Texture holds the memory. From warped wooden steps worn from years of use to the sun-faded fibers of a beloved rug, spaces and surfaces worn by time carry physical evidence of the past. Celebrating this patina of time––and reflecting on the experiences that shape our lives and careers––a recent concert at the Bentley Mills Chicago showroom marked both Design Milk’s 20th anniversary and the launch of Bentley Mills’ new Collection of land/signs. The afternoon included a conversation between Jaime Derringerfounder of Design Milk and Todd van der Kruik, its founder and creative director Neutral House.
For both Derringer and Van der Kruik, the new collection and anniversary celebration represented a homecoming.
With great affection, Derringer commended the guests by taking it back to the beginning: blogging about design on her computer and ultimately, creating a design community of like-minded creatives. “When I think about the spaces that have shaped me, the internet has had a huge influence on me – being in that online space for 20 years, having conversations and meeting people that way,” Derringer explained. “But I really feel like the moment I got out into the world and got behind the computer was really when things started to take off.” Twenty years later, Design Milk has the best of both worlds: an established online presence and a global network of design talent.
Designed by Neutral Haus for Bentley Mills, Land/Mark was inspired by liminal spaces that leave room for creativity. For Van der Kruik, that meant the grease-stained floor of his parents’ garage, where his teenage band practiced three times a week. an old wooden floor he used to frequent. or a worn cobblestone road. But the collection also represented a personal comeback for Van der Kruik, who previously served as Vice President of Design at Bentley Mills.
“I wanted these patterns to feel alive, so that when you walk into a space, you already feel like something happened there,” Van der Kruik shared.
Attendees received custom luggage tags as souvenirs, designer socks, and one lucky attendee went home with a special gift from Prima Vista, Bentley Mills’ premium carpet program.
With three styles and 16 color shades, Land/Mark embraces imperfection as a design, moving from the golden browns of Know by Heart, Late Gold, Ashlar to the mottled grays of Where We Met + Know By Heart, Haze White, Ashlar.
Deringer thinks about these traces people leave behind: “There’s something very beautiful about the patina of people using a space.”
To know more about the brand, visit Bentleymills.com.
Photo courtesy of Bentley Mills.
