Drawing upon a unique skill set as an artist, gallerist, and respected interior designer, James Yarosh brings his curated perspectives and trademark ability of integrating art and design into the homes of his high-end clientele throughout New York, New Jersey and beyond. A “curated maximalist,” world traveler, and history enthusiast who has studied the design of major art museums, Yarosh employs his industry experience and network of international artists to capitalize on the synergy he brings to his work. With a discerning eye for balance and scale, his art-forward approach to his personal and professional life directly reflects his immense respect for the industry. Learn more about James and his designs in today’s Designer Friday.
Andrew Joseph: What inspired you to become a designer?
James Yarosh: I’ve always had an appreciation for beauty. As an artist growing up, I discovered how artist’s homes were the most fascinating — full of interest and self-expression. Living with art is a gift and can be so inspiring and yet I saw so many home interiors in magazines devoid of art. After opening my gallery in 1996, my clientele included the interior design trade. I worked for designers, sourcing art for their projects and helping to display the pieces. I also began teaming with designers I admired and learned my trade on the job over the next ten years, while developing my eye for design and traveling the world to learn how the great museums presented art. As my own voice in interior design grew, I began taking on design projects of interest to curate interiors and create spaces that embrace the synergy of fine art and design.
AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
JY: The Arts. Design for me has always been about letting the arts lead the way. Traveling abroad and chasing museum shows is a constant source of renewal for me. These trips are both grounding and centering. They remind me what greatness looks like on a larger scale so that when I return home to my projects, I can bring little pieces of all I have seen and learned. I think as an artist, you are born romantic and believe that beauty is always possible. We just have our lives to hone our eyes and learn our crafts. It’s a never-ending journey and learning through the arts is both inspiring and humbling. All of the hats that I wear as an artist, gallerist, and interior designer are better served when I think about the big picture and measure hopes for my own greatness against global references.
AJ: Can you tell us about a specific moment in your career that made you feel accomplished?
JY: In 2014, I was awarded one of the highest profile spaces in a design showhouse — the atrium space in a 63,000-square-foot home designed by Carrère & Hastings called Blairsden Mansion. Backed with generous sponsors like Mary Beth Brown for Clarence House/ Hill Brown fabrics; loans from Newel, Josh Nazmiyal for Rug & Kilim, Lalique, Saint Louis; and lighting designer Ryan Clarke, I was able to create “An Art Collector’s Sanctuary.” My design embraced all the boldness and colors of a traditionalism that celebrates artisans and craftsmanship, but devoid of pretension. It proved that true quality and beauty create welcome and warmth. The space was an example of how I layer surfaces, textiles, upholstered walls, rugs, and furnishings, with the focused goal of allowing art pieces to sit on top of all that — not as more decoration, but as inspired and intellectual elements that bring further depth and lift the space to even greater heights.
I had always been an artist and a gallerist, opening my own gallery at 29, but this showhouse was when I “came out of the closet” as a designer and the reception was overwhelming. I dedicated the space to my mother Regina for her lifetime of encouragement.
AJ: What is your favorite place to find inspiration?
JY: Museums. Visiting museums not only shapes how I curate my gallery’s art collections, but also orients my understanding of how design elements can lift up art — both in traditional, maximalist settings and minimalist, zen environments.
AJ: What is your favorite aspect of your job?
JY: I love the moment when I can see the project completed in my head and know that I have the right answers to solve the space. Each space comes with its own issues and challenges, but once I see the path, it’s just about finding the right puzzle pieces to tailor the solution to the client’s tastes. “Does it move the project forward?” is the question I always come back to. It’s always about discipline and knowing when to advocate restraint and when to take leaps along the way.
AJ: How do you incorporate client feedback into your designs?
JY: True partnership is how I approach my design work; I treat client relationships like friendships. It’s the only way I can work and I have no poker face. I am there for the goal of creating something beyond what they might hope for. Their hopes and dreams for the space are always the most important considerations for me. What life are they creating there? Will they use it as a jumping-off point for their days or as a place of nourishing retreat? It is a gift to be part of that life-making.
AJ: What is your favorite design element to incorporate into your projects?
JY: The framing of art. How art is framed is so important in how it is received. I have worked with a gifted framemaker for 20+ years and our collaborations are always so rewarding. Framing allows artwork to marry into design projects seamlessly and tells the story of the quality of art being introduced to elevate a design space.
AJ: What is your favorite thing about being a designer?
JY: It’s an excuse to buy nice clothes…teasing! I love creating spaces that fuel one’s soul and being able to advocate for what great art looks like through my design work. My work is about fostering the idea of living with fine art and enabling clients to reap the benefits far beyond their expectations and change any previous misconceptions. Art adds to the depth of the room, enabling opportunities to create higher highs with design.
AJ: Can you tell us about a project where you had to incorporate a client’s personal collection into the design?
JY: A few years ago, I worked with two newly-married art collectors on a large townhouse. We worked backwards, creating a space to organize their artwork by color blocking with walls and architectural shapes. It gave the home strong bones, so that once the art pieces were hung, their individual subjects and intricacies could be celebrated on a micro level. In this instance, we painted the large gallery foyer a dark grey to take command of the space. The courage to take such a bold leap with color came to me after a recent trip to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. We became good friends and have worked on several home projects since.
AJ: What’s the weirdest thing a client has ever asked you?
JY: I was 26, delivering art to a new client and in lieu of a tip, he asked me if he could take me out to dinner after. I later married him.
Photography by Patricia Burke.
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