James “Ford’ Huniford
“My designs begin and end with the site—its geography, architecture and artifacts—as well as its shapes, hues and tones. By referencing the native elements of a place, I build a world that feels whole, real…a home.”
From his days as a child in upstate New York, Ford has been drawn to the unique strength, shape and scale of American industrial craftsmanship. Abandoned mills, stone quarries, and rusted farm equipment have influenced his designs as much as the art of Jasper Johns and Ellsworth Kelly. The pure integrity that informed American industry for generations becomes art in its own right in Ford’s hands.
When designing a Manhattan townhouse, a cabin in Aspen, or a country barn, Huniford blends new and old, uniting found objects with refined materials in distinctive combinations and vignettes. Whether it’s the gentle curve of a whale bone or the circular repetition of oversized gears, one-of-a-kind objects inspire all of Huniford’s designs. His signature use of calming wall colors highlights the importance of objects, art, and furniture, as a canvas does for a painter.
“Interiors should be tailored to how people live,” says Ford. “Rooms should flow from one area to another and not have themes. Most importantly, they should reflect the spirit and soul of the people who inhabit them. “
A self-taught designer, Ford was selected by Architectural Digest as one of the “Top 100 Designers.” His work has appeared in the American, Italian and French editions of Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, W, Vogue, the New York Times, and House Beautiful, among others.
Huniford makes his home in New York City’s West Village, where he lives with his son Jack and daughter Ava. He is the Chairman of Housing Works’ “Design on a Dime” and is a Council member at Rockefeller University.
