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www.aleksanderalembert.com
“Different areas can give a store a little more exclusivity. Design District already has Louis Vuitton, Dior and Cartier.”
Aleksander Alembert A Man Out of Time Interview Claudia Trimde
Interior designer Aleksander Alembert is a man out of time, a passionate artist who draws his inspiration from centuries past and thinks modern design is merely a passing fad. Recently, Alembert collaborated with trendy furniture boutique Fendi Casa. Fendi Casa, is the home design collection for the international luxury brand Fendi and is located in hip and happening Miami’s Design District. Luxury Living’s Fendi Casa, approached Alembert to design their showroom in his aesthetic. The concept behind this exciting idea is to show both consumers and the interior design community how with originality and creativity, Fendi Casa products can be highly personalized to suit individual styles. Alembert transformed the room into a tribute to his favorite school of design, Rococo –the 18th Century arts movement known for elaborate ornamentation.
So tell us about your Fendi Casa collaboration?
Fendi Casa approached me in April, to help them do something out of the box. It was a nice opportunity for me to work with them. For ten years I’ve been on a board of trustees of Villa Vizcaya & Museum, so I thought merging Vizcaya and Fendi Casa would be a good idea. Both are Italian; Fendi Casa produces contemporary furniture while Vizcaya has all the Rococo of neo-classical times. I specialize in 18th and19th century styles so I’ll be recreating Vizcaya’s look of Rococo’s Italian walls and crystal chandeliers.
So how’d you become an interior designer?
I had a big antique store in Boca Raton and we used to redecorate that store all day long, but I was never called an interior designer. All these interior designers would come into my store to buy furniture from me and I’d drive the UHaul to deliver these pieces to these guys and make sure they were placed correctly. And if the designer was not there, I’d have to redo the room to place the piece. That’s when I decided to go into interior design. I got hired by the ASID (American Association of Interior Design) to do marketing, and then they started using me as an assistant. I did everything for them for two years. When I got a chance, I broke off from there and was hired by some rich Canadian guys who gave me this penthouse to decorate. It was my first job by myself. I took it on and from there, I started doing interior design.
What do you think of Midtown as the location for furniture stores and designers?
I think it’s fine because if you’re in the neighborhood, and you’re looking to get your apartment or house furnished, you go into one area. The downside is that everyone’s homes start to look alike, because now you only shop at the local stores.
Some furniture stores are actually relocating to Brickell. Boconcept for example just opened up a flagship store in the Brickell area. What do you think of that?
Close enough. It doesn’t all have to be in the same spot. Besides, different areas can give a store a little more exclusivity. Design District already has Louis Vuitton, Dior and Cartier.
Do you think Midtown is unique? It’s not a conventional place where you’d think you’d find luxury brands.
In Midtown, you have the opportunity to buy furnishings and clothing at the same time. So if you’re going to shop for a handbag, next door you’ll find marble and mosaic tiles. From there, we’d create your closet, living room space, and you can see your whole entire life created the way you want without having to look further.
Design District really has the greatest stores for interior design in Miami
SEPT-OCT 2013
Would you say that your style is quite opposite
of modern styles?
Right. I was brought up in palaces, and museums, and followed the royal families. We had opulent drapes, beautiful tapestries, rugs, chandeliers, crystal-ware and porcelain. In modern furniture, there isn’t any of that. So I always felt like modern furniture is just a fad. When I was a kid, I’ve seen my mother’s house redesigned several times while my godfather’s house which was done in antiques, never changed. When he died, I inherited most of his furnishings.
They were amazing pieces worth a great deal of fortune. I decided to stick to dealing with antiques or high quality reproductions. Antiques give you a sense of greatness and a sense of pride. You have to be gentle with an antique.
It teaches you value and self-worth.