If milk does a body good, then Design Milk is equally fortifying (for the design-hungry, of course). The website, which recently celebrated its 5th birthday, has become essential fuel for those seeking out the best in innovative, minimalist, and modern design. The brainchild of Jaime Derringer, its founder and editor, it was born of simple purpose: “In 2006, I started the blog to catalog things that I discovered on the Internet that I loved or wanted to buy,” she explains. “It just grew from there.”
Proof that with the right nourishment, big things can happen.
We caught up with Jaime to ‘cheers’ Design Milk’s 5th year. Read about what she finds inspiring – at Barneys and beyond – below.
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Barneys New York: Congratulations on Design Milk’s 5th Birthday. What inspired you to start Design Milk?
Jaime Derringer: It was part being in need of furniture for my home and also a need for a creative outlet. Everything I post on the blog is either inspiring, mind-blowing, or beautiful in my eyes. The desire to share that with others is what keeps me going.
BNY: What parallels do you see between interior design and fashion?
JD: I try to keep tabs on fashion to get a better sense of what people are most interested in seeing in terms of home and furniture design trends. And, although the two worlds seem far apart, prints and patterns, shape, and lines are all important aspects of both fashion and interiors.
BNY: What are your design rules to live by?
JD: I respect Dieter Rams’ 10 principles of good design:
1. Good design is innovative
2. Good design makes a product useful
3. Good design is aesthetic
4. Good design makes a product understandable
5. Good design is unobtrusive
6. Good design is honest
7. Good design is long-lasting
8. Good design is thorough, down to the last detail
9. Good design is environmentally friendly
10. Good design is as little design as possible
He pretty much hits the nail on the head with each one of these. I don’t think I could have said it any better.
BNY: What have been your favorite Barneys New York window displays to date?
JD: I recently posted about the Roomscapes of the Imagination window series created by Rafael de Cárdenas, Joe Grillo, Peter Shelton and Lee F. Mindel of Shelton Mindel & Associates, and Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz. I’m a huge Noriega-Ortiz fan – I love seeing him do something different than an interior. What I like best about these windows is that Barneys allows the designers to create whatever they want and get as experimental and creative as possible.
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BNY: If you were accidentally locked in Barneys New York overnight, what would we find you wearing in the morning?
JD: You would probably find me under a giant pile of black clothes and shoes. In terms of clothing, I often stick to what I know works for me – black, white, and gray. However, when it comes to shoes, I love them all. I’m also a sucker for chunky, sculptural jewelry.
1. I’ve been searching for the perfect pair of black boots to wear with jeans for winter, and I think these Sartore distressed kneeboots fit the bill.
2. And because we’re having a baby in November, I would have to get this large ride-on sheep, just because what kid doesn’t want a giant pet sheep?
3. I love the asymmetric line of this Rogan Numazu cardigan.
4. I love the sculptural element of this ring by Lynn Ban.
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BNY: Who are your favorite designers in Chelsea Passage?
JD: I love the Ercolano boxes, and Gaia & Gino are one of my favorite design houses. We’ve featured Gaia & Gino on both Design Milk and Dog Milk.
BNY: What is the design capital of the world?
JD: The Internet. No trade show or magazine has helped spread the word about young designers faster than the Internet. It’s accessible for everyone. That’s the beauty of it – you can access great design from anywhere in the world.
BNY: What are your daily design reads?
JD: Because I spend so much time working on a blog, it’s hard to keep up with other blogs. But, specifically related to design, I love Plastolux and Ignant. I also subscribe to Dwell, Atomic Ranch, and Modernism magazines.
- Julia Sweeney
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