Eric Cohler the Mixmaster

Eric Cohler has been dubbed the “Mix Master” because of his deft ability to blend traditional and contemporary design. Recently, I attended Eric’s presentation at the Marketplace Design Center in Philadelphia. Eric discussed his past, his concepts and his inspirations. Eric said “we all need a past to find the here and now.” I can understand how his experiences have provided a solid foundation for all of the wonderful designs he produces. By sharing Eric’s wisdom, perhaps I can help you fashion a space that suits your lifestyle in the here and now.

Since he was a young man, Eric has come in contact with a myriad of contemporary, traditional, and historic influences. Driven by a passion for design, Eric weaves contrary elements into interesting furnishings and spaces. His work includes fabric collections, carpet design, appliance design and more. 

Eric Cohler's newest fabric designs: The Lodge Collection for Lee Jofa

Eric’s passion for interior design developed at an early age. When he was just a boy of ten, a few decorating episodes on the “I Love Lucy Show” inspired Eric to rearrange the living room. His mother was an interior designer so she was not pleased with her son moving the furniture. However she left the bergeré chairs where Eric had placed them and a design star was born. 

Some contemporary influence came from the home of his great grandparents. George Keck was the architect for “The House of Tomorrow” at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. In 1937 Eric’s great grandparents hired Mr. Keck to design and build their Bauhaus style home. His great grandmother had stated one requirement, “I want the house of the day after tomorrow”.

The family business, Kuppenheimer Clothiers imparted a traditional influence. Kuppenheimer was a company known for quality textiles and classic taste. Eric is a trained art historian; he holds a master's degree in historic preservation from the Columbia University School of Architecture and a certificate in design from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Here are some photos that illustrate how Eric Cohler pulls it all together:

The Library, at Eric Cohler’s weekend home in Connecticut. Eric used a striped wall covering horizontally to visually widen a narrow space. The textiles in this space have geometric lines for a contemporary feel, mixed with chair frames in classic 18th Century styles.

 

Bedroom design by Eric Cohler. Black and white, yin and yang, wabi – sabi… Contemporary and traditional are not the only things that Eric contrasts in a design. He likes to create frisson - friction or tension in room. Eric professes that "tension holds things together".

This vignette is from Eric Cohler’s Manhattan home. The frames used are contemporary, but the photographs being framed are both vintage and contemporary. Since childhood Eric has loved the work of David Hicks and he uses one of David’s carpet designs here. 

Hanging the artwork Salon Style is a classic technique, one that Thomas Jefferson employed at Monticello.  There is a photo of the parlor at Monticello showing artwork hung salon style, but after several attempts to obtain permission to use the photo, I have not received a reply. A special thanks to Marc Leepson at Saving Monticello, for helping me track down this photograph and trying to help me obtain permission for use. 

If you would like to see more artwork hung salon style, check out Jennifer Boles post on her blog The Peak of Chic.

As I mentioned in a previous post Eric also discussed "The Power of Passion".

Eric summed up his presentation with what I believe was the most important design concept he shared: 

“Nothing is in good taste unless it suits the way you live”.   Eric Cohler