As most of you know, I’m a huge fan of Vicente Wolf. I not only love his aesthetic but his bio could be my own: avid traveler, photographer, and has had many different careers. So you’ll see from my questions that these are the areas that I was most interested in exploring. It was truly a thrill for me to have a chance to chat with him. I hope you enjoy it as well.

alek: For any readers who may not be familiar with your work, could you please describe your style?

Vicente Wolf: Sybaritic, unpretentious, elegant, comfortable with a global point of view, and timeless.

alek: How has your style evolved during the course of your career?

VW: Through travel and constant self-education I have become more and more open to a blending of elements, periods, styles and cultures.

alek: When and how did you know you wanted to be a designer?

VW: When I ran out of options of other things to do and had the good fortune of meeting somebody who opened the door on interior design and allowed me to experience the industry.

alek: I’m so impressed with the way you incorporate objects from different parts of the world so seamlessly into modern spaces. Can you give us some tips for doing this ourselves? What are some of the pitfalls?

VW: Let me compare it to eating different types of foreign food. If you’re stuck in the middle of the boondocks and you haven’t traveled and experienced different types of cuisine, it’ll be hard for you to be able to relate to it. The more one travels and tries different things, the easier it becomes to be open to different culinary experiences. It’s no different with the blending of materials and blending of environments.

Pitfalls include buying things that are too kitschy or souvenirs. You have to select the items with the same point of view that you used when you selected the other items in your home. Many things that look great while you’re traveling look completely out of place in your home. Don’t buy that souvenir that’s going to end up in the closet and never see the light of day again!

alek: Please tell us a little about your “Crossing Boundaries” trips.

VW: I live to travel to ‘out-of-comfort’ experiences. Trips that take me out of my everyday lifestyle and creature comforts. Going to places that most people don’t go, whether it is Iran, Papua New Guinea or Easter Island. The book is five trips that I took with a diary of the travel and how the travel altered my design vocabulary.

alek: When did you begin traveling extensively? What’s the best travel experience you’ve ever had?

VW: Since I was eighteen I’ve been trotting the globe. The best experience ever? Always the one I’m about to take next.

alek: You’re currently working on the W Hotel in Times Square. Can you tell us about the concept?

VW: Try to bring a fresh light uplifting mood to rooms in what is one of the busiest corners of the world where the guests can feel that they are in a restful and peaceful environment.

alek: I know that you find a lot of your inspiration in art. Who are some of your favorite artists?

VW: Degas, Rothko and Gauguin

alek: Tell us about your photography. When did you start pursuing it? What are your favorite subjects to shoot?

VW: Eight years ago, I’ve had 5 different photo shows, photograph all my work for publications and also photographing both books as well as all the photos that I’m working on at the moment. My favorite subjects to shoot? It depends completely on the subject.

alek: And finally, getting back to your travels, what are some things you never home without? What is your next trip?

VW: I never leave home without clean underwear, film, my camera, vitamins, bubble wrap and tape. In December I’m going to Mali and will take a one week trip with a four-by-four to Timbuktu! Cannot wait.

alek: Thank you so much for taking time to let the readers of From the Right Bank  get to know you a little better.

So, how great is he? And guess what, guys? I did that 4×4 trip to Timbuktu! He is the first person I’ve met (in person or on line) who has ever done this trip too. So it just makes me love him even more!

To learn more about Vicente’s work, visit www.vicentewolf.com. He also has a blog at vicentewolfblog.com. Have a great weekend, everyone. I’m going to be exploring more of Atlanta and I’ll see you back at home on Monday!