In matters of design – as in love – it always pays to be on the same page. In this respect, Delphine and Reed Krakoff are a perfect match. The tough couple — she’s an interior designer, veteran stylist — masterful aesthetics and voracious collectors, and they also happen to share the same philosophies when it comes to hoarding treasures for their homes (it’s worth noting this is a pair whose real estate portfolio, past and present, included Jackie Kennedy’s childhood home in East Hampton and the Huguet Clark Estate in Connecticut).
“We are both really intuitive and it’s rare that we don’t have a similar feeling about something, even the most extreme things,” Reed says. Over decades of joint collecting, the two have seen eye to eye on an eclectic and largely idiosyncratic collection, among them: a surreal “cliffside” table by contemporary artist Mattia Bonetti, 1930s ceramics by Jane Besnard, modern plaster alternatives by Alan McCollum, small 1920s-era masterpieces from last century by Jean-Michel Frank, Tiffany lamps, a massive mirror by famous Chanel collaborator Robert Gooseins, and Lalanne sheep, which they circulated for eons before becoming a status symbol for Insta-glittery.
“A lot of people might say that’s a strange blend of design philosophies together but for us, that’s what makes it interesting,” Reed says. “The best collections are personal. The best collections are not encyclopedic.”
Not only do they love the same things, but the Krakows embrace change as well. And it’s good news for fellow affluent design aficionados: Important pieces from their Upper East Side country home, including those listed above, will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s in New York on June 8. About accumulation,” Delphine says. “We are more connected to the process—traveling, discovering, finding things before they become commonplace, creating an environment. And then after we’ve lived with them for a few years, we don’t like them anymore – we’re ready to start creating something new.”
However, as much as they are constantly evolving and reframing the context of their living spaces, the Krakows have stuck to one basic principle: nothing is too precious. “We’ve always made homes where kids and guests can go anywhere they want,” says Reed. “You should be able to read the newspaper, keep your shoes on, and rest on the couch while worrying about dandruff and water spots.”
Sale Our Dream Collection: Art and Design from the New York City House of Delphine and Reed Krakow It will be held at Sotheby’s New York on June 8. Exhibitions start on June 3.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and is imported into this page to help users provide their email address. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
