James Huniford, the Manhattan-based interior designer and founder of Huniford Design Studio, has a penchant for mixing pure materials, clean lines and subtle details with beautifully-assembled found objects. The resulting spaces and vignettes are both refined and livable. Lucky for us, Ford, as he is known, recently moved house, and unearthed some treasures that simply won’t fit in his family’s new loft-style digs. This stunning collection of pieces is now available exclusively on Chairish. From rugs to furniture, books, and accessories, Ford’s finds offer a rare look inside his personal world. We went behind the design with this interiors pro.
Is there a piece or two in this personal collection that made you second guess selling it? And if so, which one(s)?
All of them—there’s a reason I bought every single one of these items.
Why are you a fan of shopping Chairish?
I’m all about the find, whether it’s digging through a stuffed-to-the-dormers store or browsing Chairish on a virtual hunt.
What do you love about designing with vintage decor?
There’s nothing like a vintage find—there’s patina, history, and a story.
What was your best vintage score?
A white lobster shell sculpture from Deyrolle, from a taxidermy shop in Paris.
What are you most inspired by right now?
Minimalist artists.
What is your golden design rule?
It’s all in the details.
What’s a design rule you love to break?
Expensive doesn’t equal luxury.
Best way to add drama to a room?
Vintage and found objects as art.
What’s your design signature?
A point of view; my style is about my client.
Trend you hope never makes a comeback?
I’m not interested in trends.
You’ve designed homes located in the city, country, and beach. Do you have a personal favorite among these?
My beach house holds a lot of memories. There’s nothing like the sky out east or the ocean.
Space you can’t get out of your mind?
Villa Kerylos in the South of France.
Do you have a favorite flea market (U.S. or elsewhere) that you like to shop?
The Paris Flea Market.
Favorite design-related show of the year to attend?
Housing Works Design on a Dime is the best. It’s like a homecoming for the design community.
Finish this sentence. No room is complete without…
The personality of the people that live there
Most important room in the house?
The living room. It’s the hub of the home.
Shop the James Huniford Moving Sale Collection >>
Lead photo by Jack Deutsch