Between The Sheets with Adair Curtis and Jason Bolden of JSN Studio
Los Angeles based JSN Studio founded by Adair Curtis and Jason Bolden, designs interiors, products and fashion moments honoring past, present and future with the simple purpose of helping their clients and collaborators look, and, live well. Describing their aesthetic as “casual luxury”, the pair believe interior design is symbiotic with fashion: “What is a beautiful wardrobe, without a beautiful home?” they say.
While Bolden spends half his time on the red carpet styling the likes of director Ava DuVernay, and actresses Taraji P. Henson and Yara Shahidi and rapper Wiz Khalifa, Curtis oversees their furniture and interiors business which counts Gabrielle Union and her husband, NBA champion Dwyane Wade among its clients. They also star in their own Netflix show: Styling Hollywood.
Somehow, the couple found time to get between the sheets with us to talk style, design, and their JSN Studio x Flaneur Dune bedding collection.
EXPLAIN YOUR FLANEUR BEDDING COLOR OPTIONS...
We attended Salone this year in Milan and saw the most vibrantly rich color combinations. We drew a lot of inspiration for our Flaneur bedding color selections from our travels there and the vignettes we saw. Ultimately, however, this combination of colors was really inspired by the desaturated color palette of hues found in the desert.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR AND WHY?
We gravitate to earth tones. One of our favorite colors is brown. It is so versatile and either reflects daylight or captures the moon and candlelight at night.
WHO IS THE ARTIST OR DESIGNER YOU ARE MOST INSPIRED BY?
We’re both inspired by so many designers and artists but I’d say I’m largely inspired by a handful of architects. A couple of names that come to mind are David Adjaye, Tadao Ando and Vincent Van Duysen. I also gain a ton of inspiration from artist/antiquarian Axel Vervoordt and street photographer Jamel Shabazz.
HOW DID YOU BECOME AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
I’d been in the entertainment industry for as long as I can remember when I met Jason. He was already designing and had a handful of clients. I’d always been so drawn to design so I started assisting Jason on projects. Slowly I built the knowledge and confidence to leave the company I worked for and design full time.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLE?
I’d say our style is minimal but not monastic. We’re adaptive to our individual client’s needs, of course, but through our own lens and perspective.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PROJECTS YOU HAVE DONE AND WHY?
Our favorite projects are always the ones we’re currently laboring on because we’re the most present in them. We fall in love with every project though whether it be a home on Miami Beach or a townhouse in Chicago.
WHAT ARE YOUR DESIGN DOS AND DONTS?
The world moves so fast and times change even faster. For that reason, we don’t really believe in dos and don’ts. We say through the all the rules out the window and do what comes to mind first!
WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR HOME?
Believe it or not, we’ve been so busy working that we haven’t focused much on our own home. The last thing we bought was a painting entitled “Supper” by a young artist named Tyler Ballon. We’re in love with the piece and excited to get it back from framing.
DO YOU HAVE AN EVENING OR MORNING RITUAL?
Jason and I are both early to rise early to bed people. It’s encoded in our DNA somehow and so important to keeping our balance. Mornings are sacred and for routine. We wake together, spend a couple minutes in bed just being then slowly rise to take on the day. It’s normally a walk around the corner to Neighborhood Coffee Shop for a shot of espresso with our dog Cruz, then off to the gym or yoga (separately). I catch up on the news after the gym then jump in to emails. The end of the day is used for winding down and prepping for the following day.
WHAT IS ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE?
My bedside table consists of my Apple watch charging base, a Kelly Wearstler sculpture, a glass pitcher of water and whatever books I’m reading at the moment – James Baldwin’s No Name In The Street and Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM DESIGN TRAVEL DESTINATION?
We’ve been to so many beautiful places around the world but can’t wait to make it to Jaipur, India and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
