+ Story by Alisan Peters
+ Photography by Latham Jenkins
A certain man named Porsche once said that if you have to explain it, it isn’t working. Rush Jenkins and Klaus Baer of WRJ Design Associates and WRJ Home would wholeheartedly agree. From their offices in New York and their flagship showroom and design headquarters in Jackson, located on the Town Square, they have expanded and enhanced their catalogue of global experience in exterior, interior and landscape design.
“Our showroom in Jackson,” says Jenkins, “is a design laboratory that enables us to constantly refine an aesthetic—mix up various textures, colors and forms—to find solutions that speak both to our clients and to our community, whether that’s contemporary or traditional, refined or rustic.”
Antlers are emblematic of Jackson Hole, but this museum- piece stag head once graced the walls of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Coupled with the Curtis portrait, Ralph Lauren chair and Louis XVI-era reproduction pine cabinet, the setting is at once refined and comfortable.
To be shared, shaken or stirred. The burnished leather bar tray is a quiet complement to the brass-and-wood lamp and assorted barware from Ralph Lauren. Paulette Tavormina’s pear photograph is based on 17th-century Dutch paintings; it hangs on a wall of barnwood panels from Pennsylvania. A striped linen chair provides the perfect personal niche, especially with the Bodmer throw.
Jenkins and Baer have a strong belief in authenticity—of the piece, of the style, of the lines they carry and of the designs they devise. “We are especially effective for our clients,” says Baer, “if we can be in on the planning stages. Whether that means working with the architect or redesigning a single room, being able to ensure that we provide the proper lighting options, room proportion, or color and texture palettes makes a better final result. If we’re there from the beginning, we can design a home environment that surpasses our clients’ expectations.”
Western is spoken here, though with a lighter accent. Howard Post’s painting, “End of the Road,” is from Altamira Fine Art. The bed and suede-and-nailhead chair are both from Ralph Lauren, as are the leather-wrapped lamps. A local artist crafted the redwood end table, and the cubbyhole secretary is a Belgian reproduction in pine. The stunning faux-fur throw lined in satin comes from Paris. The blue patterned pillows are from John Robshaw, and the wood swan is from the collection of Geoffrey Beene.
A lot of the lines carried at WRJ are exclusive. They consider their job to be one of scouting the world to identify, and continue to be educated about, the cultures, objects, art and fine art that inform their work. Jenkins and Baer also work with treasured mentors and clients, like Sotheby’s in New York, to bring unusual, even museum-quality pieces to the Tetons. “Our broad experience,” Jenkins emphasizes, “provides a depth and richness to our creativity that you won’t find elsewhere.”
