My Phone Interview with Jonathan Adler
Anyone who knows me knows I adore Nate Berkus and Jonathan Adler, and I also have big girl-crushes on Sarah Richardson and Candice Olson. So when I received an email inviting me to do a phone interview with Jonathan Adler — who I jokingly call “J-Ad” in my head — I was ecstatic.
I considered turning it down because I knew I’d get awkward, squeal, and generally act like a fan. After a brief chat with my husband, John, he convinced me to accept. He reminded me that a 15-minute call with Jonathan Adler might be one of those memorable moments from this blogging journey. He was right — I had to do it, clamminess and all.
I emailed back, trying to sound composed, and they scheduled the call for a Friday at noon. I hardly slept Thursday night, making lists of questions, overthinking every detail, and even asking you on Facebook for question ideas. Fifteen minutes before the scheduled time on Friday, I got an email asking if we could move the call to Monday. Part of me was relieved to have a few more days to prepare; the other part went into greater frenzy with more time to second-guess everything.
When Monday finally arrived and I heard his voice, all the nerves melted away. I was still giggly, talked fast, and probably wasn’t the most polished interviewee, but Jonathan was warm and engaging. By the time we hung up, I liked him even more. I couldn’t stop replaying the conversation with John — it was definitely highlight-reel material for me.
I’m not great at taking notes while I’m speaking, so I recorded the interview on my phone after asking Jonathan’s permission. I thought you might enjoy hearing the real conversation, so I shared the clip. Update: Click here to go directly to the sound clip if it doesn’t appear below.
Listening back, I was thrilled — he’s as delightful as I imagined. At one point he said my “chakras were tingling,” which made me float on air. We even exchanged “I love yous” in the moment; it felt surreal. One of my favorite pieces of advice he shared was to start with the vibe, not the decorative details. He suggested defining how you want your home to feel in three words and using those words as a design compass. That approach felt so smart and refreshingly simple.
I wish I’d had John take a photo of me during the call, but I can picture the moment perfectly. It was equal parts giddy and grateful — like meeting someone you admire and realizing they’re as lovely in person as they are in their work.
I hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes peek at my conversation with one of my favorite designers. Have you ever called or met someone you admire and worried you’d say something embarrassing? It can be nerve-wracking, but the payoff can be amazing — and I’m so glad I did it.
Psst — For anyone who can’t listen right now or prefers to read, here’s a summary of the interview. The recording includes more of our lighthearted banter; I condensed this recap where we overlapped or laughed over each other.
Jonathan emphasized focusing on mood and emotion first. Instead of immediately choosing paint colors, fabrics, or furniture, he recommended deciding how you want the space to make you feel. Translate that feeling into three defining words, and let those words guide choices about scale, color, texture, and accessories. He also talked about balancing practical needs with personality: create a home that works for your life while still expressing your taste.
He shared insight on mixing vintage pieces with modern finds, and reminded listeners that design should be joyful — not intimidating. Small, thoughtful additions can dramatically change the tone of a room. Most importantly, he encouraged trusting your instincts and allowing your home to evolve over time rather than forcing everything to be perfect at once.
If you’re into design, a short call or podcast episode with a favorite designer can be both inspiring and validating. I came away energized, brimming with ideas, and reminded that design is ultimately about feeling at home in your space.
Thanks for reading — and if you want to listen to the full conversation, don’t forget to visit our SoundCloud page linked above.