We Meet The Press: Ian Phillips

Stories Interviews We Meet The Press: Ian Phillips

They are wordsmiths who skilfully conjure atmospheres and beautiful décors on the pages of world-renowned magazines; and they all share a deep passion for design… Usually, they are the ones who ask the questions. This time, it’s our turn! 

Meet Ian Phillips: born in Middlesbrough, England, but has lived in Paris for 30 years and recently obtained his French passport. He has interviewed the likes of Yves Saint Laurent, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Balthus, and is the author of four books on interiors for Taschen. He now freelances on design for a wide number of publications, including Departures,1stdibs, Vogue Living (Australia), Elle Décoration France and House and Garden (UK).


Can you recall your first memory about “design”? (a piece of furniture, a book, an exhibition, your home…)

It dates back to my early childhood in England. My mother had a Finnish pen friend and each year, for either her birthday or Christmas, he would send her some typically Finnish presents. I recall there being a whole pile of vinyl records with traditional Finnish folk songs, which nobody actually listened to. Thanks to my brother, the music in our house was more likely to be by The Clash or The Sex Pistols. However, some glassware was put to much better use. There were tumblers for drinks and a big bowl in which my mother would make her famous trifles. Back then, I had no idea they were of any significance. It was only when I started to write about design that I realised they were created by Tapio Wirkkala.

Why did you choose this career, and what do you like the most about it?

I think the career more or less chose me. I came to Paris after my graduation, found myself at a bit of a professional dead end, and saw an ad for an internship in an English-speaking magazine. And things took off very swiftly. Within months, I’d been commissioned to write a profile of Paco Rabanne for The Sunday Times Magazine in London. I switched to writing about interiors at the end of the Nineties and particularly like the contact with people. Many of the articles I write are about homes and if someone is willing to let you into their personal realm, there’s often an openness from the very start. A number of people I’ve met as part of my work have become close friends. The other aspect I appreciate is the ability to travel. As I say, the homes don’t come to me. So, I have to go to them. My job has taken me to places I never would have imagined visiting, like Kaohsiung in Taiwan or Almaty in Kazakhstan. And it’s always great to discover those places through the eyes of the people who live there.

 

If you could go back in time, which designer and/or architect would you love to interview?

Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, the principal architect of the Taj Mahal. It’s pure perfection

 

Your favourite motto/quotation about design?

I like what Jean-Louis Deniot once told me on a photo shoot: “You’re not going to change the course of the world by hanging a pair of curtains.” Decorating should be fun and not too precious or pretentious. That’s not to say that it shouldn’t be done seriously. Creating a beautiful interior can really enhance people’s lives.

 

Jean-Louis Deniot, interior designer
Ustad Ahmad Lahori, chief architect of the Taj Mahal

Your favourite piece on The Invisible Collection?

It’s a very difficult question because I know so many of the designers personally and there are a whole host of pieces I love. But, if I really had to choose one, it would be the Dolce side table by Francesco Balzano. He’s one of a wonderful generation of young French designers, who are working closely with artisans. I absolutely love the propositions and equilibrium of his designs, and this piece has the added advantage of the expressive material. The dappled effect and colours of the marble are simply stunning.

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