Ann Getty has always maintained great enthusiasm for antiquities,
and early in her marriage to composer Gordon Getty, son of oil tycoon
J. Paul Getty, she cultivated her interest through her family ties.
“One of my greatest mentors in the art of collecting antiques
was my father-in-law, J. Paul Getty. His knowledge and attention to
detail helped me develop my love for 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century
antiques and craftsmanship,” Getty says.
The expertise she gained in antiques, along with her innate passion
for beauty, led to the creation of Getty’s design business,
Ann Getty & Associates. “I needed to make a career shift
to be home with my granddaughter and family. I had done interiors
for my family and friends for many years, so officially launching
a business seemed like a natural progression,” Getty says.
Founded in 1995, her full-service interior design firm is based in
Getty’s hometown of San Francisco.
Specializing in residential interiors, the firm also focuses on preserving
antiques and honoring the integrity of a structure’s architecture.
“When I choose a piece for an interior, I consider its possible
surroundings. I don’t want furniture to conflict with architecture,”
Getty says.
In keeping with her firm’s objectives, Getty developed and launched
the Ann Getty House Collection in 2003 — a furniture line that
includes faithful reproductions of the many period pieces she admires
and owns. “I chose the reproductions in my line because I felt
they served as such excellent examples of a certain time in history
and exquisite craftsmanship,” Getty says. “The chairs,
particularly such limited-edition pieces as the “Venus,”
“Louis XV Side” and “Badminton” chairs, are
pieces I love in my own home.”
In addition to her furnishings, Getty gleans ideas from her extensive
travels and archeological explorations. “My appreciation of
beauty has been influenced by my travels and the incredible craftspeople
I have met along the way,” she says. “I’ve found
inspiration in junkyards, archeological digs, nature, rare textiles
and the great houses of England. My favorite places to find craftspeople
and accessories for my design business are in Asia and the Mediterranean.”
Her immediate family has also played an enormous role in Getty’s
design philosophy. “Since I had four sons in five years, I learned
early on that good design should also be efficient and functional,”
Getty says. “The children and grandchildren in my life center
my designs in a way that make my interiors both beautiful and livable.
Even today, my granddaughter helps me select fabrics, reminding me
to combine whimsy and design. And I, in turn, teach all my grandchildren
that there is beauty and discovery everywhere.”
When asked to describe the future direction of the Ann Getty House
Collection, Getty says, “Now that the furniture line has been
successfully launched, I want to add pieces and dedicate myself to
interior design projects. I’m also exploring textiles, rugs,
cushions, pillows and accessories — particularly porcelain vases.”
Getty also expresses a desire to grow the collection beyond the United
States. “I’m hoping to use my current commercial project
in Shanghai as a springboard to do more business internationally,”
Getty says.
Nationally, the Ann Getty House Collection is available through Shears
& Window at the San Francisco Design Center, Randolph & Hein
at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles and Watkins & Fonthill
at the D&D Building in New York.
Locally, her collection can be found at J. Nelson, Inc. at the Design
Center of the Americas in Dania Beach, Fla. To contact the showroom,
call 954/929-8880. Or, for more information on the furniture line,
visit the Ann Getty House Collection’s website at www.anngettyhouse.com.
u
