Nissue #7: Jonathan Rachman, Interior Designer.
I only met Jonathan Rachman once, and it was at some fancy pre-Covid event at the Bottega Veneta store in San Francisco. He was the center of attraction but took a few moments to laugh and talk with me, and that sort of warmth and welcoming is at the heart of all his work.
He’s come a long way from his upbringing in Indonesia, which was certainly not an easy journey. I don’t know if Jonathan loves the term celebrity designer—his work has appeared in ELLE Decor, Harper’s Bazaar, Travel + Leisure, and Vogue—but that’s what he has become. During the Pandemic, he’s been busier than ever as many of his clients have taken the time to reevaluate what “home” and “shelter” mean.
I hope you enjoy Jonathan’s answers as much as I did. As a reminder for new readers, the questions in italics are Proust’s, and the ones from me are in regular type.
Nish: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Jonathan: In the arms of my husband, anywhere — the bonus is that when we are surrounded by our parents and ‘ohana’, ideally in Bali!
Nish: What was your worst job ever?
Jonathan: The one where the owner referred to me as the “little mouse!!” when I gave him my resignation.
Nish: What was your first job ever?
Jonathan: A waiter at a fondue restaurant, La Dent Blanche in Plans-Mayens, Crans-Montana Switzerland during my ‘stage’ (internship) at Les Roches Hospitality Management School.
Nish: What was your best job ever?
Jonathan: My current one, the one I do passionately: as the Principal and Designer of my own firm, Jonathan Rachman Design.
Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Jonathan: My generosity — to a fault.
Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Jonathan: Unkindness and lack of gratitude.
Nish: What’s some advice you’d give to yourself at 23?
Jonathan: Absolutely nothing, as my 23-year-old self must find his own way, at his own pace.
Nish: What is your greatest extravagance?
Jonathan: Holding hands with my husband, 38,000 ft high, on our way to our fave destinations.
Nish: You have dinner reservations for 4 at Noma, excluding family and close friends, who are the three people (alive, dead or imaginary) you’d invite?
Jonathan: Karen Christenze von Blixen-Finecke, Jacqueline Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Lady Di, Michelle Obama, Denise Hale, my late sister Wewe, my Mom, my Dad, our uncle Bob, my husband Stephen : I’d insist to have a table for the 12 of us or we will go to a different restaurant that will accommodate all of us or do a buyout. I don’t follow instructions and life is too short not to break rules.
Nish: What is the theme song of your professional life?
Jonathan: Professional or personal life, I only have one theme soundtrack, a song is too short, and it is the soundtrack of Out of Africa by John Barry, in the perfect sequence of the movie, played over and over again.
Nish: What is your motto?
Jonathan: Eternity is too short, eternity is not long enough (inspired by my parents’ love of and for each other, as well as my husband’s and my relationship and love of and for each other)!
Nish: What is something you’re really excited about right now?
Jonathan: The hope and possibility of being reunited with my parents after the pandemic as well as my first monograph, a gorgeous design book which will be published by Flammarion: “Currently Classic”.
End Interview.
