For model and Art Director Eric Jess, lighting is one of the main elements of what constitutes a home. From his New York apartment, he shares his ideas of functional vs comfortable as Louis Poulsen showcases the new FJ Elements collection.
Eric Jess invited Louis Poulsen into his home to showcase the re-introduced FJ Elements collection, designed by Finn Juhl (1912-1989) in the 1960s.
“My interior style is very functional and simple I feel, with few but well-curated design pieces, each serving a purpose – sometimes multiple. And to me this fit perfectly with Finn Juhl’s works and how his pieces both have a functional and emotional aspect.”
Working within the fast-moving field of fashion, Eric Jess finds comfort in the weight of classic Danish design heritage. In his New York apartment, the clean, modern lines become an anchor as it helps balance out any architectural corks. A bridging of old and new.
“My apartment has all these beautiful mixed details from various ages – crown mouldings, parquet floors, steel and wood, coloured tiles – and I feel that the FJ Elements sits comfortably within that history span.”
When living in a city like New York with its unbeatable energy, creating a calm atmosphere at home is something Eric prioritizes.
“Lighting really sets the mood for me and shapes how I experience my everyday moments, and it’s important to me to create a calm atmosphere in my home as an antidote to the New York energy outside.”
The different rooms of our homes serve us different purposes. And these purposes furthermore change during the day – from waking up in the morning to slowing down to rest in the evening. It supports our circadian rhythm and by that our general well-being.
“I think about this a lot actually. I want the lighting to be warm and comfortable but also practical in the way I use each space. I like when the same light can go from being functional to something softer – and I love it, when the design itself offers this kind of flexibility.”
