Young House Love

DIY Home Decorating Projects, Tutorials, & Shenanigans

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My Slap-Happy Chat With Jonathan Adler

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Nate Berkus and Jonathan Adler more than anyone else in the design world (although I have sizable girl-crushes on Sarah Richardson and Candice Olsen) so when I got an email asking if I wanted to hop on a phone interview with J-Ad (as I like to call him in my head since we’re besties) well, I momentarily lost my mind.

I debated saying no (I’ll definitely get awkward and squeal-y and make him think I’m nuts) but after chatting about it with John, he convinced me that a 15 minute call with Jonathan Adler might end up on my highlights reel of this whole blogging “career” when we look back on this crazy ride of ours. Hubs was right, I had to do it. Clamminess and too-loud-laughs be darned.

So I emailed back a response that I hope came off cool and collected (as opposed to hyper and maniacal) and was given a Friday at noon time-slot for my call. I hardly slept on Thursday night thanks to getting all of my questions ready and second guessing myself a million times, and I even asked you guys for question ideas on Facebook. Then fifteen minutes before my time-slot for the call on Friday I got an email asking if Monday would work instead. Ahhhh! Half of me was relieved to put it off for another few days, and half of me immediately went into a bigger tizzy (the anticipation of more days of planning/waiting/second guessing every question sufficiently loosened more marbles). The good news is that I was still alive on Monday afternoon, but I wasn’t completely convinced that I wouldn’t turn into Shy Ronnie on the phone…

And then I heard his voice. And all was right with the world. Turns out I still was too giggly, talked way too fast, and generally just couldn’t help myself (as interviews go, I’m sure I was far from the smoothest or the most professional) but he was so nice. And I didn’t know this was possible going into the call, but when I hung up the phone, I loved him more. I couldn’t stop talking about it with John, and I’m SO GLAD I did it. It was definitely highlight reel material.

I’m terrible at taking notes while talking, so I recorded the interview on my phone (after asking J-Ad’s permission of course) and as laughy and loud as I am, I thought you might like to hear it all go down in real life, so here’s the clip. Update: Click here to be taken directly to the sound clip if it’s not showing up below.

Is he awesome or what? You guys. My design idol said I got his CHAKRAS TINGLING. I’m floating on air. And we exchanged I love yous. Hello? Is this real life? My favorite discussion was the whole “just start with the vibe – not the walls or the curtains – and define how you want your house to feel in three words and use those as your guide. SO SMART.

My only regret is that I didn’t make John snap a picture of me while I was on the phone. But this is pretty much what it looked like:

So I hope you enjoyed that little brain-picking session with one of my favorite designers ever. Have you ever met or phoned someone up that you’re crazy about while half worrying you’d put your foot in your mouth (or just start babbling incoherently)? I’m telling you, it can be pretty amazing, even if your heart’s beating out of your chest the whole time.

Psst – For anyone who can’t listen to it right now, or would prefer to just read the interview, here’s a general recap for ya (there’s a little more banter in the recording, it was just tough to write every line out since we overlapped sometimes, etc).

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Comments

  2. My hub and I met online and before we met in person, I knew there was something “there,” but I told myself I wouldn’t babble like a fool when we met.

    That lasted about 10 minutes, and as I started telling him everything that I promised I wouldn’t tell.. it felt oddly okay and surreal.

    I babbled. He read me his writing. We closed with a hug. A hug that melted me.

    3 days later he left for Russia to study literature. 27 days later we married.

    Yep, met and married in 30 days to a person I was so nervous to meet and promised I wouldn’t “babble” to endlessly.

    I babble and teach. He listen and writes. We both work from home with our amazing daughter doing what we love.

    I still beg myself to be still with him and he still melts me with his hugs.

    Reply

  4. How stinking cool! I would have been too nervous to even talk! Do you realize that most of us would feel that way about talking to you guys on the phone?

    And I love the three words idea. I think I would define the Little House as: uncluttered, comfortable, and homey.

    Reply

    • Oh I love this!! Guys, feel free to list your three words for your house. It’s such a fun exercise! I’m still thinking about what we’d want ours to be!

      xo
      s

    • The three words idea is soooo good! The first two came to me right away – comfortable and fresh. Have to think a bit more about what the third should be.

    • I also LOVED the three word idea and instantly had to think of mine! I’m going with happy, homey, and bright.

    • I love this idea of three words to describe your home… I also think if you buy what you LOVE and not what you think you should buy because others do or it’s a trend etc. I have found buying what I truly love and makes me gasp when I see it then you don’t have to worry about matching and all that because it just naturally will…Hope this makes sense. I always ask myself do I REALLY love this and if the answer is yes. I buy it.

      My three words would be inviting, happy and comfortable.

    • It is seriously amazing that you got to interview Jonathan Adler! The closest I’ve gotten is religiously visiting his store in Chicago!

      I think my three words would be cheerful, fun, and comfortable.

  5. That is awesome! So fun you get to talk to one of your faves. Funny that i thought about the vibe I wanted for my wedding and worked from there, but it never occurred to me to think about it our house! Off to do just that…

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  6. I remember you mentioning talking to Jonathan Adler. I so expected your “secret project” to be that you two were collaborating on a line together. The interview is a cool second to that! Glad you got to talk to your design crush!! Happy weekend!

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    • I also wish you guys would collaborate on a line together too!….. Next phone convo you two have, be sure to mention readers are requesting it.

      I wouldn’t be surprised if this time next year YHL has their own line of ceramic animals at Target. I would be a customer for sure! I mean I only have 3 animals… I need at least 5 more. hehe

  8. that is so awesome! he is totally my life hero, i have all of his books. i met him at a book signing on my birthday no less and he was the nicest person in the world. fun fact, my sister was hanging out outside and had a wonderful and long conversation about Marilyn Monroe with Simon Doonan, Jonathan’s husband. they are the nicest and most interesting people. I want them to adopt me :)

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  9. Oh my goodness – I was an insane idiot before my girlfriends and I came to your book signing in Richmond! And then when I met you guys, I totally clammed up. By the way, I didn’t listen to it, but just the synopsis of your chat with J-Ad was adorable! I’m so excited for you that you had the opportunity to do that. And so glad you didn’t talk yourself out of it.

    Reply

    • Aw thanks Kimberly! I feel like we went back and forth between clamming up and chatting way too much and being crazy-hyper on tour, so I promise we didn’t feel smooth at all! Haha!

      xo
      s

  13. Fun stuff! I’m curious as to how/why you were chosen to interview JA. My guess would be his people are asking the most awesome DIY bloggers to chat so he can target the readers who will buy his JC Penny line. Not judging or criticizing. Just wondering.

    Reply

    • It was arranged through a PR company but they never mentioned his JCP line or his stores or his books, and I asked “do I need to plug anything or link to anything in the post, because we don’t do that” and they said “Nope! Just chat with him about whatever you’d like and there are no images or links you’re required to use!” I was so grateful! I think that was part of my nervousness, that there was some sort of catch, but there wasn’t and he was just awesome to talk to. I hung up completely inspired by those 15 minutes. I think I’m still floating a little.

      xo
      s

  14. OMG!!! Soooo uber exciting to have had some 1 on 1 w/ J-Ad !!
    Congrats!

    PS – re: the U-Fab winner…Could I possibly be “that” Sharon? How would I know for sure…
    Have a great day!

    Reply

    • We email the winner, and they usually swing by and comment too (we’ve already heard back from the winner via email and she commented on the post, so that’s a nice way to see if it’s you). Also, entering with a last initial or a nickname (ex: SharonG-Money) might make it easier to pick out your name if Rafflecopter lands on you!

      xo
      s

  15. Love this! I swoon every time I’m in one of his stores. I have to say though, it makes my heart a bit sad to hear that you have a girl crush on Candice Olsen. She’s jus the worst to me.

    But I won’t hold it against you, so I hope you won’t hold it against me either ;)

    Reply

    • Oh, the things I would have Chico do if he was in my house…
      It’d be gettin’ hot up in hur…if you know what I’m sayin’!
      (Because lots of accent lights around your house would be very warm. In case you actually didn’t know what I was sayin’.)

      #bringbackchico

    • Haha! We want Chico! I wish I could do a “where are they now” series and hunt them down and ask them questions and tell them how much I love them. I would do one for Clive Pierce too. Remember when he hosted Design Star?

      xo
      s

  16. Such a great interview! I like how they were simple yet really relevant questions. Gave me some things to think about :)

    Reply

  17. 1) THANK YOU for providing the transcript! Super helpful for those of us at work in a cubicle. :) (And I’m sure your hearing-impaired readers appreciate it, too!)
    2) Aw, I love him! His line at JC Penney is awesome, he seems super fun!
    3) I just bought my house 2 weeks ago, but I think I’m going for: welcoming, chic, and quirky.

    Reply

  18. This was so cool! I really didn’t know anything about him but he sounds like such a nice person – like how he wouldn’t say what decorating trends he doesn’t like, probably so he wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. You sounded fine but it did remind me of a certain conversation with a certain other celebrity (initials M. M. lol).

    My three words would be: simple, playful, timeless (LOVE that idea by the way)

    Reply

    • There’s my third word – timeless! Thanks, Angel, for giving me the word that expresses what I was feeling and couldn’t get my brain to come up with.

  19. This interview is so cute. I adore how many times you say ‘I love it’ and ‘awesome’. Sherry/John, this is 100% what I would be like if I phone interviewed you!

    Reply

  20. What a fun interview!

    I love the advice about decorating around a vibe. It is so obvious and boring when people play it safe and decorate around a leather couch or a wall color.

    Reply

  21. Very cool!! Although, I have to admit, he sounds just like my pediatrician…so the whole time I feel like I’m listening to him talk about design, which I’m sure he isn’t in to?! I’ll have to ask him ;) Congrats!!

    Reply

  22. You were a natural, Sherry! What a great interview! I loved all of your questions. You’ve got a few big interviews under your belt now – potential side gig? :)

    Reply

  23. Great job, Sherry!!! You did awesome! Those were great, out of the box questions. I’m sure he was happy to break it up from regular boring interviews he probably does all the time.

    When he started the words with how should your home feel, my mind immediately screamed “HAPPY!!” which I think yours totally does. So my words are: Happy, Cozy and Organized (boring, but true.)

    Also, am I the only one who had to google image Liberty Print Floral?!? Haha. Apparently I have a liberty print floral shirt. Good to know!

    Reply

    • I totally thought he’d say happy too! His words were pretty cool too! I love Happy, Cozy, And Organized! The lists are fun guys, I love reading yours. And yup, I totally googled LPF too!

      xo
      s

  24. Great job with the interview, Sherry! The questions were thought provoking and I’m sure “J-Ad” appreciated them versus all the normal drivel that he probably gets. Now I can’t stop thinking about what my three words would be!

    Reply

  25. Sherry, I think you did a great job! I couldn’t imagine the pile of goo I would become if I were to speak with some of my design idols, even if I am a full-time interior designer myself.

    I really liked his attitude towards feeling free to experiment and approaching a project with the bigger goals in mind. My three words??? Cozy, welcoming and artsy :)

    Keep up the great work!

    Reply

  26. Um, yeah. This was totally me, the day you published the story about our fire. And then again, when I finally got to meet you in Boston at your book signing, and Sherry asked me to tell you that “I have a Quail”. EEEEK!!!

    Reply

  27. Love the interview!
    I’m absolutely sure that if I ever talked to you on the phone or met you in person I would be totally giggly, crazy and awkward. You are my design crush. Have a nice weekend (Mine starts now as I’m about halfway round the globe)!

    Reply

  28. I’m an editor and theater reporter, so I’m pretty used to interviewing celebs. For some reason though, when I phone-interviewed Val Kilmer for a one-man show he was bringing to town I reacted EXACTLY. LIKE. THIS. Even down to the “I’m relieved but I might blow up!” when the call was rescheduled for a few days later. I cringe when I listen to my super-fast talking and too-loud laughing on the tape, but c’mon: I GOT TO TALK TO ICEMAN! Totally worth it in the end.

    Reply

  30. This is so fantastic! (And thanks for posting the transcript for those of us at work, btw). I had NO IDEA that JA was married to Simon Doonan, but I LOVE THAT. Do you ever read Simon’s essays over on Slate? They are hilarious.

    This also got me thinking that I don’t have nearly enough ceramic animals in my apartment. I better do something about that…

    Reply

  31. How cool for you!!! Love the nickname J-Ad! Ha!
    Shy Ronnie—is so creepy, but it’s a great bit—thx for that:)
    Happy Friday!

    Reply

  32. You did an awesome job! You have a voice made for recording. So clear and it conveys a lot of emotion. I loved the three words to describe your home. I’m having a hard time with this! Timeless, thrifty, functional is what I came up with. I do have a much harder time making home decor decisions. I always feel like I can’t make a mistake because I have to live with this element for the rest of my life especially when it comes to big purchases (couch, rug, installed elements.)

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  33. great interview!! (I read it, because I’m working!) I love the advice about a 3-word “brand” for your home.

    “bring it, duck!”

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  34. Three words I would like for my house: comfortable, colorful, and uncluttered. Three words that I think most people would probably feel in my house as it is now: pet-filled, cluttered, worn. Yep, I have some work cut out for me (although the “pet-filled” and our 12-year-old boy do lead to the “cluttered” and “worn” aspects of the house!).

    Reply

  35. That was a great interview and you really kept it together. I think he giggled just as much as you did! I loved his tips and the fact that NOBODY CARES, SO WHY NOT JUST DO IT? I definitely have to remind myself that the next time guests come over and say “Why did you do THAT??”

    My best, Lynn
    * have a great weekend y’all!

    Reply

  36. 3 words to describe your vibe! Holy shnikies that is so smart! I am very new to decorating (I didn’t start until I found your blog early this year) so I’ve only recently figured out my design style. I’ve totally got some homework this weekend!

    Reply

  37. Hahahha shy Ronnie – love it!

    So sweet that John is so supportive and made the good call of steering you into doing the interview! You two are such a great team :)

    Reply

  38. When I was standing in line for your book signing, I got really worried that I was going to be super awkward because I couldn’t think of anything to say! It was my first time ever meeting anyone famous (you totally count in my book), but you were so gracious and nice. :)

    Reply

  43. Thanks so much for doing the transcript! So convenient for those of us doing a quick check-in at work with no audio, plus I read a lot faster than I can listen, if that makes sense :)

    Love that home-decorating advice. We’re hoping to buy our first tiny little house first so it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. Feels so much more real and permanent and statement-y than decorating an apartment!

    Reply

  48. I’m a new follower than most but as I get to know you or so I feel with your vids and recordings I find you so amazingly fresh, engaging and adorable. This was a great interview! Good for you!

    Reply

  49. I know how excited you were to do this and I’m tickled you had the chance to talk to him.

    I can’t wait to hear the interview later, away from work. *shifts eyes around nervously*

    Reply

  50. Loved the interview! Thanks for asking such awesome questions!
    I loved the 3 words to describe your house. And the Simon story got me thinking :)
    My 3 words goal: peaceful, bright, artsy

    Reply

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