If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live?
Marrakech. I never tire of the color, texture, and energy there.

What are three words to describe your style?
• Refined
• Layered
• Expressive

Tell us about your childhood bedroom:
I was at boarding school and was fortunate enough to have my own room. Over time, I found every viable floor plan for a bed, desk, and chair. Unfortunately, it was never published.

What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house?
A Fritz Henningsen armchair I bought at auction. The clean lines and elegant curves drew me in immediately. It’s surprisingly heavy for such a compact chair, which quietly speaks to the quality of its construction.

In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be?
David Hicks. No one balanced boldness and polish quite like him.

No room is complete without:
Something personal and unexpected.

People think of me as English, but I’m really American. I was born in New York.

Things you omit from:

• A flower arrangement:
  Baby’s breath

• An hors d’oeuvre platter:
  Anything that’s more than one bite. I can’t stand messy eating.

• A bar cabinet:
  I don’t drink, so I’ve never felt the need for one.

A song for:

Dinner at home:
“Nara” – Alt-J

Working at your desk:
“Save Me” (Acoustic) – Above & Beyond

Going for a run:
“Another Love” – Tom Odell & Tiësto

Biggest Vice:
Plane tickets. I love to travel, and I like to do it nicely.

If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy?
Pratesi sheets. I bought my first set when I was in design school—I chose them over food for several weeks. You spend a third of your life in bed, after all. I’m thrilled they’ve reopened. My wife is less thrilled about what it’s doing to our bank balance (though perfectly happy to sleep in them). Tre Righe Ombre Duvet Cover - Luxury Duvet Cover | Pratesi are currently testing my willpower. 

Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how?
Not exactly. My interiors are more expressive. I prefer more understated clothing, with a nicely tailored jacket.

Who is your star crush?
David Bowie. Endlessly inventive, impossibly stylish, and the fact that he moved through so much and kept evolving makes him all the more compelling.

What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it?
Lucite furniture. My former employer used it beautifully and often, but after years of working with it, I’ve probably reached my lifetime quota.

What design book do you find yourself going back to again and again?
I have too many to name just one, but I constantly return to David Hicks, Veere Grenney, and Tom Scheerer’s books. Each one reminds me to trust my instincts and edit with purpose.

For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for?
For creating homes that are elegant and functional, with a dash of irreverence. Shoes stay on, and dogs rule the sofa.

photo by Read McKendree

A Few Favorites

• Movie:
  The Talented Mr. Ripley

• Book:
  The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

• Scent:
  Bleu de Chanel

• The fabric you always come back to:
  Cotton or mohair velvet

• Dream project:
  A boutique hotel

• Meal:
  A Sunday roast at home, or Shake Shack if I’m being honest

• Drink:
  Sparkling water with grapefruit

• Hotel:
  Kasbah Tamadot, Morocco

• Travel Destination:
  Anywhere I can scuba dive

• Artist:
  Gerhard Richter

• A cause near and dear to me:
  Addiction recovery. I know firsthand how life-changing support can be.

• Thing to collect obsessively:
  I try to collect a ceramic or two from every trip I take.

• Era in the history of design:
  1930s–50s European modernism. I also have a soft spot for the quiet eccentricity of English country houses.

• Museum:
  The Met

• Benjamin Moore Paint Color:
  Harwood Putty (CW-5)

• Favorite person to follow on Instagram:
  @beataheuman

• Dogs, Cats, or No Pets?
  Dogs. Jasper, our English Cocker Spaniel, is currently sitting next to me.