Nostalgic harmony – “Artful Home” by Josh Young
- mymoderndarcy
- May 28
- 4 min read
Dear readers, as summer approaches, so do the season-end sales in most fashion and retail shops, while many of us take this opportunity to hunt for refined clothing and fashion accessories, I recently embarked on a different kind of bargain hunt, searching for rare, inspiring, and beautiful books I hadn’t had the chance to buy before, aiming to get them all at once. During this particular book hunt, there’s one that climbed on the top of my list, and that is “Artful Home” by the talented American artist and designer, Mr. Josh Young. I had been craving this book for quite some time, not only by its soothing and elegant cover but also by the beautiful work created by Josh himself. Today, we are going to take a closer look at this stunning book.
Photo Credit: Kirsten Francis
Published by Rizzoli in September 2024, “Artful Home” is written by Josh with photographs by Ms. Kirsten Francis. This book invites readers to experience the artistic world of this multi-talented American artist through the serene, artistic, and tastefully furnished homes he has created — his townhouse in Washington, D.C., and Sycamore House, a country home in Virginia where he lives with his husband, Ignacio. Josh’s interest in art and European culture began in his youth, he studied in Milan and graduated from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, from there, he was deeply inspired by the nostalgic beauty of ancient European art and history; Milan was not only where he pursued his dreams, but also where he met his now husband.
Photo Credit: Kirsten Francis
After returning to the U.S. to pursue his career, Josh faced various challenges, he held several short-lived full-time jobs and, after moving to Chicago in 2017, experienced a significant setback when he was laid off just two weeks after settling in the city. The stress and despair mounted, but with the support of his husband and recognition of his artistic talent, Josh was motivated to start his own design practice, an art design studio where he could create his own work. Josh’s sensibility toward texture, form, and European art history has helped his artwork gain popularity on social media, attracting notable interior designers, celebrities, and discerning art clients worldwide. His work has been featured in prestigious interior design publications such as Architectural Digest and Elle Décor, he has also collaborated with renowned brands including Williams-Sonoma Home and Jo Malone London, establishing himself as one of the most notable rising stars in American interior design in recent years.
Photo Credit: Josh Young
“Artful Home” is divided into five parts, each representing one of Josh’s guiding principles for interior design and creating an artistic, tasteful home: palette, texture, form, layers, and nostalgia. Through an intimate tour of Josh’s homes, the book reveals his aesthetic vision and years of accumulated inspiration, passion, and appreciation for European artistic elements, particularly Parisian and Milanese influences, his artistic output seamlessly complements his stylish and thoughtfully decorated interiors. Josh’s fundamental palette features soothing, monochromatic, and neutral colors ranging from off-white, ivory, and ecru to tan, pastel khaki, and brown, these are mixed with his signature nostalgic European elements, including antique objects, paintings reminiscent of ancient Rome or European nobility, and old black-and-white photographs of elegantly dressed people, in addition, the harmonious, down-to-earth classic American countryside style also plays a role, creating a vivid and unique perspective on Josh’s artistic work, not only in interior design but also in visual art.
Photo Credit: Josh Young
His stunning paintings, for example, caught my eye with their distinctive, calligraphy-like technique. Josh’s sensitivity to texture deepens the visual impression and emotion, guiding viewers into a domain of surreal imagination and liberating serenity; perhaps this is the afterglow harmony from the challenges he has overcome, his work somehow has a subtle power to heal in my opinion, and it is both soothing and inspiring to behold.
Photo Credit: Kirsten Francis
To me, Josh’s art evokes a blend of influences: the nostalgic elegance of Parisian brand Astier de Villatte, the whimsical surrealism of Salvador Dalí (toned down to a monochromatic palette), the grandeur of ancient Roman and Grecian art, the refined charm of the French countryside, and the mysterious elegance of a historic château filled with family heirlooms. Together, these elements create a sense of nostalgic elegance, serene countryside chic, and simplistic harmony derived from one’s commitment and willpower, to preserve and cherish the valuable ancient European art.
Photo Credit: Kirsten Francis
Though I have yet to own a piece of Josh’s original art, this book has fulfilled my craving to possess a beautiful work by him, it serves as a source of artistic inspiration I can revisit whenever I wish at home. “Artful Home” offers not only visual pleasure but also a therapeutic way to soothe the mind and soul through the joy of home decorating, nurturing an appreciation for bygone history and art, and living life harmoniously with sophisticated style.
Image courtesy of Rizzoli USA.