Thomas O’Brien – American Modern

June 24th, 2010

Meeting the designers I’ve been following for years is such a kick!  A couple of weeks ago we were lucky enough to have design talent Thomas O’Brien come to town to talk about his latest book, “American Modern.” 

You might recognize his name from Target, since he’s been designing bedding, towels, and home accessories for them for a few years now.  Clean and modern with a traditional foundation and a muted, masculine palette is how I’d describe his collections.  He was also just selected as one of Elle Decor magazine’s A-List Top 25 Interior Designers.

I actually started tracking his career many moons ago when I was a bright eyed college freshman finally getting to explore the Manhattan I’d been reading about in design magazines for years.  My aunt, who worked in the city, showed me around SoHo, and we discovered Aero Studios, Thomas O’Brien’s shop and design studio.  I was a goner.  Back then SoHo wasn’t filled with boutiques by all the major fashion labels. It still had plenty of art galleries and little shops with quirky personalities.  I think you have to go way out in Brooklyn now to recapture that vibe.  Anyway, I was drooling over his mix of decorative objects on display and dreaming of the day when I could afford his stuff.  Fast forward to the present and I’m still a fan of his curatorial eye.  

With a chance to have Thomas autograph my copy of his latest book, I handed over my money and jumped right in line!  And it’s a book I think you should consider adding to your bookshelf too.  Having Thomas walk through each of the projects in the book and give the back story was fun and informative.  I was especially impressed by his explanation of how his company bills for projects, as in our industry it seems to be an art form in its own right.  So here are some images from each section of the book to show the range of styles he works in under the new framework of “American Modern.” 

It’s arranged in sections, with each section focusing on a different house that exemplifies a different type of his version of Modern design.

Traditional Modern:

Classic finishes, but the tall metal leg caps on the vanity are thoroughly modern and unexpected.

Urban Modern:

This is how his loft like space in Manhattan used to look. Spare but lots of interesting pieces mixed in a quiet palette.

Casual Modern:

I’ve had pictures of this NYC home in my inspiration images since it was first published in a magazine a few years back. I love the mix of classic midcentury pieces, soft inviting upholstered pieces, and the vertical stonework on the fireplace.

American Modern:

A classic American home transforms into a light, inviting modern vacation home in Thomas O’Brien’s hands.  Those long tables are fabulous! The leg detail? Perfect.

Elegant Modern:

How luxurious but inviting is that rug in the dining room?!  The subtle color variation and texture makes me want to wander this home barefoot. And the vintage bench with a glass top desk is a juxtaposition against the dark wood of the dining room furniture.

Formal Modern:

I don’t typically like things too posh, but the finishes in this butler’s pantry are so luxe but with clean lines to keep it modern that I’m a fan.  What a lovely space to sneak into during a party, check your make up in the mirrored backsplash, and perhaps sneak in a bit of snogging. (Naughty!)

and finally…

Vintage Modern:

This is what the Thomas O’Brien’s city house looks like now. Same space as Urban Modern, but he’s now embraced a layered, less restrained style of living. Surround yourself with all those favorite pictures on a giant pin up board. They aren’t just for the office.  Group your collections into little vignettes to please your eye everytime you walk by.  Homes are for living, so fill them with the things you love and let the rest go.

Which style best fits your personality?  Or do you like aspects of more than one type of O’Brien modern?

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Tags: Bathroom, casual, dining room, midecentury modern, modern, Thomas O'Brien, traditional, urban, vintage, Wood

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