Collector, art dealer, designer: seeing the world through the eyes of John Derian

AND MY FUTURE Another collection of tableware, again with Astier de Villatte, which we’ll be launching in the autumn: we’re obsessed with cats – they have four and I had one for 24 years. Dozing cats will be the theme of the new collection. But I’m considering a broader collaboration with The Fifth Avenue Hotel, one of my favourites in New York for its style and for its aesthetic vision, which is similar to my own: at the moment, my books and objects – such as paperweights and sticker collections – are on display in the hotel (Signature Suite, $4,554 per night, thefifthavenuehotel.com).

Da sinistra: tappeto fatto a mano di Oliver Williams; un cuscino Paula Rubenstein X Amanda Brooks;

MY LATEST PURCHASE Two vintage striped cotton cushions in shades of green, blue and red, created as part of a collaboration between Amanda Brooks and Paula Rubenstein, and bought from her shop on Christie Street in New York (vintage cushions, $420 each, paularubenstein.com).

AND THE ONE I’VE HAD MY EYE ON A 19th-century building that belonged to a husband-and-wife pair of artists: it’s on Bleecker Street and is very interesting architecturally, with spacious rooms inside. I have three shops in New York and I’d like to bring them all together in a single space. I hope I’ll be able to buy it.

La hall del The Fifth Avenue Hotel.

THE VIEW THAT INSPIRES ME Nature, the woods and the ocean: botanical prints form the basis of many of my projects. My main inspiration comes from Cape Cod, where I live life to the full in every season: on the beach in summer, foraging for mushrooms in autumn, cycling and even going for a dip in the middle of winter. I’m deeply drawn to the light there; it leaves me spellbound every time (from 25 July, the Woods Hole Film Festival, dedicated to independent cinema, takes place in Cape Cod, woodsholefilmfestival.org).

MY FAVOURITE ROOMS IN MY HOMES In New York, it’s a corner by the window – an intimate and discreet bow window. In Provincetown, on the other hand, it’s the Yellow Room: a room with old yellow wallpaper, purple floors and a relaxed atmosphere. A cosy space with a large table designed for socialising and spending time together.

MY FAVOURITE WEBSITES AND APPS Gardenheir for all your gardening purchases (gardenheir.com).

THE LAST SONG I DOWNLOADED The track by American rapper and singer-songwriter Post Malone (currently on The BIG ASS Stadium Tour, which concludes in Salt Lake City on 28 July: confirming his transformation from a hip-hop sensation to an icon of contemporary country music, postmalone.com).

Da sinistra: Eton Mess, il dessert tradizionale fatto con meringa, panna montata e fragole fresche, FORTNUM & MASON (8,50 £); un piatto del ristorante abcV.

THE LAST MEAL THAT REALLY IMPRESSED ME Jean Georges Vongerichten’s vegetarian restaurant abcV — even though, in reality, I’m not a vegetarian myself — remains one of my favourites: the Lettuce Cups with avocado, the roasted cauliflower and the Dosa (a thin crêpe made from a fermented batter of rice and lentils, Ed.). But I also like Il Buco, on Bond Street, where I always go for lunch: an Italian restaurant that’s become a sort of personal canteen, a familiar place where I feel at home (gift cards ranging from $10 to $500 are available at abcV, abcv.nyc; ilbuco.com).

MY FRIDGE IS ALWAYS STOCKED WITH lemons, parsley, olives, coffee, cream and milk in equal parts.

A RECENT DISCOVERY I stumbled across a giant banana, like a papier-mâché installation, at the New York Flea Market. I bought it, but then sold it on straight away because I had so many enquiries. I also discovered some porcelain fruit pieces made by Penkridge in England, which are then hand-painted with a trompe-l’œil effect, like antique paintings: I’ve ordered them and they’re available in my shop at 6 East Second Street and online. My favourite? The watermelon (Porcelain Watermelon, $450, johnderian.com).

AN OBJECT I CONSIDER TO BE ART Oliver Williams’ hand-made rugs, crafted from vintage wool that has been crocheted and salvaged from bespoke men’s suits. Inspired by his childhood in the 1930s on the family farm, Olly transforms discarded fabrics into floor treasures, rich in character (from $585, available at John Derian Dry Goods, New York and online, johnderian.com).

THE BEST PRESENT I’VE GIVEN RECENTLY A fake rubber banana. I bought six of them; there’s one in particular that I find absolutely hilarious, and I gave it to my friend Kevin Thompson, a production designer.

AND WHAT I RECEIVED Can I mention two? A mushroom-shaped ceramic bowl created by the artist Clare Crespo in Los Angeles and a photo of me with an old Volkswagen Beetle taken by Stephen Kent Johnson: a unique piece that captures the charm and memory of the moment (fine art prints, from $500, patriciabarrettstudio.com; small decorative items, from $16 to $20, clairecrespo.com).

THE ARTIST I WOULD COLLECT IF I COULD John Singer Sargent. He bridged the gap between classical portraiture and modernity (in November 2025, the watercolour Gondolier’s Siesta was sold by Christie’s New York for $7.4 million, an all-time record for a work on paper by Sargent).

Derian con un vecchio Maggiolino Volkswagen in una foto scattata da Stephen Kent Johnson.

THE BOOKS ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE Circe by Madeline Miller: brings one of the most intriguing figures from Homer’s myth to life with an original take on the great stories of antiquity (€13.30, amazon.it).

A PLEASURE I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP I must confess: Eton Mess, the English dessert that originated in Eton and is made with crumbled meringue, whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Delicious and delightful (£8.50 on the Fortnum & Mason, fortnumandmason.com).

IF I HAD TO LIMIT MY SHOPPING TO ONE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN A CITY, I’D CHOOSE SoHo, again in New York. One of the shops I love and frequent is IF SoHo; it has a bold style blending the avant-garde with classicism: it was founded by three brothers in 1978 and even impressed Andy Warhol, who dedicated the entire back cover of his magazine to it for a year Interview. You can find fashion collections by designers such as Yohji Yamamoto, Martin Margiela, Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester, but the long iron tables also feature accessories and antique items, including sewing machines. Surprising – just the way I like it (ifsohonewyork.com).

IF I DIDN’T LIVE IN NEW YORK AND PROVINCETOWN... Perhaps I’d be living in Italia, in Tuscany. I have fond memories of Montecatini Terme, where I spent some time many years ago: I loved the surrounding countryside and the little villages, not far from Florence.

IF I DIDN’T DO WHAT I DO, I’D BE An actor. When I was younger I used to act; I’m fascinated by that world and the ability to be someone else, to step into the shoes of different characters.