Tell us about yourself and your work: what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. I am a graphic designer and a very passionate collector of all things modernism, mostly from the mid-twentieth century. I collect vintage furniture, pottery, toys, ephemera, records, books, packaging, etc.

Living in California has had a direct impact on what I do and what I like. The modern homes, the furniture, and all the history of designers in the area made it a very obvious choice for me. I am very inspired by my collection as well as by folk art, color, and, in general, the warmth of modernism from that era. I like to surround myself with things that inspire me, from the things I sit on to the things I look at.

My work is a direct reflection of the things around me. I have a dresser in my office that is filled with vintage ephemera that I’ve picked up over the years and I like to open drawers and just look at things every now and then. I also have two shelves with vintage packaging and an ever-growing library of vintage books.

Tell us about your space. What’s your aesthetic? What do you like or dislike? My space is an ever-changing showroom in a way. I am constantly looking for things and replace others when I find something that suits the area better. This forced me to start selling the things I don’t need anymore and it’s now growing into a store of vintage things.

You have a few vintage pieces by Charles and Ray Eames in your space. Why did you choose them? I have many of the vintage molded fiberglass chairs in different colors, some upholstered. They are just so fun and I use them all the time. I also have two molded plywood DCM chairs that I believe are some of the most beautiful, simple, and comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat on. Definitely recommended.

I picked them up because, well, Ray and Charles are probably one of the most influential designers in the U.S. — and on me personally. I just had to have them in my home.

Photos: Javier García

Readers often ask how to tell if a Herman Miller piece is authentic, especially when the piece in question is vintage.  Authenticity is very important to Herman Miller and we will be covering it here on Lifework in a series of posts focussing on individual designs. But the 20th Century Cincinnati show, a showcase for over 50 vintage furniture and design dealers, looks like a very good place to start. The organizers have published an excellent short guide to buying vintage. It’s linked to the show which runs over two days – from February 28 – February 29 at the Sharonville Convention Center in Sharonville, OH.