HOME BODIES

What do a top jewelry designer and a popular modern home furnishings retailer have in common? Plenty, it seems, as this new collaboration of Jennifer Fisher and CB2 attests

By Lisa Shames

Years before Jennifer Fisher became an in-demand jewelry designer, she faced a paradoxical situation: knowing exactly what she was seeking without being able to find it. She was a brand-new mom looking for a way to celebrate the birth of her son, Shane. She wanted a piece of jewelry that spelled out his name and—here’s the tricky part—represented her unique style.

Unlike most of us who would just settle for something less than perfect or give up entirely, Fisher took matters into her own hands—literally. The film and television wardrobe stylist designed a necklace with Shane’s name stamped on a dog-tag-like charm, paired with a long, thick gold chain. Her first piece of jewelry quickly became the thing a lot of other people were looking for too, even if they didn’t realize it at the time.

That signature necklace launched Fisher’s eponymous jewelry collection in 2005 with five products sold exclusively on her website. In 2014, Fisher, a Santa Barbara, Calif., native who now calls New York home, opened a flagship store on Manhattan’s lower Fifth Avenue, and another store in Beverly Hills opens this spring. The initial line of fine jewelry expanded in 2011 to include a brass collection of statement chokers, earrings, stackable rings, bold cuffs and anklets.

Among her loyal fans are a who’s who of the cool kids, including Jennifer Lopez, Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross, Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez. While a lot has changed since Fisher created that iconic necklace, one thing hasn’t: her commitment to creating pieces that are timeless and classic but with an edge.

“I never wanted to design something that someone feels they could only wear once and then have to put away for six months before they can bring it back out again,” Fisher says. “As I do when I buy things, I want people to feel they are purchasing something they can constantly wear and will never go out of style.”

That concept wasn’t lost on Ryan Turf, president of Chicagobased CB2. The two were introduced through mutual friends, and after a lunch meeting where they discovered they were both fans of cooking, basketball and—most importantly—each other’s brands, they decided to collaborate on a collection of fashionforward yet functional furniture and accessories.

“As a jewelry designer, Jennifer uses interesting materials in a modern way. All of her pieces have great attention to detail and are designed for versatility,” Turf says. “We were drawn to Jennifer’s signature style and are excited to bring that same aesthetic to a standout collection of unique pieces and unexpected materials that are both edgy and sophisticated.”

Two years after that initial meeting, The CB2 Jennifer Fisher Collection launched on February 25 with some 100 items, ranging from dining room tables and chaises to glassware and pillows.

Fisher had few to no restraints. “They gave us enough space to be really creative, which was nice from a design perspective to have that freedom,” she says of the process. But she and Turf established some mutual goals from the get-go. Both parents, they knew they wanted the collection to be kid-friendly. That meant no sharp edges and using durable furniture fabrics that are water and stain-resistant and easy to clean. Hence the beautiful white (yes, really) Chill Chaise and Ottoman designed extra-deep to encourage a play area for you and your kids.

Another goal was creating pieces that are multifunctional. For example, the chic Anywhere Dining Table—in matte black, like a number of the pieces—can be used indoors as well as out. Then there’s the marble-topped Eat / Play Table that, should the mood strike, easily transforms into a ping-pong table.

Versatility and creating pieces that people wouldn’t tire of also topped both of their lists of musts for the collection. Part of achieving that goal meant creating pieces that blurred the lines between masculine and feminine, and the use of finishes that didn’t look glam or overly shiny.

“We wanted it to feel polished yet neutral,” Fisher says. A champagne-colored metal finish was chosen for its ability to blend easily with both gold- and silver-adorned items. “People will be surprised with how effortlessly each piece will mix into their current personal style. These aren’t pieces that you need to redesign rooms around, yet they will elevate any aesthetic.”

Rounding out the collection are items that Fisher herself was seeking but couldn’t find (hello, dog-tag necklace!). That was the inspiration behind Keep Em Out/In Door, a chic, clear, adjustable dog gate. “When we got our dog, my husband and I looked high and low for a nice dog gate, but we couldn’t find one,” Fisher says. “I was surprised no one had created one.” Fisher’s Don’t Spill Your Martini Glass, its lip curving toward the interior of the glass, solves that annoying problem of having the cocktail spill down your arm on the first sip.

Of course, Fisher had thoughts when it came to storing jewelry, one of the most-asked questions she gets on social media. Her answer? A beautiful white marble-like rectangular box with spacious clear drawers to store a variety of pieces, and a ledge on top for sunglasses, wallet or keys. “That was a fun piece to make,” Fisher says.

Fun, in fact, is a word Fisher uses often to describe her collaboration with CB2, whether it’s the pieces themselves or the process. “We turn down a lot of collaborations constantly, but this one immediately felt right,” she says. “It was something I thought would be cool, but in my wildest dreams I never thought it would be as fun as it was.”

The downside? Having to stop, Fisher says. “The problem is I have 100 more designs I could give them. I could keep on going.”