“Devilish Details”

As any designer will attest: the devil is in the detail. I am sure then that Chicago and New York-based Kara Mann must be a friend of the devil, such is her understanding of detail in her utterly sexy interiors. Noted for her ability to manipulate textures and play on traditional forms to produce spaces that are wonders for the eye to feast upon, Mann describes her style as “timeless and unexpected.” Indeed, a handsome side-table upon closer inspection reveals itself to be made from actual bones. Natural forms and materials, it can be seen, are strong influences for Mann in her choice of specifications. An over-sized sea urchin light fitting, cubed timber blocks for a coffee table or near-black floral wallpaper for a dining room add a raw element against the luxurious fabrics, metalwork and art synonymous with her designs. And, with no strong colours to tell the story, Mann instead relies on tonal differences in her meticulous material choices to form a cohesive palate, which, together with the raw elements, highlight the intricateness of the space and produces interiors that reveal themselves, and their devilish detail, in wondrous, delicate layers.

“Devlish Details” by Brendan Guy

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images credited to Kara Mann