How we translated the world of Casper Reinders into a book
Made by MENDO
Casper Reinders, a rare phenomenon. Image by Kwabena Appiah-Nti.
This book is unlike any other. And although there are more publishers saying that, we promise you, there’s absolutely nothing like this. Casper Reinders greatest interiors are collected in our newest book: Rock ‘n’ Roll Interiors.
How many 21st century businessmen without email do you know? And how many successful businessmen without email do you know? Probably a rare phenomenon. Insert, Casper Reinders; definitely a rare phenomenon.
Casper is the (co-)owner and interior stylist of more than ten wonderful places in Amsterdam serving the best drinks, food, and tunes in the city. None of them look alike, but they all have one thing in common: Casper’s way of collecting curiosities, antique, and overall coolness. As if that wasn’t enough, Casper now has his very own MENDO book: Rock ‘N’ Roll Interiors – The Eccentric World of Casper Reinders. A whirlwind of a book which features twelve interiors that reflect the eclectic style of one of Amsterdam’s leading interior designers. Here’s a small introduction.
Libertine Comptoir de Cuisine & Joya
Taxidermy animals, Skulls, Japanese porn, Asian antique.
Taxidermy animals, Skulls, Japanese porn, Asian antique.
“I don’t think you understand me correctly; there is no line. I never work with a plan.” According to Casper, his work literally consists of finding a venue and freestyling along the way. After having several meetings with cappuccinos at Libertine, I can tell you it isn’t. Yes, his work methods are somewhat unusual – For example: he doesn’t use email or a computer, and for someone who owns ten restaurants, he knows remarkably little about food – but still, there is consistency in his work. Every place built by him has a one-of-a-kind signature.
You could describe his work as eclectic, or rock ‘n’ roll (which he doesn’t like), but you can certainly describe it as Casper’s own. Taxidermy animals, skulls, Asian antique, Japanese porn, Russian curiosa, neon, a Skulljan graphic, and a canoe on the ceiling. “I just do what I like, and preferably, something that most people don’t like. If I made something everyone would love, it would feel as if I did a bad job.”
![]([{"width":300,"height":382,"src":"https:\/\/www.mendo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Schermafdruk-2018-11-21-11.56.41-300x0-c-default.png"},{"width":500,"height":637,"src":"https:\/\/www.mendo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Schermafdruk-2018-11-21-11.56.41-500x0-c-default.png"},{"width":700,"height":892,"src":"https:\/\/www.mendo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Schermafdruk-2018-11-21-11.56.41.png"},{"width":900,"height":1146,"src":"https:\/\/www.mendo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Schermafdruk-2018-11-21-11.56.41.png"}])
Bumbu
One of Casper's latest venues: Bumbu
So how would you translate this easy-go-lucky style into a book? Our art-director Joost Albronda explains: “When asked about his style, Casper would respond with something like “I just try something and see if it works” or “I don’t really stick to a formula.” So when we started on this book, we wanted it to reflect the way Casper works. It’s freestyling with a purpose. And that’s exactly what Casper does.”
This results in a book that goes in many directions at once. An a-typical entrepreneur deserves an a-typical book. That’s why there were three of the best photographers of Amsterdam involved to create a book that captures a mood, rather than just interiors. Joost: “Casper uses different interior styles at once, and with the photography of Roel, Kwabena, and Sharon we’ve used the styles of three great Amsterdam photographers to recreate his eclectic style in the book. No chapter is the same, just like none of Casper’s businesses is the same. I think we managed to surprise with every page.”
"We wanted it to reflect the way Casper works. It’s freestyling with a purpose." Joost Albronda
The book is filled with extraordinary things and wit, and functions almost as a journey through all of Casper’s venues. If there is a line to be found in his work, it would be its versatility. Wherever you look, you’ll find something weird or beautiful that inspires or intrigues. This book is a reflection of that feeling. With an unusual style, with surprising as well as confusing images, and a cover design by Casper’s friend and long-time collaborator Skulljan which hints to the classic with a unique contemporary twist.
So “this is not a fucking interior book,” but since we already have a book with a similar title, we chose for Rock ‘n’ Roll Interiors: The Eccentric World of Casper Reinders. He doesn’t like that name. He doesn’t consider himself Rock ‘n’ Roll at all, nor eccentric. That’s probably because in the world of Casper Reinders, everyone’s weird, and he’s the normal one. How that translates into his work, you’ll have to see in the book. Let’s just say that in our opinion, it’s not exactly normal.
‘I collect everything. It’s really just a pile of junk.’
‘I collect everything. It’s really just a pile of junk.’
About the book
Rock ‘n’ Roll Interiors is a book that tells the compelling stories of Casper Reinders: one of the most well-known Dutch entrepreneurs, collectionneurs, and interior designers. Distinctively different from other clubs, bars and restaurants Casper’s interiors are always exotic, Rock ‘n’ Roll, classic, bohemian, unique, rugged, and hedonistic.
Shop
![]([{"width":60,"height":75,"src":"https:\/\/www.mendo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/mendo-book-casper-koper-60x0-c-default.jpg"},{"width":100,"height":126,"src":"https:\/\/www.mendo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/mendo-book-casper-koper-100x0-c-default.jpg"},{"width":200,"height":251,"src":"https:\/\/www.mendo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/mendo-book-casper-koper-200x0-c-default.jpg"},{"width":350,"height":439,"src":"https:\/\/www.mendo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/mendo-book-casper-koper-350x0-c-default.jpg"},{"width":500,"height":628,"src":"https:\/\/www.mendo.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/mendo-book-casper-koper-500x0-c-default.jpg"}])
Continue reading
MENDO and Union present Frame/Work
New book
The first MENDO publication of 2019 is a fact: Frame/Work, created in collaboration with Union, is a book that inspires every young metropolitan citizen.
See Ferry van der Nat’s ‘Originals’
Exhibition at The Ravestijn Gallery Amsterdam
From the 17th of February till the 1st of April, the Ravestijn Gallery will exhibit ‘Originals’, the work of Ferry van der Nat. At Ravestijn, Van der Nat's sensual polaroids…
Interview with the makers of The Workshop
A new book by MENDO is about to hit the shelves. The Workshop opens doors of Dutch creatives. Here's how it all came about.
Interview
To celebrate our upcoming book with The Avocado Show, MENDO had a lunch date with its founder Ron Simpson to “peel” the success of the Avocado Show.
Interview with Ali Kirby, art director at DENHAM
In January of 2018, DENHAM released the book A Decade of DENHAM, in collaboration with MENDO. We talked to DENHAM's art director Ali Kirby, driving force behind the book, about…
Winners Sleeping In Style Amsterdam announced
Our Sleeping In Style competition has come to an end and we're delighted to announce the 9 fortunate winners.
Introducing “Miss Avocado”: Colette Dike
Interview
We had a moment to talk with Colette, the mastermind behind most of the recipes you’ll find in The Avocado Show book.
Made and published by us
We don't just sell books... we make them too, which you can see in the showcase of our 33 MENDO-made books. Here’s the story of how our MENDO publishing house…
The world behind the world of Apartamento
Interview
Apartamento "the world's hippest magazine", celebrated their ten year anniversary with a book; The World of Apartamento. In honor of this release, MENDO had a Q&A with co-founder and designer…
A brief history about (the streets of) Amsterdam
How our home base came to be
The streets of Amsterdam are full of history, that even hardcore Amsterdammers might not know about. Let us tell you a small tale about the past of our beloved home…
Meet MENDO
People often ask us what our personal favorite books are. This is the list of Daniël Ferwerda, our 11 Berenstraat flagship store book specialist.
Meet MENDO
At MENDO we're often asked about our favorite books. This is Mikel’s most recent selection.
Pie Aerts: Towards living a better and fuller life
Tales From the Roads Less Traveled
MENDO is proud to present Tales From The Roads Less Traveled, the first monograph of Dutch photographer Pie Aerts, published with teNeues. The result of years of traveling done by…
Work in progress: the Pontsteiger book
A first glimpse at a new book project with local significance
An eye-catching new building rises along the banks of the IJ-river. MENDO is very proud to design and publish a book about it.
A conversation with Marlene Taschen
Interview
On a drooly Thursday morning, MENDO's Mikel van den Boogaard had a very fun conversation about our industry with Marlene Taschen, Managing Director at (- and daughter of Benedikt) Taschen.
Six Sportret stories worth sharing
Favorite anecdotes from SPORTRET
Sportret is not only a wonderful photographic document; it is good fun to read too. Here are some of our favorite anecdotes from Sportret.
Tim Walker: Shifting from fashion to art
Photographer's Profile
Tim Walker, whose new book Shoot for the Moon is coming out soon, is a fashion photographer who is not interested in fashion at all. In this profile of the…
MENDO eCommerce Site Of The Year!
An award-winning webshop
We try to stay humble at all times, but with news of this magnitude we simply can’t: MENDO.nl is eCommerce Site Of The Year at Awwwards. And that's massive!
Where runway meets the street, according to Highsnobiety
Interview with Jian DeLeon
Highsnobiety is an online publication that covers trends and news in fashion, art, music, and culture. It recently launched its first book. MENDO talked with Highsnobiety’s Editorial Director Jian DeLeon.