Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Athena Calderone on the Art of Curating a Personal Environment
The EyeSwoon founder spills what she’s coveting.
While we adore getting glimpses into the curated personal spaces of our favorite celebs and the hotels they book when they’re traveling, there’s an equally powerful itch in our design-centric brains that can be scratched only by finding out what they want to buy. We know what we have in our own shopping carts (and we love sharing it with you), but what’s in theirs? One such woman whose haul we’ve been eager to unpack is Athena Calderone, author and founder of lifestyle brand EyeSwoon.
We caught up with Calderone on the heels of her new collection with Beni Rugs, Salon, which draws on 1920s and 1930s interior design and architecture. After moving into a Tribeca apartment that once belonged to the French architect Thierry Despont last year, she fell into “a deep fascination and obsessive inquiry into Art Deco design,” particularly that of the Vienna Secession, she tells House Beautiful. The wood paneling in her new home made her think of its streamlined geometry and patterns and rich finishes. So she set off to learn about the history, architecture, and design of the era in the place where it all happened and came back with ideas for the line.
“Both the designers and the architecture of the Art Deco movement of the 1920s had a heavy influence and inspired me to play with geometry, intersecting sleek lines, and keeping everything contained within a frame,” Calderone says of the collection, which comprises 13 different rug designs. “There is a constant balance of the bold and the restrained—even the palette teeter-totters on a richness and subtlety that is nuanced at times.”
Her hope is that the rugs inspire a deeper connection to the colors and geometric patterns of the past. “As a designer, my ultimate goal is to create environments that inspire people to be their best selves, and I think there is something very comforting about being surrounded by natural colors and materials,” she adds.
Keep reading to find out what Calderone has been adding to her shopping cart lately, but be prepared: You’re probably going to want a few of these gorgeous pieces for yourself.
For more shopping inspiration:
- What’s in This English It Girl's Cart?
- The Brownstone Boys Dish on their Favorite Renovation Finds
- Oscar de la Renta’s Laura Kim Is Coming for Your Tabletop
Calderone says this rug is the one in her collection that stands out to her. “This particular design was inspired by a marble pattern I became fixated with on the stone walls of the MAK Museum in Vienna,” she says. “It fuses this beautiful silvery blue with an oxblood red.” It comes in three more colorways.
Calderone visited Italian architect Piero Portaluppi’s home turned museum Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan seven years ago, and says the experience “prompted a deep fascination” for her. “While Portaluppi’s work has had a profound impact on the architectural world at large, it was his kitchen at the Villa Necchi that left an indelible impression on me. Rich and sumptuous warm wood with an identifiable delineation almost adds order to a space and a break for the eye. This tome covers the breadth of his work with archival photography, essays, architectural models, and personal interests.”
“Simone Bodmer-Turner has not only been a dear friend and collaborator over the years, but she also remains a huge inspiration as someone who holds true to her artistic roots at all times,” Calderone says. “Here, Simone stepped away from the material she has been known for, ceramic, and brazenly explored a new realm of possibilities experimenting with bronze, wood, lacquer, and silk.”
“I love glass through and through. I also love coupe, and furthermore, I love anything made by the touch of the hand,” Calderone adds. “This perfect creation embodies that trifecta beautifully.” The glasses come as a set of four.
“There are certain products that make their way into your visual orbit and stop you in your tracks. Something that holds the timelessness of a vintage relic so deeply that you cannot tell if it is new or old,” Calderone says. “L’eau No. 1 by Henrii is one of those objects. A piece that holds a soul and a certain level of restraint that screams elegance. Well done, Henrii!” This wall sconce comes in two sizes.
“You are perfect!” Calderone says of this catchall vessel. “So much so that I purchased two for my home. Beautiful, textured, transparent, and a material that pairs beautifully with any style home.”
"I am truly obsessed with this vibrant scent—intoxicating and transformative with its minty, zesty, and herbaceous aroma,” Calderone says. “I love the alabaster vessel too as it illuminates the flicker of light beautifully. It’s also sustainable as you can replace the wax!” If a minty scent isn’t your cup of tea, consider the Leather and Tobacco one—it comes in the same beautiful holder.
“I recently hosted an event during design week for my Beni rug collection, Salon, and [the James Beard Award–winning New York chef] Andy Baraghani created an exceptionally artful display of food. EVERYONE was in awe of the display and asked about the cheese that looked like a beautifully delicate maitake mushroom,” Calderone says. “I literally received 10-plus texts asking about this delicacy. Enter the Boska Cheese Curler. I promise you need one so everyone can talk about your cheesy creations! I mean where beauty meets deliciousness is where I swoon!”
“Is it just me or are all ice buckets a bit unsightly?! They really do not have to be, and this one proves that simplicity wins,” Calderone says. Because it’s made of glass, this ice bucket will fit in on anyone’s bar cart.
“Everyone loves candlelight. This holder gives the light a shimmery moment to reflect and refract, and you get all the more beauty,” Calderone explains. “Never underestimate the glow of a candle sconce. It’s the perfect situation on the wall at eye level, offering everyone and every room the luminosity they want and need. Also, I just adore everything Oliver creates!” The best part is this sconce can hold pillar, votive, and taper candles thanks to a removable piece you screw on.
Watch Next
8 Percale Sheets You Need in Your Life
36 Candle Gifts Anyone Would Love
54 Online Furniture Stores to Bookmark Now
The Viral Shower Lamp Is 20% Off at Amazon RN
