Skip to main content

Magazine

Furniture pimp to the stars, Jim Walrod’s personal collection goes up for sale

‘Furniture Pimp’ may not seem a favourable nickname, but when Mike D from the Beastie Boys assigns it, there’s no name more cool or flattering. The original ‘Furniture Pimp’, Jim Walrod, was a famous design guru and interior designer to the stars, and his personal collection’s being auctioned off…

“Time is the only real critic that matters,” such is the mantra that legendary interior designer and design guru Jim Walrod lived by. Never to shy away from unique and quirky objects — actually, it seemed like the quirkier the object, the better — Jim Walrod’s unique eye for modern and postmodern pieces caught the attention of some of the wealthiest and most famous people in the world, from David Bowie to André Balazs. And despite furnishing the homes of countless stars and the interiors of many trendy American hotels, such as the Standard in Downtown Los Angeles and the Thompson LES in Manhattan, it was his private loft in Chinatown, New York, that was known as the epicentre of his eclectic design philosophy.

Now, after Jim’s sudden and unfortunate death at the end of last year, he’ll be able to pimp your home one last time. On 3 May, Wright auction company will sell 250 lots of Jim Walrod’s personal collection of art and design objects, including works from Barry McGee, Ben Jones, and Stephen Sprouse, as well as wonderful experimental objects by master designers Ettore Sottsass and Gaetano Pesce. Although it’s a pity to tear apart the carefully curated collection, the ‘Furniture Pimp’ auction is a wonderful homage to the man — and a unique opportunity to enhance your collection with a real ‘Walrod.’