Neptune Papers Issue Seven - Cover One: Bunny Williams by Lucia Bell-Epstein

272 Pages

“In America, if you’re talking about design and you say Bunny, everyone knows you mean Bunny Williams.” writes Anne Hardy. “The other Bunny (Mellon) had impeccable style too, but in this world, Bunny is Bunny W; a master at country house style but with all kinds of twists, not just rooted in American and European antiques. She is wildly hospitable and I think now what does someone, not from America, need to know about Bunny Williams? I go to the source and I launch our conversation with that question. Her reply is swift: they need to know ‘I am a person who would rather be at home with my friends, my dogs, my garden, my husband, than out in a big crowd of people.” Interesting because I have been at parties where she is the absolute center of attention. But you see, she doesn’t seek it. ‘I have had this career for a very long time; I was lucky to train with Sister Parrish and Albert Hadley. I’ve been in the design world, my whole life. But I think you use your opportunity and exposure to form your visual context. For me, I like to live my life separate from my career.’ 

I am intrigued. What does she mean? Her own houses are famous for their ‘at home’ sensibility, “but I don’t need the perfect, grand house. My whole life in interior design has been about creating homes. Yes, I do big houses but what I think about is how will the people live there, what’s going to happen? I want people to have a feeling of comfort and home”. I suggest what she is describing is - the atmosphere. Her response is immediate. “It is everything; the atmosphere is apparent before you start noticing what pictures or furniture they have.”’

Read the full story in print in this Issue.

This Issue also features: Andre Mellone, Ash Roberts, Chris Black, Chris Wallace, Courtney Applebaum, Dean Levin, Eames Foundation, Formative Modern, Ghetto Gastro, Giancarlo Valle, Husband Wife, Jason Stewart, Jeremiah Brent, John Chamberlain Estate, Julie Hillman, Kelly Wearstler, Manor Rock Farm, Martin Brûlé, Michael Bargo, Olympia Gayot, The Future Perfect, Tory Burch and more!