Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Inside the Home of Project Runway Winner Gretchen Jones
Posted by Kristin Iversen on Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 1:45 PM
Designer Gretchen Jones hails from Colorado, grew up in Oregon, and has lived in Fort Greene for the last couple of years. Her namesake line—Gretchen Jones Collection—draws from her love of nature, music, and art, fusing a romantic, rustic sensibility with clean lines and luxurious materials. Jones says that her most recent collection was inspired by and "pays homage to American folk singer and human rights activist Joan Baez’s album “Any Day Now,” comprised of only Bob Dylan songs, as well as Joan Didion’s essay “Where the Kissing Never Stops,” in the book Slouching Towards Bethlehem." In her home, this same influence reigns, each room is a mosaic of unique pieces imbued with personal meaning. Although Jones has only lived in Brooklyn for a little more than two years, she has made herself a truly beautiful home.
How long have you lived in Brooklyn?
I moved to Fort Greene brooklyn from Portland Oregon in November of 2010 and haven't left the neighborhood since landing!
What brought you here?
I'm a fashion designer and found living far away from the center of the industry was isolating. I decided to move to NYC to take my label to the next level and integrate into the fashion community more wholly, which has been a crazy and good choice! I'm so happy to be here, especially choosing Brooklyn to call home. It allows Manhattan to be about work and Brooklyn to be about downtime and life outside of the studio.
What do you like most about your apartment?
I love that my layout is more square than rectangular...which allows it to feel more open. I have super-high pressed tin ceilings and there's a lot of old architectural character which makes my apartment feel like a home.
What do you like least about it?
I'm on the second floor, street-facing...and it's a VERY busy and loud street. I think the noise more than anything is what I hate. That and the 3/4 mile trek to the subway...that's a pain in the butt too!
What are some of the things you like most about your neighborhood?
I love that I'm around the corner from a really incredible neighborhood park. I love that the BK Flea is within walking distance from me. I love how neighborly people are. I love how eclectic the community is and that there isn't too much of a "scene" in my area. It's a great place to be really.
What three things would you rescue in a fire?
My dog Harry, my late father's lasso & my grandmother Gretchen's wedding ring. [I'd say a piece of clothing, but I know I could at least make myself new digs;) ha!]
If you could move your space to anywhere else on earth, where would it be?
Probably back to Colorado near a ski mountain. I grew up in rural Colorado not far from Summit counties ski mountains and I die a little every day not being near them/that lifestyle.
Slideshow
Gretchen Jones's line is available at www.gretchenjonesnyc.com
Follow Kristin Iversen on twitter @kmiversen
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About The Author
Kristin Iversen
Kristin Iversen is the Managing Editor at Brooklyn Magazine and the L Magazine. She has been described as "a hipster buzzword made flesh." This seems pretty accurate.
