In celebration of Calvin Klein Home‘s 20th anniversary, we asked the brand’s Creative Director Amy Mellen to curate a collection of her favorite items from our site including Agnes Martin prints, Jean Prouvé chairs and vintage Turkish kilims.
Curious about what drives Mellen creatively, we asked her to share the influences that have shaped her personal style and highly refined eye. Having overseen design for the Calvin Klein Home since 2009, she points to art, nature and — most notably — travel as the main sources of inspiration. Sharing photos from excursions that have inspired her work at Calvin Klein Home, Mellen takes us around the globe from Iceland to Egypt, Italy and Japan. Scroll down for an exclusive glimpse inside the designer’s travel diary.
Iceland
“I spent a week in Iceland it really blew me away. The landscape is other-worldly: vast, dry, rich, lush, cold and unexpected. This picture was taken near a cluster of geyser hot springs. I love the color and patterns of the earth.”
Iceland
“This is why nature blows me away. Here, a glacier boasts a near-perfect arch amid a temporary, constantly changing landscape.”
Iceland
“The scale of this blows me away. In order to design, I believe you have to clear your mind and expose your senses to nature.”
Egypt
“On this trip I was inspired most by the details on every temple we saw. The sheer magnitude of their size makes it seem possible to build anything.”
Big Ben National Park, Texas
“When I hiked Big Ben and came upon this ruined adobe house, my first thought was, ‘How in god’s name could anyone live in this heat?’ But I love the organic, worn window, the frame it creates for the view and the pattern of the structure’s shadows.”
Marfa, Texas
“Going to Marfa made me realize how much Donald Judd also loved Iceland. The way the landscape is framed in these boxes makes you look at it from a completely new perspective. Again, it’s about the light, proportion and placement of objects. The light at different times of the day creates endless compositions.”
City Palace in Udipar, India
“I love the white linens and how this simple bed is perfectly positioned against the patterned walls — it’s meditative.”
Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Kyoto, Japan
“Kyoto is one of my favorite places to visit — it’s so serene. When visiting this temple I was shocked by the color and how this path of columns went on and on, creating a compelling visual experience.”
Cuvio, Italy
“This is where the women of the village used to wash their clothes. I imagine a bunch of ladies gossiping here as they wash their linen sheets. The light was perfect on this day.”
Marrakech, Morocco
“I arrived at night in Marrakesh, and it was a maze of nondescript buildings. Then, after being led through a series of long hallways, I opened a door to find a courtyard filled with color and flowers. I would love to have this little bath with a mosaic bench in my house. The light is soft and the colors are full of depth.”
Tulum, Mexico
“I loved the mosquito netting on this bed; it instantly created a very romantic mood. The simple plaster walls are very minimal, yet warm.”
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
“The tainted history here freaks me out, but the synergy of the trees and temples growing together and the quietness of the site are so inspiring.”
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
“I woke up well before sunrise this day. As the sun rises over this incredible temple, you realize that what is most striking — along with the colors of the sky — is the reflection in the water. The silhouette and shapes are breathtaking.”
Lake Kontrashibuna, Alaska
“This was one of my favorite trips. I enjoyed being away from any civilization and sleeping in a tent outdoors. The scenery’s muted colors were very inspiring.”
