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Real estate expert. Trend forecaster. Creative director. Curator of great spaces. Collaborator. EKLUND GOMES CO-FOUNDER JOHN GOMES is all of these things. But perhaps, above all, he is a tastemaker. Here, in this exclusive interview, Gomes talks all things good taste with ESTATE MAGAZINE’S EDITOR IN CHIEF, SETH NELSON. Read the excerpt here or listen in for the full interview.

INTERIORS: PARIS FORINO.

NELSON: This is going to be a fun interview because we are going to be talking about a subject matter that I hold you in the highest regard … from the moment I met you. I always looked at you as this visionary, this guy of such sophistication, class, style, and you’re so articulate in everything and the way you speak and I’ve always really admired that. And so today’s subject being a tastemaker, which you clearly are, I’m so, so grateful to have you speaking on this, because you clearly are a tastemaker, John. And I think where I’d like to start: if you could explain to us and the world, what is a tastemaker? GOMES: Well, I mean, look, I think a tastemaker is someone who has good taste. And as a result, you know, we’ll buy into something or like something and start using it or wearing it or promoting it and talking about it. And other people take interest in that. And then they perhaps follow that one person’s lead. And I guess that’s what a tastemaker is.

NELSON: Kind of setting trends, is that what you’re saying? GOMES: Yes, exactly.

NELSON: Wonderful. Well, you’re definitely one to set trends, that’s for sure. In everything you do, what you wear and how you carry yourself and what you like, and all of that good style. It certainly protrudes through. It’s interesting, John, because you clearly have become an authority figure when it comes to good taste. How do you think that came about? Was it something in your past, your history, growing up? Like, where did this come from? GOMES Well first of all thank you. For as long as I can remember I’ve been interested in the finer things in life. I grew up in a working class home with parents who worked multiple jobs just to put food on the

table. I would daydream a lot as a child. I would use my imagination to paint a picture that was a lot more fabulous than my reality. I never lost sight of the visions I created in my mind that were often inspired by images I saw in magazines I would flip through on a magazine rack while my mom was shopping. It all really developed from there.

NELSON: Amazing. So it sounds like you had a pretty big imagination as a child and just bigger aspirations in life really, of just wanting the best of the best, and the best for yourself and the people around you. Does that sound right? GOMES: Never underestimate the power of imagination. It can take you places beyond where you ever thought would be possible. I’m living proof of that.

NELSON: And you didn’t want to sell yourself short, and you certainly haven’t, so good for you, my friend, for following every little bit of dreams that you had, which have now led to you living in the Big Apple, New York City, I mean, the center of the universe. And I have to imagine that living in New York City has to have some kind of influence in the way you think creatively and where you go in the city and architecture and the museums and restaurants and, as a tastemaker, that must be a mecca for you to live in New York City. How has that influenced your tastemaker mentality? GOMES: Absolutely. Look, I think that New York City is like living in the epicenter of the world, in my opinion. And there’s so much inspiration here. I’m heavily inspired by architecture, and there’s so much architecture out there. I feel so humbled to be a part of the team of people that have ultimately helped reshape and redefine the skyline of New York City architecture. I also like to go to the museums where I very often find inspiration; galleries as well, where there’s all kinds of art exhibits that are coming in all the time. I love restaurants. And if you know me well, you know that I’m all about what’s new, and I’m always going to restaurant openings. And you know, I find a lot of inspiration there, not just in food, which I love, but also in the design and the decor of the spaces. I’m very inspired by nature. And as a result, parks, like the park that we have, just outside of our office, Madison Square Park, or Central Park or Washington Square Park, I’m constantly finding myself sort of strolling through. But really, I think it’s the culture of the city, the diversity of the city, you’re influenced by so much. Within like three minutes, you can be walking down Fifth Avenue and hear five different languages and a couple of different dialects at that, if you will. And there’s just people that dress differently, culturally, people that speak differently, people that you have conversations with that are worldly, that are giving their perspective on things. So yeah, I find a tremendous amount of inspiration right here in New York City.

Gomes describes his home as sophisticated and refined but approachable and comfortable: “Yes, I do have cashmere sofas that were custom made by Dmitriy … but you can feel free to put your feet up on the sofa and you’ll actually feel comfortable and I wouldn’t flinch.”

Listen in to hear more from the design and style guru about his favorite brands, his passion for cool kicks, his biggest inspiration, creating heavenly spaces, working with collaborative designers and his secret to the fountain of youth.