How would you describe your style? Three elements are combined to make the J.M. Szymanski style; honest geometry, studied proportion, and authentic materials. That’s it!

Do you remember the first thing you made? The first thing I remember being truly proud of making was an apple pie. I must have been 10 years old. The pie had twisted lattice work and pressed edges. It was literally picture perfect. I proceeded to drop it on the floor and I never got to eat it. I think that is also why the memory is so clear.

How do you begin your design process… Before I make a design I ask myself, "would I want to live with this and would I want to continue to live with it 10 years from now?" this helps me to differentiate a trendy impulse form a truly personal and authentic design.

If I weren’t a maker I’d be... If I was not a designer and maker, I would love to have been an architect. It would be incredible to explore design in this large scale.

Favorite quote or words to live by: Just do it

If I could run away I’d go… If I could run away, I would run away to an old Moorish olive estate in the south of Spain. This is where I will retire.

If you could collaborate with one person dead or alive who would it be? For me, the perfect collaboration will always be with the interior designer or the architect. The architect that I would most want to collaborate with, would have been Antoni Gaudi.

What would be on your maker’s soundtrack? Cheap pop, because that is what I listen to when I am carving down the steel.

If you could learn a new skill what would it be? If I could learn any skill, I would learn to fly a plane. When the time is right, I would love to get my pilots license.

What’s your favorite movie? Any movie by Pedro Almodovar is my favorite movie

What is your perfect day? My perfect day is a day that I have the furniture workshop to myself. On this day, I would only work on new designs that are not commissioned. Oh, and no emails.

Last book you read? Architectural Digest...I think that is a book.

What would your last meal be? I am a purist and absolutely not a vegetarian so I would say; a rib eye steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Tons of garlic on the green beans.

Favorite scent? Simply the gardenia...with nothing else

Favorite Flower or Tree? The deadwood is my favorite tree. The gardenia is my favorite flower.

Favorite artist? Lynn Chadwick is my favorite artist. The way he used metal and geometry was so incredible.

What is the most challenging project you have worked on? Why? The most challenging projects have always been for close friends. Just don’t do it. A friendship is enough.

What do you see outside your bedroom window? I live and work in the Bronx. So from any window you will likely see some trash, maybe an abandoned car, maybe a domestic dispute. All of this, somehow, is actually incredibly inspiring. The outer boroughs of NYC, removed from the polish, provides so much room for originality.

What do you hear right now? I’m actually listening to Moses Sumney right now.

Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever met? Bob Barker...just kidding. I keep to myself and do not get out much.

What was the last gift you gave someone? I just gave my boyfriend some fancy face wrinkle products for his 30th birthday.

If money was not a factor how would you live your life? If money was not a factor, I would live like Elon Musk. I would pay myself nothing and I would invent things all day and everyday.

Favorite podcast? Right now, with the economic uncertainly in our industry, I have been able to gather some very helpful information from the Business of Home Podcast.

Best piece of advice you have ever received? The best piece of advice that I have ever received feels so relevant right now. As designers, our value is our problem solving and our technical skills. Those are the skills that will get you through an economic hardship and those are the skills that you must maintain.

Any hidden talents? I speak Spanish relativity well.

Where did you grow up? Boy oh boy, this is a long story. I was born in Cripple Creek, Colorado, an old gold mining town. At the time, the town had a population of 500 people. My parents worked in global health and they were also major adventure seekers so we moved to Nepal when I was 5 years old. I lived in Nepal until I was 12. Then we moved to Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. I joke that I didn’t fall far from the tree, I just fell from a different orchard, because now I live in New York City.

Favorite time of day? My first hour in my day is my favorite part of each day. For one hour, I will sit with my coffee and run through the news, check in on our Instagram, and then look at my favorite design blogs.

Favorite holiday? The 4th Of July is my favorite holiday. I love the fire play, the early summer weather, and the classic American food.

What is your most treasured possession? My hands and my eyes

What are you most thankful for? Everyday, I am so thankful that I can share my vision with our community. It is a bonus that the community responds to what I am doing. For that, thank you.

To see more of Jake’s work visit, www.jmszymanski.com or his Instagram @jm_szymanski

*Portrait by Justin Missner