In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
To say Noz Nozawa loves jewelry would be an understatement. The San Francisco–based designer gravitates toward statement-making shapes and earthy gemstone hues when fashioning her vibrant interiors. “Jewelry is a big inspiration for me,” she tells Business of Home.
While crafting her current mood board—and her debut line for Corbett Lighting—the designer turned to her beloved baubles for motivation. “Gold chains and antique jewelry styles inspired this flat lay and the pieces from my lighting collection,” says Nozawa.
The final scheme is what the designer describes as an “earth-toned rainbow,” complete with saturated colors ranging from ruby red to deep onyx and turquoise blue—and lots of bold graphic prints. “To me, the palette feels buzzy and electrically cheerful, but in a mellow, vibrationally chill way,” she says. “I am very much vibing on the high density of earth-driven colors.”
Here, the designer breaks down the details, from tartan-patterned wool fabric to see-through gingham drapery.
1. MELTINGPOT TABLE BY DIRK VAN DER KOOIJ
“I love the improvisational process of how each Meltingpot table’s colors come together. The background of this photo is my own dining table, which feels like it was meant for me.”
2. CERAMIC TILE IN VINTAGE LEATHER, BRYCE CANYON AND HUCKLEBERRY BY FIRECLAY TILE
“This combo of tile glazes is full of color saturation, with soothing, grounded energy. I was playing around with tile samples, and this trio gave me big, warm feelings.”
3. HAMAC FABRIC IN EPICE BY MÉTAPHORES
“To me, this is a sexy see-through gingham, which is its own inspiring contradiction! It is my absolute favorite textile for sheer drapes, but secretly, I wish I could make my clothes from it."
4. SUYAKI WOOD WITH BLACK TUNG OIL BY NAKAMOTO FORESTRY
“For all my 10 years in design, I’ve waited for a client to let me use black Yakisugi (shou sugi ban) wood in or on their house. The process makes wood naturally pest- and fire-resistant, but it is also absolutely beautiful.”
5. ROMA HEIRLOOM TOMATO CANDLE BY FLAMINGO ESTATE
“Tomato has quickly become my favorite candle fragrance: not too floral, not too cloying—just pure olfactory delight.”
6. TURQUOISE RONDELLE STRAND AND STONED CHUBBY BABYLOCK WITH TURQUOISE BY MARLA AARON
“Turquoise will always have my heart as the first stone I fell in love with as a child. I take such pleasure from how mechanical and luxuriously useful Marla’s jewelry is.”
7. BUSRA RUG SAMPLE IN IVORY SAND BY SAFAR RUGS
“I’m very inspired by this rug [by Safar Rugs], but especially this little sample. It’s so neutral, and then the earthy bricky tassels make the rug unforgettable.”
8. BEZEL AND DAITH SCONCE SKETCHES BY NOZ NOZAWA FOR CORBETT LIGHTING
“The Bezel sconce is designed after my cherished antique Victorian flush-set ring [shown next to the drawing], and the Daith sconce is inspired by the Georgian-era stick pin that ‘got away.’”
9. TARTAN SEA WOOL FABRIC BY VOUTSA
“From the pattern repeat to the not-quite midcentury colors, this fabric is such a refreshing take on plaid. I’m obsessed [with the fact] that it’s 100 percent wool.”
10. SARTORIAL FABRIC IN LODEN BY RALPH LAUREN AT DESIGNERS GUILD
“My husband, a man of few aesthetic demands, loves houndstooth very much. This one has a hunter green tweed character to it that is both cozy and handsome.”
11. RIVIERE CHANDELIER SAMPLE BY NOZ NOZAWA FOR CORBETT LIGHTING
“The gold-leaf oversize mariner links on this chandelier are my favorite style of chain.”
12. NOOKSHELF WALLPAPER IN SAIL AWAY BY KATE CAPONE AT SUPPLY
“A most delightful riff on checkerboard, in colors I’d love to design a whole powder room around.”
13. VINTAGE JAPANESE TIN DARUMA TOY
“The most unusual Daruma in my collection, you wind it up and its eyes shift back and forth while it rolls toward you. I found it in Paris during Déco Off—following my consistent idiosyncrasy of buying Japanese antiques in Paris and French antiques in Tokyo.”
14. SANTA FE FABRIC IN ROJO/AZUL BY GASTÓN Y DANIELA
“I love everything about this fabric. It features a folk pattern mixed with checkerboard, and it comes in multiple unhinged [high-contrast] colorways. This earthy play on primary colors is my vibe.”
