Had I not known what Kim Ficaro did professionally before I met her, I would have guessed four possibilities: author, artist, designer, or healer.
Turns out the first three were accurate and the fourth was almost right. Not only is Kim’s presence grounding and calming, what strikes you when you are with Kim is that she is an astute observer and listener. You get the feeling that she is always absorbing and sifting through what she takes in thoughtfully. She has the enviable gift of shutting out the noise of the world and focusing inward on her design process.
Kim has had an awe-inspiring two-plus decade career in the commercial and editorial world as a prop and interior stylist, set designer, author, and designer working on campaigns as varied as Apple, Knoll, Herman Miller, Ulla Johnson, Goop, Noma, Bergdorf Goodman, Crate & Barrel, WSJ Magazine, and The New York Times. She launched her tabletop collection, Totem Home, in 2017, which features well-hewn ceramics and brass made in small batches with artisans in Oaxaca and Portugal. Her pieces beautifully capture the imperfect.
Looking at Kim’s mood board is like entering a textured, calm world you never want to leave. Lucky for us, Kim now offers one-on-one consultations to individuals so you can bring her creative vision to any project you have in mind, be it interior styling or a personal shift you want to bring to life.
I am thrilled to share Kim's i/Edit interview.
Q&A
How has your experience, both in the editorial world as an editor and author and in the commercial world as an interior stylist and set designer, shaped your overall creative approach?
The best way to describe it is this: As a prop stylist, I see in compositions. I see and work with the space between objects, between walls, between furniture. I create stories with objects, with flowers, with material. I see spaces like this; stories with no words.
When I worked as an editor, I learned how to tell the story of a person, a place, or an object by finding the essence.
Everything interacts with itself; ideas form through my commercial work, or ideas take shape through my travels, or by going on a hike and watching the light. Everything lends to creativity: a meal I can make for my loved ones, community, gathering, the table, the way a space feels. All are infused with a feeling of aliveness.
Your collection Totem Home is rich with “imperfect” and organic pieces for the home that includes tabletop, ceramics, and textiles. What was your inspiration for the brand?
The connection between the discovery of a beautiful land, a faraway place, and myself.
What are the most inspiring places you have traveled to for work or vacation?
Some favorite places have been Copenhagen, Morocco, Oaxaca, the Greek islands, the south of France, and Italy.
I love wandering the markets in any country, especially in rural parts, where local villagers can come and sell their harvest. It’s inspiring to witness the season's abundance and the hard work of farmers, to witness artisans and the work of their hands creating crafts. I try to go to any market wherever I am in the world.
How does your creative process begin?
There is no beginning, no ending. Creativity doesn’t just happen, it's always happening. The natural world is that.
My best creativity happens when I am in a flow state, tapping into a source, allowing space internally to retrieve all that is already there. Sometimes there is an inspiration or an idea that hits me, and from there it can spark the flame.
Walking in nature often helps me access this state. It is the best way to allow the brain to relax and access more internal space to retrieve ideas. Also, I love microdosing psilocybin, dancing, and real, true rest.
What are the pieces in your closet and in your home that you cannot live without?
I can certainly live without any of these, but I sure do love:
The brand LRNCE in Morocco and all they do
A beautiful handmade rug from the Danish brand Cappelen Dimyr
A vintage Balinese woven daybed
The scorpion table light from Ochre
A green marble vintage round dining table
A vintage collar found in the south of France with two lion heads at either end
Soft Venetian slippers from Le Monde Béryl
Pouches: I have a lot I’ve collected from around the world, but right now I am using a Maison Mayle one for everyday use
A Bernard candle in the Cleome scent
What fuels your creativity within or outside of your professional world?
Travel, shifting location physically, absorbing another culture humbly, food, watching the change in light, and witnessing beauty.
Paid subscribers get access to the full interview below, including Kim’s favorite under-the-radar creatives, a peek at her moodboard, and an exercise that keeps her constantly expanding her inspiration. I hope you’ll consider becoming a paid subscriber to support our work — and a huge thank you to those who already do!