In the foreword to his book, Behind the Blue Door, John Demsey writes:
WELCOME TO BEHIND THE BLUE DOOR—the ultimate expression of my lifelong passion for art and design. I invite you to join me on a tour of my home, which represents and reflects my personal aesthetic—a maximalist mantra.
I have worked in the fashion and beauty industries for decades, collaborating with some of the greatest entrepreneurs, creators, image makers, artists, and designers. Like many people, I have often been misunderstood. In my professional life, I have always been a suit to the creatives and a creative to the suits. But I have been fortunate to have had so many people contribute to my success and support my point of view. You see, I am actually a very private person, an introvert with an irrepressible desire to see the beauty in everything, from the most mundane to the extraordinary.
My personal journey began in the Midwest. I am the son of stylish, remarkable parents. My dad, Joe, was an industrialist with a love of architecture and design, and my mother, Renée, is an artist and fashion force. Together they pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, be unique, and stand for something. I have had many jobs and have lived in many homes. The evolution of my personal taste may not appeal to everyone, but my credo is a quest for continuous change and self-improvement, for fearless self-expression, for living life to the fullest. As a student of history, pop culture, and style, I have long been a champion of emerging talent—the unknown, unseen, and unheard.
I hope this book will provide a peek behind the doors of my dreams and passions and at the same time be an inspiration for others to find and define their own path. Embracing the possible and exploring the extraordinary has been my North Star. My dear friend Bibi Monnahan, who has been my interior designer for thirty years, and I have traveled the globe and the internet in search of the bold, the unusual, and the unexpected. Recently, I have learned that doors sometimes close, but there is always another that opens. Behind every door, every room, every object, there is another story, another world to be discovered. Each room, each object, each photograph converses with all the others—and with the ages. A home, like a life, is an organic entity, constantly evolving and informed by the past and the future. It does not matter where you start in life; everyone can create their own canvas. Perception is reality. The best advice I have ever received is “You do you.” For me, that means imagination without guardrails. What does it mean for you?
Wishing you love, health, and happiness,
John
John Demsey : Behind the Blue Door : A Maximalist Mantra
Published by The Vendome Press
Written by Alina Cho
Photography by Douglas Friedman
Hardcover
240 pages
3 gatefolds and die-cut slipcase
10 x 13 in. (254 x 330 mm.),
portrait
More than 300 color illustrations
ISBN: 978-0-86565-434-1
US $65 / CAN $82 / GBP £50
https://www.vendomepress.com/book/behind-the-blue-door/
