Philip Gorrivan

Success and achievement are Philip Gorrivan's constant companions.  He and his namesake design firm are perpetual features in major shelter books — Elle Decor, House Beautiful, House & Garden, Quest, New York Spaces — just to name a few.  House & Garden named him one of their Tastemakers of 2007.  And this week, Duralee/Highland Court will host a launch party at the River Club in New York, introducing Gorrivan's latest sensation: a masterfully designed luxury line of over 300 fabrics that is expected to wow even New York's jaded design world.

Philip gushes over his wife, Lisa, who he says is his strongest supporter and toughest critic — and mother to their two young children.  The family lives in a brownstone on the Upper East Side, full of rich color, pattern and whimsy — with a dressing room grand enough to encase the wardrobe of one of the best dressed men east of the Hudson! Handsome and a bona fide clothes horse, Gorrivan collects Gucci loafers like Britney collects traffic tickets — 50 pairs and no stopping.  Living a cote' de some of Madison Avenue's finest men's clothiers makes a walk around the block a dangerous but stunning jaunt for our sartorial star of Style Compass.

With appreciation for the many successes and refinements in his life, Philip is a long established supporter of many causes including the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, DIFFA, the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, the Frick Collection, the NY Botanical Garden, and Save Venice.

Born and raised in Portland Maine, his fondest childhood memories are of family vacations.  Philip recalls a seminal moment, when as a young teenager on holiday with his family in New York, he announced to his astounded parents, "I am going to live here."  He remembers, “I looked around and saw all the steel and glass towers and the great retail stores — I just knew I would live in New York.”

Little surprise really, for talent and the spirit of design were in his blood, having inherited them from his Moroccan-French born mother who displayed her penchant for the creative and the off-beat with her seemingly never ending re-decoration of their New England home. “My mother was fabulously creative in her constant re-designing of our house.  Being French, she did not have the motif of Americana within her, in fact, she went for a new look every few years.  People in Portland, Maine just didn't do that.  I remember she had this coffee table that was reverse-painted and mirrored, with those sort of egolomise figures you can find on 1stdibs now, but were then, in the 60s, 'so Miami.'  Talk about being out of sync with the neighbors!  I was the one who liked it and who supported her for doing it."

Philip's own artistic talent was not without notice.  When he was nine years old, his parents were informed by teachers at his school" ...this boy is going to be an artist."   As a child, Gorrivan painted a mural on his bedroom wall of the Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album.  He says, "It was a hit!"

The talented young Gorrivan excelled in his dual majors of political science and art history at the University of Vermont, where he admits his college days were not so awfully tough, confessing his best subject was skiing.  After college, Philip's ultimate move to New York was achieved: working first in publishing at Hearst Magazines, to an Internet start-up, and finally to Wall Street — during all this time however, his interest in design never waned.   Moonlighting on interior design projects for some time, Gorrivan's perspective on life took a turn on 9-11, when he realized "... life is too short not to pursue one's dreams." Gorrivan established his own company, and in stunningly short time, PGD (Philip Gorrivan Designs) became a leading New York design firm. Philip Gorrivan's life is one of achievement.  He is a dashing figure in the art-conscious business world of design — as he is the consummate New Yorker, devoted to his family and the community that is New York.  Once vowed to live here, he has indeed ... and with style.

Gorrivan is especially excited about his new line for Duralee/Highland Court as his collection fills 6 colorbooks of luxurious fabrics — cut velvets, thick and flocked linens, chenilles and woven silks created within a splendor of hues from rich blues, oranges, grays, plums greens and browns.  The line is scheduled to hit the market in January 2008.

WHAT DIRECTION IS YOUR STYLE COMPASS POINTED TO?
Fashion:  I love Bill Blass; he was an amazing decorator and had such a sense of style. Period Blass at his best embodied American Style; it was classical, clean and tailored.  He was a true style genius.

Fabrics:  Currently, luxurious fabrics in exciting colors are central to my design aesthetic. I am excited about cut velvets, silk ikats and duchesse satins. 

Colour:  At the moment, deep organic colors such as bark and plum are of great interest.  I’m also intrigued by strong greens and yellows.  Grey is my neutral.

Travel: After going to Belgium last summer to meet with mills about my new fabric collection, I brought my family to Venice where we had an incredible time; it was a playground for both us and the children. Going to the Lido and the Biennale; it was a magical week on the water.  I have great plans for the winter:  a visit to Aspen, followed by a trip to Paris, to the Maison & Objet for the premiere of my fabric collection for Duralee/ Highland Court.

Entertaining: Since our dining room is not ready now we are entertaining a lot out in restaurants and clubs. Hard on the wallet, but easy!

Art: I’ve been very interested in photography lately. My most recent acquisition (a gift from my wife) is a contemporary photograph by Greg Girard, a Vancouver artist who photographs the urbanization of Shanghai.

Restaurant: My favorite neighborhood restaurant is Sette Mezzo.

Gardening/floral: For my garden in Connecticut, this is the first season that I went with deep colors:  scarlets, oranges and plums. I love Dahlias and Hollyhocks.  In the past, I’ve always had whites, blues and purples in my garden.  I’m also very interested greenery… mixing leaves …hostas with lamium, and different varieties of ferns for a woodland look.

Books: I’m reading 6 books at once, 25-30 pages into each of them.  I’m still in the middle of Mayflower — pathetic!

Music: Music is so important — I am interested in almost all music — from opera to the Scissor Sisters.  As a parent, you also become interested in what your children like.  Some other favorite new artists are:  Darren Hayes ("This Delicate Thing We've Made") and Westlife, a UK band.  I am very excited about my recent Sirius Satellite tuner!

Gifts: I love to personalize gifts — from a monogrammed box to embroidered pillows — just plan ahead!

Hotel: We rented an apartment in Venice that we are going to try to rent every June.  Apartments are easier with a family.

Museum: My favorite museum has always been the Frick Collection. I’ve been involved with it for many years; it has an amazing art collection and exquisite decorative arts.