Global Agenda

From the sculptural works of Isamu Noguchi to the whirlwind visuals of Bolly­wood musicals, almost anything can be creative inspiration for Paul Niski.

46-48.pd-thingsiloveTEN YEARS AGO, PAUL NISKI, the former creative director for the Gap, moved from New York to Boston for a consulting job and ended up opening his exquisite 300-square-foot Beacon Hill boutique, Good. In just a few months, his finest-grain approach to home décor, accessories, jewelry, and vintage and antique objects began to draw a loyal following. Since then, Niski has influenced a generation of retailers – including former television producer Nikki Dalrymple, who opened her own shop, Acquire, after working at Good. “We’ve always shared a similar aesthetic, but he trained my eye to appreciate the finer details,” she says. “I once thought, The bigger, the bolder, the better, but he taught me to study things more closely, to take a second look.”

As a world traveler, Niski has also had opportunities to work with global superstars, including French designer Christian Liaigre, whom he partnered with on a Bangkok retail concept. “I like the whole idea of creative collaboration,” says Niski. “I want to open a story.” Here, he shares eight things that ignite his creativity.

Photograph by Blake Fitch

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