#AllCoopedUp with my husband, Designer Steffen Lipofsky
I have said this many times before and I’ll say it again here, “if I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked (begged) if my husband would design for others, I’d never have to work again!” After leaving a career as an advertising exec, he swore off clients forever. Nothing I or anyone else can do will persuade him otherwise. We, his family, are the lucky beneficiaries of his long list of talents. Experimental chef with a focus on breakfast cuisine, prolific painter, light fixture designer, great dad, amazingly supportive husband and brilliant house flipper are only a few of the hats he wears very well. Even though he’s a pretty private guy, he agreed to participate in this series. I know that being married to me is not an easy job. Adding a quarantine to the mix is next level... But somehow he even makes that job look easy! -Jenna
What’s your profession, and what does your day-to-day work experience look like now?
I am a designer, real estate developer and president of the Jenna Cooper fan club!
Are there objects or spaces in your house that you are newly appreciating? Or are there objects and spaces you have come to loathe?
A couple of months back I developed mild covid-19 symptoms and was quarantining in our guest house. It is a two-story space that I designed ten years ago as my office and over the years, it has proven to be the most flexible space in our house. The garage went through a series of reuse/repurpose make-overs to accommodate my work shop, a teen hangout for our twins, a pilates studio and gym, a screening room and has now made full circle back to my office (with the gym downstairs). It has been a great escape space for me, a kind of "metro-sexual” man-cave where I can work, paint, tinker and watch English soccer. I love being out here, but after the week of isolation (back when covid tests results took that long), I couldn't wait to hug my family and stare into my wife’s brown eyes (which I’ve been obsessed with trying to paint, there must be seven or eight coats of paint over them).
Describe your at-home quarantine uniform.
Are you fucking serious? Nothing but elastic waist bands and t-shirts.
Who are you quarantining with? Do you feel the need to “get away”? How do you make it happen?
Jenna and our twins. I’ve come to realize the seriousness of the Coronavirus situation, and have learned to appreciate this time as a once in a lifetime chance to be truly present with family. I will cherish these days. I can tend to feel “all cooped up,” luckily my amazingly instinctual wife recognizes when I need a little distance. When that’s the case, I drive out to our trailer in Malibu to paint, paddle board or take long walks on PCH with Millie and Navy (our dogs). Just a few hours away usually does the trick!
What’s the last thing you purchased online? Regret or obsessed?
Jenna actually bought me some really great detailing paint brushes from Royal & Langnickel. I’m sure they were more than I would have spent, but leave it to Jenna to find the best gifts! The other incredible gift she got was the iRobot vacuum, which is now officially classified as an essential worker, especially when you have two golden retrievers!
Tell us the best shows, podcasts, or books you’re loving right now.
I’m an English Premier League fanatic and ecstatic that my beloved Tottenham Hotspurs are back on the tele. I’ve grown bored of the news but have been devouring podcasts while I paint. I like all the usuals: The Daily, Fresh Air, PSA. Also, my friend Clayton turned me on to Michael Lewis’ podcast, Against the Rules which is really well done. Been catching up on a few shows that I missed out on like Narcos, Succession, Peaky Blinders, Better Things and a BBC political thriller called Bodyguard.
Do you have any new quarantine activities or rituals?
For a while it was ping pong every day with my son, Jonas. He kicks my ass regularly, but I can still beat him once in a while. My kids and I love playing Quiplash and Drawful with family and friends online. My Daughter, Lucy is the one to beat especially when it comes to Drawful. It’s a great way to socially distance and still be connected.
What is your favorite quarantine snack? What restaurants are you ordering takeout from?
I’m gluten and dairy free, so this might bore most of you. I’m addicted to Udi's Vanilla Almond Granola with oat milk. My three favorites take out meals of late are Chan Dara (so happy it reopened on Larchmont), Yapa (a Peruvian place in Little Tokyo with amazing Lomo), and when I really need to say "fuck it" and get me some gluten, Gus’s Fried Chicken is truly worth the indulgence!
What is the one item you’re glad you stocked up on? What do you wish you’d stocked up on?
Not sure this question still applies, but I did outfit a few televisions with Apple TV. There was a time when I wished I'd bought more canvases for painting, but now I have plenty.
What is your creative outlet and how are you making space for it?
Painting and I’m cooking a ton.
Describe your biggest quarantine indulgence.
Ok, truth be told, I binge watched this swashbuckling, trashy show called The Last Kingdom. It was kind of a poor man’s GOT but it’s venn diagram had the perfect intersection of war, England, and viking - I’m half Swedish, a recovering anglophile, and unabashedly fond of violent war films (don’t be fooled by the cooking, painting and metrosexuality).
If you have kids, how are you maintaining some kind of schedule for them?
Thank god for online school! The screen time is ridiculous though. We’re probably late to the table, but we just invested in blue light-blockers for everyone.
What are you doing for exercise?
I workout on FaceTime with my trainer twice a week. I like to hit the elliptical while watching something mind numbing (see above: Bodyguard, Last Kingdom, Peaky Blinders, et al.), walks, bike rides with the family and a few minutes on the reformer to stay flexible.
Are you sharing recipes with friends?
Yes, as a matter of fact, a couple of my buddies and I share recipes. I just made this amazing lamb shawarma that even Jenna and Lucy, who don’t profess to like lamb, loved!
What’s been the biggest challenge for you throughout this?
When I was in isolation prior to receiving my negative test results, that was definitely the hardest. I admittedly enjoyed the “me-time" at first, but I am a social being. I really missed contact, holding hands, being with my kids, and petting my dogs.
When this is over I cannot wait to ___________.
There are so many things I couldn’t possibly name them all: travel abroad, eat in restaurants, watch my son play soccer, hug my family and friends without worry or concern of contagions, get the kids out of the house, work.
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