FEATURES ARCHIVE

A tour through Lotta Jansdotter’s beautifully conceived studio and retail space in Brooklyn (cleverly called “WORK+SHOP”) reveals that this textile designer, author and home design guru has fashioned an interior that is as alluring as the wares she creates there. Jansdotter’s penchant for translating organic forms and eye-catching motifs into objects for daily life is reflected in her eponymous product line, which includes handbags, candles, stationary, table linens, and more. We recently visited with Jansdotter to find out what inspires her and learn helpful tips for devising a unique and creatively-minded interior.

How did your childhood in Sweden influence your taste in design?
To this day, I still love a white floor and white walls, which I think were an antidote to those long, dark Swedish winters. I’m also deeply inspired by the natural world – as a child, every day presented new outdoor adventures. I try to capture that spirit of joy in my work.

How would you describe your personal aesthetic?
Authentic. Joyful. Simple. Timeless. Inspired.

Where do you go to get your creativity “fix”? 
Everywhere! I find inspiration in such a variety of places and experiences, high and low. It might be in a neighborhood bodega or it might be in the Four Seasons. The important thing is to keep your eyes open to chance – to the unexpected. This morning I was cutting out some stencil designs, and I was actually more inspired by the scraps of paper that I had cut away than the designs themselves.

Tell us about your most recent acquisition.
I found a fabulous green hollowed-out low table that another artist in my building was giving up. I originally envisioned covering it with glass and displaying items for sale in my workshop, but now I’m thinking it might be more fun to plant a moss garden inside. We’ll see – for now I enjoy seeing it everyday and dwelling in the possibilities!

You have successfully made your “WORK+SHOP” into both a creative and commercial space. What tips would you give someone who has a space that must serve multiple purposes?
Start with the floor. Find some thoughtfully placed rugs – auctions are a great place to source quality options that won’t break the bank – and use them to designate different “areas” of the room. You could do the same thing with paint – color on the wall communicates a division of space to the eye.

You’ve talked before about the importance of finding beauty in the everyday.  Why is that critical to your work?
Everyday decisions are design choices. Even if it’s something small, like what kind of tea towel I hang in my kitchen, it’s important to me that it be meaningful and that it bring me joy.

Let’s say you had a large white wall to play with in your apartment. How would you fill it?
I would collect antique frames in a variety of shapes and sizes. Then I would spray paint them all the same color to create unity -- maybe a bright yellow. I’d fill each one with inspirational and quirky things…a picture of Elvis that I love, a painting of a dancing couple…

View what this month's Arbiter of Style picked here.