Karim Rashid's new home is fun yet practical
Designer and architect Karim Rashid's signature touch is all over his new residence, writes Joanne Lam
Karim Rashid, wife Ivana and daughter Kiva
Hell's Kitchen, New York City
"Make do with less. And be sure you really want what you're buying. Buy only what you need or what you absolutely love and use my principle of addition by subtraction. For everything you add to your home you must remove something, then you will always have equilibrium."
Stepping into Karim Rashid's home in Hell's Kitchen, New York City, one may be taken aback by the kaleidoscope of bold eccentric colours and psychedelic prints across the rooms. Then again, it should be expected as it is this very design aesthetic that propelled the product designer and architect to become one of the most iconic designers of our time.
In his usual flamboyant manner, Rashid has included liberal splashes of baby pink throughout his home. From the furnishings to the walls, the delicately feminine hue is mixed with all the colours under the rainbow.
It may initially seem like a random selection of colours, but the designer has proven the placement of each piece of furniture is deliberate and by no means child's play. In fact, each particular shade and hue used in the home was intentional and serves another purpose besides adding a pop of vibrancy to the space. "You must experience colour like you experience space," he says enigmatically.
"I have always believed in creating large white spaces with accents of strong positive colour," Rashid says, adding that every colour evokes different emotions and can determine the ambience of a room. Of the pastel pink he has so lovingly canvassed many of the rooms in, he says: "Certain hues of pink create a sense of well-being, energy and positive spirit. Pink is my super-optimistic version of white. It is energetic, engaging and a moxie to the masculine world that dominates our built landscape. Pink is romantic, sensual, exotic, erotic and raises [our spirit].
"Lime, meanwhile, is one of the most conducive colours to dining." In his kitchen, a reflective lime-green accent wall highlights his point. In tune with his vibrant aesthetic, the kitchen also features a colourful range of objects. Forgoing classic kitchenware, the designer allows his utensils to double as art. A funky Otto pepper mill by Gaia & Gino sits alongside a tongue-in-cheek wine-opener from Alessi - Rashid's signature playful touch is obvious throughout the space.