Caroline Ghertler grew up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and as a child spent many
weekends in museums around the city as well as antique shops with her twin sister and
parents. She attended Hamilton/Kirkland College, where she studied American Studies and
Photography. After graduation, she worked at the Mark Kozlowski Photography studio where
she wore many hats including prop and wardrobe stylist. She was passionate about the work
and stayed there for four years and then became a freelance photo stylist. She worked for many
of the prominent advertising photographers of the time. She then transitioned to
television commercials, feature films, and television shows. After assistant decorating on many
shows like It’s Complicated, Person of Interest, and Sisters, she was the set decorator on
Kevin Can Wait, Daredevil (Season 3), Jessica Jones (Season 2 and 3), Prodigal Son, and Law and Order Organized Crime (Season 2). She
lives in Brooklyn with her husband Jeff Jacobson and her daughter Sonya who is a student at
Bennington. She is a member of the SDSA.
Caroline Ghertler's Project Showcase
Q&A with Caroline Ghertler
Q.
How did you get started in this field?
A.
My first job out of college was as a Photo stylist at the Mark Kozlowski Photography Studio. I got the job through the NY Times (Help Wanted). My starting salary was $125.00 per week. It
was a dream come true to work in a photo studio. I learned a great deal working there.
Q.
What was the first project you worked on?
A.
The first project I was given was to find a top hat to fit a 1 year old baby. It was for the cover of Working Mother Magazine (long gone). I searched all over the city and ended up having it made by a milliner. The baby tried it on and he couldn’t keep his head straight due to the weight of the hat.
Q.
What do you like to do in your free time/ outside of work?
A.
I like to take walks in Prospect park. I enjoy going to museums and galleries around the city and having lunch with friends. Of course I love browsing design stores and seeing what’s new and interesting.
Q.
Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
A.
Don’t be so hard on yourself.
Q.
Describe your childhood bedroom?
A.
My childhood bedroom was sunny and cheerful and looked out onto the Hudson River. It had Marimekko pillows and a vintage patchwork quilt on the bed. I loved to play with my dollhouse and rearrange the furniture inside of it. My mother had great taste. She loved country pine antiques and modern Bauhaus furniture in equal measure. She completely formed my taste and style.
Q.
What are three things you can’t live without?
A.
My husband, my daughter and my sister.
Q.
If you could own a second home anywhere you wanted, where would it be?
A.
I would love to have a house near the beach in Amagansett. I also wouldn’t mind living in the south of France in a town called St. Remy.
Q.
What is your most memorable career moment so far?
A.
I was lucky to assist Beth Rubino on the show It’s Complicated. It was a challenging job. One of my most exciting moments was when Meryl Streep asked me to pack up some pastries for her to take home from the Bakery we created for the film. It’s one of my favorite movies.
Q.
How do you define beauty?
A.
Beauty is something that strikes you as perfect and sublime. It can be a painting or a cherry blossom or a child’s face. It can be a room perfectly designed and decorated. It can be something old like a street in Paris or brand new like a recently designed building in the middle of NYC. Beauty is enriching and makes you feel whole. It can make you feel happy. It can be a song that makes you feel melancholy and sad and touches your humanity. Beauty is when someone is kind to you or you reach out and help another person.
Q.
What’s one thing that is always in your refrigerator?
A.
Dark chocolate and Pellegrino
