As an art director for Tiffany & Co, Priya Matta clearly knows good design. It’s what led her to create these exquisite invitations for a wedding that got the front page-Martha Stewarts Weddings treatment and dissect fashion week themes on her blog, Love Made Visible.
But as it turns out, this girl has a keen eye for a whole lot more. Today Priya chats about appreciating a fine veal agnolotti, her crazy-cool fitness obsession, and what she’s discovered in her new neighborhood of Harlem.
Name: Priya Matta
Age: 32
Hometown: Middleton, MA
Current City: New York, NY
Profession: Art Director, Tiffany & Co.
Decorating, albeit very slowly
After getting married last August, I’ve moved from Astoria, Queens across the Triborough bridge to central Harlem. We’ve been decorating as we go, combining our stuff and adding things to the apartment that we love. I’m in no rush to “finish” the place. I’d rather happen upon things we love gradually. Plus, a New York City apartment can’t hold much! Decorating slowly forces us to consider each new item as we add to the place. Finding unique and one-of-a-kind things has been a mission of mine. Recently on a weekend getaway to Savannah, we happened upon the glass sign above our little bar at Alex Raskin Antiques. We immediately gravitated towards it because of the beautiful typography and gold leaf gilding. The fact that we were married in Niagara sealed the deal.
Reinvention chair at Chaise Fitness
A workout on a chair while holding onto bungee cords hung from the ceiling? What!? I have never been one to work out. Like, ever. I read about this class and figured, “Why not? Sounds interesting. And at least I’ll have a seat if I get tired.” After the first class, I was hooked. Not only because of the workout itself, but also the attitude of the staff. They’re honestly the nicest and most positive people. (I’ve taken classes at gyms before with instructors that just berate their students. I never got that. I have zero desire to pay someone to yell at me.) Going to Chaise has completely changed my life. I try to go a few times a week. I get amazing results from the classes, I feel energized and healthier, and it’s a total happy place. Win-win-win.
Exploring Harlem
In the past six years my husband has lived in Harlem, the neighborhood has changed dramatically. Now that it’s my neighborhood, too, discovering new independently owned restaurants and coffee shops is a joy to do together. There is so much going on. Lately we experienced Mountain Bird, a tiny French restaurant run by a sweet husband and wife team who are the only staff in the place. Still dreaming about the individual fresh baked pumpernickel baguettes served with vanilla butter.
Shopping for and cooking dinner
I am fortunate to work in the building that also houses Mario Batali’s Eataly. Sometimes after work, I’ll drop in there, grab a glass of wine and walk the aisles with the glass and a shopping basket in tow. (Wine while grocery shopping needs to be a universally accepted thing. Obviously, this is the happy place part of this ritual.) Usually I’m buying the pasta that’s made daily on premise (little perfect pillowy veal agnolotti and the bucatini are my favorites), fresh seafood and sometimes even fruit and veggies. I also love looking at all the gorgeous Italian packaging. Who knew canned tomatoes could look so pretty? (And that canned whole cherry tomatoes make a perfectly sweet base to a home-made pasta sauce!)
Cooking weeknight meals is challenging but I try to make it work. Grabbing recipes from Bon Appetit (best food mag out!), Martha Stewart (Everyday Food is a tried and true standby) and cookbooks helps to shake things up. A new fave cookbook is called Keepers—easy and flavorful recipes ideal for weeknights and written by two former editors of Saveur. They know what they’re talking about. As I’ve been learning new techniques, figuring out things to make on the fly gets easier and easier. Making my own pasta sauce and soups is so fun and I love that I know exactly what goes into them.
Thanks, Priya! You can also find her on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Portrait photo by Bonnie Tsang; all other photos by Priya Matta
