Nothing comes close to the look and feel of handmade objects. There’s an energy exchange between the material and the maker that yields an emotional response both visually (in the way it attracts the eye) and physically (in how it transforms a room). Rattan wicker is certainly one of those crafts that have always inspired me. I’m especially drawn to vintage rattan furniture and décor for their ability to infuse soul into a space. Their natural woven texture always adds much-needed juxtaposition against the slicker, smoother surfaces in a room—and that tension is so crucial in design.
You can see this throughout Athena’s homes from the rattan floor lamp in her Brooklyn living room to the sculptural vintage rattan chair in her Amagansett home (and you’ve probably noticed the rattan lampshades and stools scattered throughout both too!), it’s clear this humble material is treasured by the multi-disciplinary designer.