Literary life-style model Bond & Grace blends books and décor

WASHINGTON – Jacqueline Bond was a authorities advisor, an avid reader and, by her personal admission, “obsessed” with Jane Austen. During a job transition a number of years in the past, she started looking for an outsized version of Pride and Prejudice that will give her a richer expertise with the textual content she knew so nicely. But, she stated she discovered nothing however kitsch and up to date covers.

“I complained enough that my mother told me I should just make it myself,” Bond stated.

She couldn’t get the suggestion out of her head, and after recruiting her sister, Savannah Bond, and her pal, Ayana Christie, who labored at Google, and conducting months of intense analysis into the design and literary worlds, they launched Bond & Grace, a literary life-style model that encompasses a number of residence décor, tabletop and presents impressed by their love of storytelling.

The course of begins with the artwork Novel.

“We partnered with scholars who live and breathe the text, who are teaching the text, writing books about the authors. They help us write annotations to provide additional context, including information we may not have known before. It was a new way to look at it and understand the author,” stated Bond.

But they couldn’t have a espresso desk e book with out making the books look stunning, so that they partnered with 12 fantastic artists with totally different backgrounds for every e book. Each artist reads the novel and makes use of it to create three to 5 authentic interpretive artwork items.

Each yr, Bond & Grace releases one basic textual content reimagined as an Art Novel, an outsized espresso desk e book. It folds literary evaluation and fantastic artwork throughout the authentic textual content of beloved classics like The Secret Garden, Alice in Wonderland and this yr, The Great Gatsby. Alongside the Art Novel are hand-poured candles, souvenir matchboxes, desk linens, silk scarves, stationery and different gadgets that function the identical creative imagery because the books. A separate division, Art House by Bond & Grace, focuses solely on the unique paintings.

The first e book they developed was Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, in 2022. Coming out quickly after COVID, its theme of life after loss resonated, stated Bond. It was additionally crammed with luscious florals that translated nicely into product.

Next got here Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which was darker and moody and holds parallels with at present’s speedy transition to synthetic intelligence, stated Bond, adopted by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and this yr, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel that’s celebrating its 100^th anniversary.

They choose novels which are already within the public area, and there are greater than 20,000 to select from. “We do a lot of testing before choosing the title,” stated 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 own all of the art, as well as the patterns, which can be used for future designs like wallpaper, linens, accessories and lamp shades,” she added, noting that they’re on the lookout for licensing companions. “It opens the door for home décor and lifestyle products. The options are endless.”

Their typical buyer is a “culture connoisseur” who’s a reader, loves museums, loves taking a look at artwork and cares concerning the inside design of her residence (the prototype buyer is nearly at all times a lady, however her age ranges from 30 to 70).

Many folks will purchase the décor first, after which take into account the Art Novel, however the inventive course of at all times begins with the e book.

Bond & Grace shall be offered at Nordstrom’s on-line, in addition to in museum and designer outlets and bookstores. Looking to broaden to a bigger viewers, Bond & Grace exhibited at NY Now and the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market in June, and shall be within the excessive design part of Atlanta Market subsequent January.