Get to know our editor and internationally renowned designer, Matthew Frederick a little better–whose love of art, travel and decor inform the foundations of JASPER’s aspirational vision of living.
Having established an award-winning design firm recognised for its Modern Classic aesthetic, Matthew commands a unique understanding of luxury that places him in a privileged position to provide counsel on the finer details of life.
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What does life look like for you, right now?
Life is always a but hectic and busy with several projects always underway at any given time. My kids are getting older so their school and activities schedules are also part of the mix. -
How was the idea of Jasper born?
Jasper was born from the idea of wanting to connect with my audience differently than just a simple blog. I wanted to create a vehicle for sharing luxury lifestyle topics and material that I utilise in my life and as a forum to explore new travel, cultural and other luxury lifestyle finds in areas that I’m interested in.
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What are your favourite ways to prepare your home for the Summer season?
Preparing for summer for me involves preparing our property for holiday activities and entertaining. Opening the pool and working with the landscape team to clean and update the property in advance of summer entertaining is top on the list. Our peony beds are exploding with large, sumptuous blooms and the flowering trees are also in their prime for clipping and arranging in the house after a long winter.What will you be reading by the pool this summer?
– Jordan Peterson – Beyond Order
– Michele Icard – Talks by Age 14
– All 2022 issues of Suitcase Magazine to date -
What three items can you not travel without?
– iPad Pro
– Idea Notebook
– Miniature gnome and unicorn trinkets my kids gave me for good luck when they were youngerWhat country or city do you most want to visit, that you have yet visited?
I am embarrassed to say but I have yet to travel to Italy or Spain. My wife and I had plans just after we got married but decided to wait until the kids are old enough to travel with us. We are currently planning London, Paris, Sotogrande, Tuscany and Hvar over the next two years.
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Favourite way to spend a Sunday morning?
Cooking in the kitchen (disco/jazz for a soundtrack) then poolside for an afternoon in the sun.What family activities do the Frederick’s do the best? What brings you all together?
We love playing board games and swimming in the pool. Our 1 yo Golden Retriever Jasper is a big fan of the family swims. We also cook a lot as a family and the kids really love getting their hands dirty and learning new techniques. -
In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?
I have really focused on self-health and made radical changes to my diet and general outlook on health and well-being. I have lost over 40 pounds and have never felt or looked better. Some of the insight and awareness I’ve realised is informing some new projects on the horizon.
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What have been the biggest milestones in your career?
I think being featured in Architectural Digest was a big milestone for me, although I think the trust clients place in me for any project is always a big win.What are your favourite decor, design, or architectural elements to play with?
When the project affords the opportunity to reshape a physical space to add new levels of physical dimension and depth of sophistication, that is when I really enjoy the process and have the most overall impact on a project.What are your biggest design inspirations currently?
I am currently inspired by spaces that live well for both formal and casual settings without much fuss or effort to change the spaces between uses. European layouts suitable for both sun and fun are catching my eye. -
What projects are you working on at the moment? What is around the corner?
I am working on some really great design-build projects and am excited to add the facet of Editor In Chief of JASPER to the daily activity list. I do not have any formal experience as a magazine editor, but I have been working with some very talented and well-traveled journalists that are bringing some wonderfully interesting and fresh stories to my audience.What are some of the best pieces of advice you’ve been given?
I have found that it is always better to err on the side of design restraint when creating a space for myself or a client. It is always less expensive to add than to delete.
