continued. . . 

The organic synergy and continual back-and-forth between atelier, store, and licensing partners – which includes Hickory Chair furniture, Waterworks bathroom hardware, Safavieh carpets, Visual Comfort lighting, Kravet/Lee Jofa fabric, and, of course, vintage modern, Target’s 500-sku project that covers virtually all home categories from stationery to furniture – fuels O’Brien’s creative fires. “I’m lucky that I get to do everything I want to do,” he says. “Recently, product development has taken an enormous amount of my attention but then just when I need to I switch to residential projects. One job feeds another. At heart, I’m a designer, a merchant, and a business owner so it’s great that I don’t have to pick one or the other.” There is, though, one common denominator. “It’s all about problem solving for clients,” he avers.

This creative-search-for-design-dilemmas seems to be embedded in O’Brien’s dna. “I’ve always been intrigued with the history of furnishings and things that have authenticity to them,” O’Brien admits, and he continually culls inspiration from his collections. “I always bring things from my house to the studio,” he says. “There’s always something I have that leads to the next design.” In fact, a few old prized possessions figured prominently in the Reed & Barton designs. “I like practical and useful things as well as fine and rare things,” O’Brien says, “and I’m always looking for ways to combine old and new. I’ve learned that people need help putting things together in their homes and I enjoy helping them do that either with my residential projects, my licensing programs, or in my store.”

With 30 employees on the payroll now, O’Brien’s name continues to grow in fashionista circles. But the designer pooh-poohs the thought that his name is becoming as well-known as his celebrated clientele. “That part of the business doesn’t interest me,” he scoffs. “I don’t get impressed by that mainly because I’m too busy working all the time. I’m more inclined to be at the store working late than at a social or industry event.” And on that subject, one last thought before he’s off to the next appointment. “I’ve learned that good work always leads to the next job,” he says, “and that’s the way it should be.”