Krystian von Speidel photo |
Darren Brown
age: 42
occupation: interior designer
found at: Hill-Stead Farmers Market (Farmington)
Who is your mentor?
As an interior designer, my mentor is the legendary David Hicks. I'm fascinated by how he mixed patterns with traditional furnishings.
Ambition or talent: which matters more to success?
Ambition. You can have all the talent in the world and not be successful.
What would you like to own that you don't currently possess?
An Ed Paschke painting from the '80s.
What's your biggest extravagance?
I have my laundry sent out. I can't stand to fold it and I love how it's returned perfectly neat and folded like in a department store.
In what place are you happiest?
A rainy day when there is no reason to leave the house. I find I can get so much work done.
What drives you on?
I'm very excited about design, experimentation and the resulting possibilities.
First record bought?
The first record I got was Barry Manilow's live album. I got it for Christmas; my brother got KC and the Sunshine Band. I got showtunes, he got a cool band. Go figure. The first album I bought myself was Donna Summer's Bad Girl.
Most overrated?
Good taste.
Most underrated?
Good taste.
What makes you laugh?
Absurd things make me laugh. The stupidity of people makes me laugh. I find clever wit and wisdom amusing.
Brains or beauty?
Brains. Smart people are sexy. There's nothing sexy about a beautiful dumb person. I don't understand the men who go for bimbos with two brain cells. You get so tired of that so fast.
Money or sex?
Money. Money is sexy.
Style icon?
I very much admire how Italian men in Europe dress. They always look perfectly pulled together.
Most envious of?
Thin people who eat ice cream.
