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Designing Women: Where They Work

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While I was in graduate school, I interned at an advertising agency. The president of the firm gave me an important piece of advice: "You have to decide if you are a business person or a creative person." It took me a surprisingly long time to answer this question, and I suffered much professional unhappiness as I tried to be someone I was not. It is important to remain open-minded and explore different opportunities, but the answer to the question - "What do you want to be when you grow up?" - often can be found in the passions we held as children. What did I love when I was young? Books, reading, writing and rearranging the furniture - the same things I love today. In celebration of the creative life, I share some photos of the workspaces of some creative women (who lead successful businesses). Enjoy! 

The library/conference room of Branca, the creative design group founded by decorator Alessandra Branca in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. 
Photography by John Bessler.
Text by Jennifer Wilson.
"Inspire Me! Designer Digs" produced by Jenny Bradley.

Branca, the creative design group founded by decorator Alessandra Branca in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. 
Photography by John Bessler.
Text by Jennifer Wilson.
"Inspire Me! Designer Digs" produced by Jenny Bradley.

Alessandra Branca's "office walls are upholstered with lively red-and-white paisley. A bulletin board filled with photos of family and friends holds center stage. Vintage textiles and fabric samples are piled throughout for easy access."
Branca, the creative design group founded by decorator Alessandra Branca in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. 
Photography by John Bessler.
Text by Jennifer Wilson.
"Inspire Me! Designer Digs" produced by Jenny Bradley.

“ 'My office is white and clean and without decoration - a blank canvas on which to create,' says Barbara [Barry]. The only must-have items in the office? Fresh flowers from the garden. Open space. And sunlight - plenty of sunlight."
The office of Los Angeles-based designer Barbara Barry.
Photography by Mark Edward Harris.
"Inspire Me! Barbara Barry" written and produced by Jenny Bradley.


"A bulletin board full of inspiring images takes on a life of its own."
The office of Los Angeles-based designer Barbara Barry.
Photography by Mark Edward Harris.
"Inspire Me! Barbara Barry" written and produced by Jenny Bradley.

" 'We take our work seriously, so our office is a bit like a laboratory with its absence of decoration and color. It allows us to approach each new project unencumbered,' says Barbara [Barry]."
The office of Los Angeles-based designer Barbara Barry.
Photography by Mark Edward Harris.
"Inspire Me! Barbara Barry" written and produced by Jenny Bradley.
Traditional Home.

"Color boards and palette possibilities for Bobbi's newest lines fill her studio. The vintage train case was the impetus for the makeup case sitting atop it."
Makeup magnate Bobbi Brown's think tank/retail space/"education center" that she and her husband, developer Steven Plofker, created out of a former auto-body shop in New Jersey.
Photography by John Bessler.
Text by Jennifer Wilson.
"Where Women Create" produced by Jenny Bradley.

"Vintage bottles on Bobbi's desk spur colorful new products."
Makeup magnate Bobbi Brown's think tank/retail space/"education center" that she and her husband, developer Steven Plofker, created out of a former auto-body shop in New Jersey.
Photography by John Bessler.
Text by Jennifer Wilson.
"Where Women Create" produced by Jenny Bradley.

"Old-fashioned molded woodwork and wood floors warm an otherwise industrial space. Bright daylight streams through wide windows - perfect for analyzing colors."
Makeup magnate Bobbi Brown's think tank/retail space/"education center" that she and her husband, developer Steven Plofker, created out of a former auto-body shop in New Jersey.
Photography by John Bessler.
Text by Jennifer Wilson.
"Where Women Create" produced by Jenny Bradley.

"Decorator Martyn Lawrence Bullard perfected [former] Jimmy Choo president [and founder] Tamara Mellon's London study by mingling a vintage Jansen desk with a 1960s hot-pink leather chair; the print of Grace Kelly is by Andy Warhol."
Photography by Simon Upton.
"Great Ideas: Work Force" by Helen Yun.
Elle Decor (November 2008).

Tamara "Mellon is all about business at her Maison Jansen desk."
New York City apartment of Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon.
Interior decoration by Martyn Lawrence Bullard.
Photo credit: Douglas Friedman.
Harper's Bazaar (August 12, 2010).

The library of interior designer Suzanne Kasler's Atlanta office.
Photography by Erica George Dines.
"Bright Star" by Clinton Smith.

"[Suzanne] Kasler's own work space features personal mementos, including her collection of Eiffel towers."
The Atlanta office of interior designer Suzanne Kasler.
Photography by Erica George Dines.
"Bright Star" by Clinton Smith.
Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles (April 28, 2010).

"Oversize drum shades by Boyd Lighting help to delineate the office's work areas."
The Atlanta office of interior designer Suzanne Kasler.
Photography by Erica George Dines.
"Bright Star" by Clinton Smith.
Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles (April 28, 2010).

"Green sofas and a Bagues chandelier brighten the main room."
Manhattan headquarters of AERIN, Aerin Lauder's home-and-fashion business.
Interior decoration by Jacques Grange.
Photography by Pieter Estersohn.
Text by David Colman.
"Aerin Lauder's Glamorous Manhattan Offices" produced by Howard Christian.

"A George Condo oil in a meeting room."
Manhattan headquarters of AERIN, Aerin Lauder's home-and-fashion business.
Interior decoration by Jacques Grange.
Photography by Pieter Estersohn.
Text by David Colman.
"Aerin Lauder's Glamorous Manhattan Offices" produced by Howard Christian.

The Rome office of Frida Giannini, creative director of Gucci.
Nine-story palazzo designed by Raphael and his pupil Giulio Romano circa 1515.
Renovation by architect Federico Gigli.
Photography by James Mollison.
"Roman Empire" by Alessandra Ilari.
W Magazine (October 2009).

"[Tara] Guerard conceived the uniform shelving that lines the back wall and had it custom-made to fit the room. Binders purchased at Walmart and office supply stores were enlivened with strips of paper, and tangerine colored boxes are nods to the company's orange logo."
Charleston, South Carolina, office of Tara Guerard Soiree.
Photography by Julia Lynn.
"Wedding Belle" written by Jennifer Fernandez.
Lonny (June 2013).

"A framed orange-and-gold wedding kimono dominates one wall of the front office, which is designed like a living room and doubles as a conference area for meeting with brides-to-be. A zebra-striped screen found at a local antiques mall provides visual interest next to a white settee punctuated with patterned pillows."
Charleston, South Carolina, office of Tara Guerard Soiree.
Photography by Julia Lynn.
"Wedding Belle" written by Jennifer Fernandez.
Lonny (June 2013).

"In Sheila Bridges's Harlem office/guest room, bold stripes by Pintura Studio create a graphic background for engravings of indigenous peoples; the armchair is Bridges's own design."
Interior design by Sheila Bridges.
Photography by William Waldron.
"Great Ideas: Work Force" by Helen Yun.
Elle Decor (November 2008).

"[Designer Tory] Burch holds one of a string of daily staff meetings in her vibrant orange office."
Photography by Kevin Tachman.
"Tracked: Tory Burch" by Adrienne Gaffney.
WSJ.Magazine (October 26, 2012).

Designer Isabel Marant's Paris Studio, 2013.

Designer Isabel Marant's Paris Studio, 2013.

"Designer Isabel Marant at her company headquarters, in Paris."
Photography by Angelo Pennetta.
"The Cult of Isabel Marant" by William Van Meter.
WSJ.Magazine (August 19, 2013).


Office of Jenna Lyons, executive creative director and president of J.Crew.
Photography by Matt Furman.
"Inside Jenna Lyons' Office" by Fast Company Staff.
Fast Company (May 2013).

Office of Jenna Lyons, executive creative director and president of J.Crew.
Photography by Matt Furman.
"Inside Jenna Lyons' Office" by Fast Company Staff.
Fast Company (May 2013).

Office of Jenna Lyons, executive creative director and president of J.Crew.
Photography by Matt Furman.
"Inside Jenna Lyons' Office" by Fast Company Staff.
Fast Company (May 2013).

"The partner's desk belonged to Alexa's father, [the late] designer Mark Hampton."
Office of interior designer Alexa Hampton of Mark Hampton LLC.
Photography by Jeff Hirsch.
NYSD House: Alexa Hampton by Sian Ballen.
New York Social Diary (November 12, 2010).

William Kent table. "Alexa Hampton's design library is bursting at the seams. 'I've had to take some of the floor space for them,' " she says about her books.
Office of interior designer Alexa Hampton of Mark Hampton LLC.
Photography by Jeff Hirsch.
NYSD House: Alexa Hampton by Sian Ballen.
New York Social Diary (November 12, 2010).

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Designing Women: Where They Work
Designing Women: Where They Work
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