My first book, What We Keep will be published on May 14 (available now for preorder). I can hardly wait for you all to see it. In the meantime, I'm so thrilled to share some behind the scenes content with you here. Excerpts, b-roll images, video clips from my interviews with contributors, will hopefully give you a sense of what went into writing, styling and photographing this book, as well as a little peek into its pages.
My professional path has always been informed closely by my personal passions, so I called upon my Taiwanese heritage to structure the book in five sections, each named after one of the Traditional Chinese elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Much like the elements, the sections of the book are distinct in style and sentiment, yet deepened by their kinship to one another. Here is a preview and behind the scenes look at Section 2: Fire.
Order what we keep
Photographing The Hot Shop
The glassblowing shop that Deb Czeresko works out of is SO HOT. Brooke and I may look ok but we were not ok. We almost passed out. The takeaway is that Deb is a bad ass.
From Section 2: Fire
They treat the four-room home as their creative playground. Artworks, vintage finds, furniture, lighting, and books are puzzle pieces that sometimes interlock, sometimes repel, but are ultimately never staid. The walls behind their bed and sofa -- on opposite ends of the apartment -- each offer a master class on how to perfect a gallery wall. Not a measurement made, but every inch exudes emotion unspoken.
"We love found objects and we love found art. So much of our collection as it exists now is from our travels. We believe in the power of the stories behind the pieces. So much of art and design is now about who is on the label or how much something is worth. It takes the joy out of seeing things as they are. We try to be as innocent and curious as possible as we grow our collection."
LES Collection
“I find that candelabras change the house's atmosphere the same way jewelry can transform a simple outfit, making it feel fresh and seasonal,” says Lauren Sands, founder of design gallery LES Collection. “I use candelabras to change up any room in my house when it feels stale. They are placed on coffee tables, credenza, kitchen shelves, and anywhere else I think needs an accent. At any time, you will find maybe ten pairs of candlestick holders scattered throughout the home on various surfaces.”
“I utilize my collection the most on the dining room table. Entertaining is a major way I express my creativity. Throwing a dinner party, for me, is an act of curation. The tabletop decor, the food, the guests, the right mix can be magical. When setting the table, I always start with the candelabras and build the rest around that.”
Lauren's collection is awe-inspiring, and I'm excited to share a glimpse of it in the book, but wanted to share some thoughts and images that didn't make the final pages.
Dinner with Kwame and Wylie Dufresne
I was adamant about including a chef in the book, specifically for the Fire section, so I reached out to Keith Durst for help. Keith is the founder of Friend of Chef, a strategic advisory firm that works with restaurants, owners, chefs and designers on starting and operating restaurants.
Keith asked me to name the one chef I would want in my book, and after much thought, I answered Kwame Onwuachi. Kwame is young, stylish and a fire starter in his own right -- absolutely perfect for What We Keep.
"Instead of an introduction over email, why don't you and Drew join me for dinner at Tatiana," said Keith, inviting me to Kwame's new restaurant. It was an unceremonious invite to a restaurant that has since been named the top restaurant in NYC by Pete Wells of the NY Times and subsequently become the most elusive reservation in town.
When I arrived at Tatiana, I saw Keith, Drew, and across from my empty seat, none other than legendary chef Wylie Dufresne. Wylie is one of Kwame's heroes and he sent the entire menu that evening. I also don't think Kwame could say "no" to my book with Wylie smiling at him across the way. Thank you Keith, thank you Kwame and thank you Wylie for making my Fire chapter complete.
