Quick Takes With: John Baker

If you’ve been following along with us for a while—maybe even for the last decade—you’ll already be well acquainted with musician, designer, and shopowner John Baker. We were early acolytes (read: obsessives) of Mjölk, the Toronto shop John started with his wife, Juli; and in 2014, *our* Julie made a bee-line for the Toronto shop on a business trip: “Sensing my curiosity (read: snoopiness), John and Juli invited me upstairs to take a tour of their newly remodeled flat—a sanctuary of Scandinavian design above the busy city streetscape,” she wrote then. A subsequent tour of the serene apartment—and John’s deep dive on how to get the look of their Scandi wood floors—took over the internet.

Writes John: “We opened Mjölk in 2009, and it’s known mostly for its interplay between modern Scandinavian design and Japanese handcrafts. We also publish a series of books, also called Mjölk, and a magazine called Minka.” Since that first visit John and Juli have become great friends (we’ve shared their lakeside cabin on the site, and their stone farmhouse features in Remodelista: The Low Impact Home. And stay tuned for more). All these years later, they continue to be design luminaries we look to. 

Today, John shares an object of desire for the home office, a budget mindset for renovations, the uniform staple in his closet, and more. Read on…

You’re invited to dinner. What’s your go-to gift?

A Hafod Grange Dandelion paperweight. We sell them in the shop, and they have been made by the same company in England since Victorian times. I’ve given so many away it’s hard to keep track of who also owns one.

What’s on your bedside table?

Whatever book I’m currently reading (currently Tove Jansson’s Fair Play), along with my glasses.

What podcast or playlist do you put on when you need inspiration?

I love jazz music and am completely enamored by Bill Evans’s playing. I’ve been working on learning to play his rendition of “Waltz for Debby” on our piano at home.

What’s a film or TV show whose aesthetic has stuck with you?

There’s too many to name, but for some reason Kiki’s Delivery Service immediately comes to mind. The worlds Miyazaki creates are so rich and magical. He often draws from real places and takes fragments of different parts and puts them together into something entirely new. I think this one foot in reality and another foot in fantasy is really inspiring.

Which Instagram account do you go to for design inspiration?

I am mainly following gardeners on my Instagram. @jinnyblom is always fantastic. I also love the curation and style of @_terry_ellis_.

What has been your best house upgrade?

Carpets and lighting. They’re often left last, when there is no budget left. However, in a country where winters are long and dark, these two items make all the difference.

A simple or budget-friendly design move you wish you’d known sooner?

See if you can keep your housing layout plan as-is. I think when you hire a designer, the designer is compelled to radically rethink your home. Or at least if they leave the floor plan as-is, I feel they might feel they are not being creative enough. Moving walls and utilities is an incredible expense, so although it can result in a better space, you have to weight the costs.

My favorite paint color for the bedroom is…

We use “Linen” fresco from Pure & Original. It’s a warm grey with a plaster texture.

My unpopular design opinion is…

I don’t like curved sofas. My apologies for the many people who own them.

Your design pet peeve?

I don’t like smart sensors. I have no problem adjusting the thermostat by hand, or opening my front door with a key. I’m not sure I understand the benefits of having so much tech in the home.

My go-to kitchen utensil is…

Sori Yanagi tongs. We’ve sold them since we opened the store.

Three words that describe my design style:

Craft, warm, modern.

First design love?

Eames lounge chair. I remember coming into the city (I’m from a small town) as a child, maybe 10 or so, and seeing an Eames lounger in the window of a furniture store downtown. I didn’t know the chair was an older design; it looked new to me and symbolized everything about modern living in the city.

What item from your closet do you have on repeat?

Trousers from Margaret Howell. They are higher waisted, which is harder to find in men’s clothing.

Favorite design shop to visit (online or in person)?

Svenskt Tenn in Stockholm, one of the last great showrooms in the world.

What is the last thing you purchased for your house?

We actually designed and commissioned two new beds for our children. They have the Anakreon fabric designed by Josef Frank on their headboards which is really fun.

Something you’re coveting?

A 46 sofa by Finn Juhl in sheepskin. Arguably one of the most comfortable loveseats ever made, and I’m craving some softness in our home.

I don’t leave the house without…

A watch. I don’t like looking at my phone to check the time.