Profile: Maggie Kayne

Our next profile is my amazing younger sister Maggie Kayne. Maggie is the owner of a gallery called Kayne Griffin Corcoran along with two partners, Bill Griffin and Jim Corcoran. Together they work with incredible artists like James Turrell, David Lynch and Deanna Thompson, just to name a few. They are currently in the process of building out a new space on La Brea with the help of James Turrell, who is designing and installing a Skyspace inside.

Besides representing great talent, Maggie has a beautiful home where she curates her very colorful and eclectic personal collection that is ever-changing. Maggie and her boyfriend, artist Aaron Sandnes, live in a cool ranch house up in the hills. I love the way she has redone it with a little help from me and the guidance of her close friend Courtney Applebaum, who is a talented young interior designer. I wanted to share her unique style with all of you and encourage you to visit her gallery one day! XXJKE

 

Beauty

R+T: What are your go-to beauty products? Why?

MK: For the face, Biologique Recherche products. For the body, Santa Maria Novella Tobacco Soap, Detergente intimo and Biologique Recherche MSRH Body Cream. For the hair, Furterer Carthame Shampoo, Davines Love Conditioner and homemade hair oils with my own special scent made by Gregory Russell or Anita Louise lavender hair oil.

R+T: Is there anything special you would like to share about your beauty routine?

MK: I’m obsessed with my facialist, Yonat Zilberg in Sherman Oaks (818-906-7552). She’s the only person in Los Angeles trained to use the Biologique Recherche products and their incredible Remodeling Face treatment.

R+T: What are the 5 products you couldn’t live without?

MK: Biologique Recherche Face Products

Tova Perfume

Santa Maria Novella Tobacco Soap

Santa Maria Novella Detergente intimo

Clé de Peau Concealer

R+T: Bath or Shower?

MK: Bath. Showers in the morning, baths at night.

R+T: What do you sleep in?

MK: Elder Statesman cashmere sweatpants and a thin old t-shirt.

 

Health

R+T: Do you have any health tricks?

MK: Vitamin drips, weekly acupuncture and Chinese herbs from Dr Behnaz, my portable infrared sauna, and Pressed Juicery Greens 1 juice. When feverish, soak in the bath (up to your neck, keeping your hands and feet submerged) with 8 pounds of Epsom salts and 2 quarts of hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes before bed and sweat out the toxins.

R+T: Do you workout? What do you swear by?

MK: No! My once a year workout is my ski trip to Alta, Utah; but when I do get into working out, I do Pilates.

R+T: What do you do to relax?

MK: Spend the day in bed watching mind-numbing TV shows.

 

Decor

R+T: What is your design philosophy for your home?

MK: At this point, I’m more interested in taking the time to find timeless pieces rather than rushing to fill a room. I’m usually more concerned with curating the art on my walls, which is constantly changing.

R+T: What are your favorite pieces in your house?

MK: My Prouve Métropole Visiteur armchair from the ’40s is my favorite piece of furniture. And my newest addition, a Pierre Jeanneret coffee table for the guest room, is a close second.

R+T: What are your favorite home stores?

MK: For furniture, Thomas Hayes Gallery in LA and Galerie Patick Seguin in Paris. For accessories, Jenni Kayne and Heath Ceramics.

R+T: What is your favorite room in the house?

MK: I spend the most time in my bedroom and I love my living room, but right now I am most excited about my guest room that I finally finished after living in this house for almost 4 years.

R+T: Did you design your house yourself or did you work with someone?

MK: I was very lucky to have the help of my sister, Jenni, to sort out all of the minute details that I’m awful with like fixtures, surface materials, cabinet finishes, etc. My close friend Courtney Applebaum stepped in about a year ago to help me finish the interior, putting in the final touches with rugs, and finding some really killer pieces.

R+T: How was it having your friend help you decorate your house?

MK: It was so much fun to work with Courtney on the house because she totally understands my aesthetic – we were able to communicate in shorthand. I’d been frustrated about not finishing my house for so long, and didn’t have the time to deal with it, so it was incredible when Courtney stepped in and started doing all the legwork to find the pieces that brought the house together. At first I was nervous about working with such a close friend, but we had such a great time working together and the end result exceeded all of my expectations. I couldn’t be happier.

R+T: What are your favorite objects/accessories in the kitchen?

MK: I love my Heath Ceramics plates, mugs, bowls and my Le Creuset pots and pans. I love my ceramic knives, and my DM/DM trivets.

 

Entertaining

R+T: Do you entertain at home?

MK: Yes! I’m a total homebody, so I’m always happy to get people to come to us.

R+T: What are your tricks for entertaining?

MK: Keeping it real simple, casual, cozy with good music. I try to make everyone feel at home.

R+T: How do you set the scene when you have people over?

MK: My only dining table is outside, so I usually have to set a fire in the outdoor fireplace to make sure we stay warm. Other than that, I put on a good playlist, light some pinon incense and a Santa Maria Novella Tobacco candle – nothing too complicated.

R+T: What is your favorite song or playlist when you have people over?

MK: Depends on my mood and the group of people I have over. If I have the energy, I’ll put together a new playlist just for that evening, or I have some go-to ones I’ve made over the years that I can turn on – very eclectic. I couldn’t pick a type of music I like best to save my life.

R+T: Plated, buffet or family style for a dinner party?

MK: Buffet or family style. Never plated.

R+T: What are your favorite flowers and where do you buy them?

MK: Unfortunately, that is one thing I never remember to do, although I wish I did.

R+T: Do you do them yourself or do you use a florist?

MK: I use Bloom and Plume.

 

Fashion

R+T: How would you describe your style?

MK: Classic, motorcycle, casual, comfy, tough, unisex – I manage to make couture look bum-like.

R+T: Who are your favorite designers?

MK: Luckily for me, all of my favorite designers are close friends or family. Between Jenni Kayne, Proenza Schouler, Elder Statesman and The Row, I have everything I need.

R+T: What are the 5 pieces you can’t live without this season?

MK: My Proenza Schouler motorcycle jacket, black high-waisted Acne jeans, my old Sartore brown suede ankle boots, The Row x Linda Farrow sunglasses, Elder Statesman jean button down shirt.

R+T: What is your uniform?

MK: When I’m riding, my motorcycle, high wasted Acne jeans, Sartore suede ankle boots, Elder Statesman cashmere sweater, Rick Owens mens leather jacket, and an Elder Statesman reversible leather cashmere cut on top.

When I’m not riding, I’ve been rocking an all Proenza Schouler uniform of PS Blue Jeans, PS White Long Sleeve Shirt, PS Motorcycle Jacket and PS Black Suede Boots or Gravati loafers.

R+T: What is your newest purchase?

MK: I always go a little crazy with my Elder Statesman cashmere purchases around the holiday season.

 

Food

R+T: Do you cook?

MK: I love to cook, but haven’t been consistent lately. One of my New Year’s goals is to get back in to the kitchen more often.

R+T: What is your favorite recipe?

MK: Most of Pamela Salzman’s recipes are amazing – her chopped kale salad and turkey burger recipes are probably my favorite.

 

Art

R+T: Who are your favorite artists?

MK: To name a few: James Turrell, Ken Price, Jiro Takamatsu and David Lynch are oldies but goodies. More contemporary favorites include Giulia Piscitelli, Aaron Sandnes, Aida Ruillova, Daniel Knorr, Carol Bove, Oscar Tuazon… I could go on and on.

R+T: What is your favorite piece of art you own?

MK: It’s impossible to pick a favorite, but I’m most attached to the works that were gifts from artists like my Daniel Knorr $2 origami pig, my Piero Golia can pipe, all of my drawings from Aaron Sandnes, a Michel Auder photograph called “Cindy, Kippy, The Devil and My Gloves” and a poster painting by Giulia Piscitelli.

 

Current Projects

R+T: What’s your creative outlet and what project are you working on now?

MK: My creative outlet started as actively building a personal collection of contemporary art, which has grown into programming my commercial exhibition space, Kayne Griffin Corcoran. We have an incredible group show curated by Marc Olivier Wahler entitled “From Triple X to Birdsong” that opened on January 12^th that I am really excited about. In March, we will present a solo show of new work by Aida Ruilova, and in May 2013, we will open our new location on South La Brea with a solo show of James Turrell.