WASHINGTON – Jacqueline Bond was a authorities advisor, an avid reader and, by her personal admission, “obsessed” with Jane Austen. Throughout a job transition a number of years in the past, she started trying to find an outsized version of Satisfaction and Prejudice that might give her a richer expertise with the textual content she knew so properly. However, she mentioned she discovered nothing however kitsch and up to date covers.
“I complained sufficient that my mom informed me I ought to simply make it myself,” Bond mentioned.
She couldn’t get the suggestion out of her head, and after recruiting her sister, Savannah Bond, and her buddy, Ayana Christie, who labored at Google, and conducting months of intense analysis into the design and literary worlds, they launched Bond & Grace, a literary lifestyle brand that encompasses a number of dwelling décor, tabletop and presents impressed by their love of storytelling.
The method begins with the artwork Novel.
“We partnered with students who reside and breathe the textual content, who’re instructing the textual content, writing books in regards to the authors. They assist us write annotations to offer further context, together with data we could not have identified earlier than. It was a brand new means to have a look at it and perceive the creator,” mentioned Bond.
However they couldn’t have a espresso desk e-book with out making the books look lovely, so that they partnered with 12 positive artists with completely different backgrounds for every e-book. Every artist reads the novel and makes use of it to create three to 5 authentic interpretive artwork items.
Every year, Bond & Grace releases one basic textual content reimagined as an Artwork Novel, an outsized espresso desk e-book. It folds literary evaluation and positive artwork inside the authentic textual content of beloved classics like The Secret Backyard, Alice in Wonderland and this 12 months, The Nice Gatsby. Alongside the Artwork Novel are hand-poured candles, memento matchboxes, desk linens, silk scarves, stationery and different gadgets that characteristic the identical inventive imagery because the books. A separate division, Artwork Home by Bond & Grace, focuses solely on the unique art work.
The primary e-book they developed was Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Backyard, in 2022. Popping out quickly after COVID, its theme of life after loss resonated, mentioned Bond. It was additionally full of luscious florals that translated properly into product.
Subsequent got here Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which was darker and moody and holds parallels with immediately’s speedy transition to synthetic intelligence, mentioned Bond, adopted by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and this 12 months, The Nice Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel that’s celebrating its 100th anniversary.
They choose novels which might be already within the public area, and there are greater than 20,000 to select from. “We do loads of testing earlier than selecting the title,” mentioned Bond. “It’s a mixture of science, the highest, most-read basic novels, faculty studying lists and banned e-book lists. We take all that into consideration.
“We personal all the artwork, in addition to the patterns, which can be utilized for future designs like wallpaper, linens, equipment and lamp shades,” she added, noting that they’re in search of licensing companions. “It opens the door for dwelling décor and way of life merchandise. The choices are infinite.”
Their typical buyer is a “tradition connoisseur” who’s a reader, loves museums, loves artwork and cares in regards to the inside design of her dwelling (the prototype buyer is nearly at all times a girl, however her age ranges from 30 to 70).
Many individuals will purchase the décor first, after which contemplate the Artwork Novel, however the artistic course of at all times begins with the e-book.
Bond & Grace will likely be offered at Nordstrom’s on-line, in addition to in museum and designer retailers and bookstores. Seeking to broaden to a bigger viewers, Bond & Grace exhibited at NY Now and the Dallas Complete House & Present Market in June, and will likely be within the Excessive Design part of Atlanta Market subsequent January.
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