ARRAY Magazine

ARRAY THE T TH E NEW YORK

DE D DESIGN E SIGN CENTER

GROUP DYNAMIC Members of Design Exchange New York

RESTORATION TIMBER Teaching old wood new tricks NEW! Read the entire issue online at www.arrayny.com FEB

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Display through May 2010

ARRAY INSIDE THE NEW YORK DESIGN CENTER

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ARRAY INSIDE THE NEW YORK DESIGN CENTER

WHERE ARCHITECTURE BEGINS HANDMADE IN OUR FOUNDRY AND ATELIER

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NEW YORK | LONDON | LOS ANGELES www.sabaxter.com | hardware@sabaxter.com 800.407.4295 | 212.203.4382 | 44.208.196.2410 UK

Features

Volume 7 Issue 1

16 Group Dynamic Meet some of the members of the popular industry network, Design Exchange New York.

18 Harry Heissmann

By Ted Lambert 20 Amy Lau

By Catherine McHugh and Leanne French 22 Brad Ford

By Catherine McHugh 24 Kristen McGinnis

By Robert Cashill 26 Jayne and Joan Michaels

By Michele Keith 28 Adrienne Neff

By Leanne French 30 Wood Work

By Leanne French Restoration Timber reveals the centuries-old stories behind reclaimed wood.

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Departments

Volume 7 Issue 1

9 CULTURECALENDAR By Leanne French The creative process of Alex Katz at the Parrish Art Museum, Man Ray’s multiple personalities at the Jewish Museum, plus artistic looks at NYC past…

12 BOOKS&BLOGS By Cathy Whitlock Grange and Wearstler hit the books, Domino staffers resurface online, plus must-have design apps.

14 TROVE By Leanne French Stylish products for springing ahead, from the latest in bicycle chic to a charming sculpture that’s for the birds (and that’s a good thing)…

32 EATS’N’SLEEPS By Marc Cadiente Hot spots in Hell’s Kitchen, more fierceness in the Meatpacking District, and a very green hotel in SoHo.

34 STYLERADAR Celebrate the great outdoors with some top designers and their favorite muse— Mother Nature.

36 GALLERY Strips and Stripes: Showrooms ask, What’s my line?

44 FRESHPICKS The most current products in NYDC showrooms.

54 STYLESPOTLIGHT Featured highlights of craft and design.

62 DEFININGPIECES Items that sum up what a showroom is all about.

70 SHOWROOMPORTRAITS Profiles of some of NYDC’s most familiar names.

74 NYDCEVENTSCALENDAR A social calendar of recent and upcoming celebrations.

78 SHOWROOMDIRECTORY A complete list of who’s where in 200 Lex.

80 BACKSTORY By Hashim Rahman On-the-Job Training: Parsons students make design a community service.

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ArrayMAGAZINE Editorial Array Magazine, Inc. 135 Grand Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10013 Phone 212.929.2733 Fax 212.929.0983 arrayny.com ARRAY editorial coverage@arrayny.com ARRAY advertising adinfo@arrayny.com

Paul Millman Editor-in-Chief/Publisher Saira Kathpalia Creative Director Ted Lambert Executive Editor Leanne French Features Editor

ARRAY Magazine is produced three times per year.

All submissions should be e-mailed to: coverage@arrayny.com

Jennifer Carela Managing Editor

Array Magazine, Inc. Š 2010 All rights reserved

Andrew French Photographer

The contents of Array Magazine, Inc., may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Mona Mansour Copy Editor

Adam Cohen Technology Consultant MacConcierge.com Hardware/Software Consultant Contributors Catherine McHugh Cathy Whitlock Hashim Rahman Michele Keith Robert Cashill New York Design Center James P. Druckman President & CEO Daniel M. Farr Director Alix M. Lerman Director of Marketing Leah Blank Senior Events Manager Alana Moskowitz Public Relations Manager Susan Lai Assistant Controller Vera Markovich Assistant Controller on the cover: Clockwise from top left: Brad Ford, Adrienne Neff, Harry Heissmann, Amy Lau, Jayne and Joan Michaels, and Kristen McGinnis photographed in Union Square. Photography

by Andrew French. Grooming by Christina Carlsson and Tanya Rae (McGinnis).

letter from the editor Dear Readers, It's 2010, and like time, ARRAY constantly marches forward. With this issue, I'm excited to announce that ARRAY is now also available online in full, flippable (digital) page form. What this means is that we’ll hopefully never be too far from reach—at work, at home, or wherever—and can be more useful than ever. Like a good colleague, we want Array to be well informed, inspiring, and fun to spend time with.

That also describes the spirit behind the founding of Design Exchange New York, a group of industry professionals who began gathering in restaurants and apartments to share ideas and resources, and which has grown to be an extremely informative and valuable local forum for manufacturers and designers alike. Meet active members of the group and learn more about the Design Exchange in our multipage profile (Group Dynamic, p. 16).

And while I’m on the subject of sharing resources, let me sing the praises of irreplaceable, strong, weathered wood culled from up to 200-year-old barns. These are the structures I marvel at along those picturesque country roads in the Northeast and Midwest. Their beams, cut from old-growth forest, look like nothing else, and if you put your hands on the material you can almost feel the history in them. Restoration Timber does wonderful things with this old wood, respecting its past but giving it new life in every room of the house (Wood Work, p. 30).

Photo by Andrew French

New life is also what architecture students at Parsons hope to bring to their volunteer community projects, which are now part of their course study. See how new ideas can take root and bear fruit for communities in need (Backstory, p. 80).

Whether you’re lying on a sofa at this moment, curled up with this issue in your hands, or surfing the Web on your laptop waiting for a client to arrive, we hope you’ll be flipping through our pages this year and discovering things that excite your eye and spark your creativity.

Collegially,

Paul Millman Editor-in-Chief

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ARRAY INSIDE THE NEW YORK DESIGN CENTER

MARCH 18-21, 2010 • 10AM-6PM PIER 94 • 55TH STREET AT WESTSIDE HIGHWAY NEW YORK CITY Admission is complimentary for registered interior designers and architects. For Show details and to register, visit archdigesthomeshow.com.

CO-SPONSORED BY:

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3

While at Pier 94, be sure to experience a spectacle of dining environments at DIFFA’s DINING BY DESIGN NY 2010. For more information, visit www.diffa.org.

Show ticket also allows entrance to the GO GREEN EXPO on Pier 92, March 19-21.

CultureCalendar

By Leanne French

The creative process of Alex Katz at the Parrish Art Museum, Man Ray’s multiple personalities at the Jewish Museum, plus artistic looks at NYC past…

EXHIBITS TOUCH OF BEAUTY The Studio Museum in Harlem celebrates the exquisite beauty of watercolors in A Delicate Touch: Watercolors From the Permanent Collection. Works dating from the 1940s to 2007 show how artists have experimented with the medium in a variety of ways, from mid-20th-century painters such as Romare Bearden to contemporary artists including John Dowell, whose work Delicate Touch (1977), a meditation on jazz, is the inspiration for the title of the exhibit. Through March 14, Studio Museum Harlem, 144 West 125th St., 212.864.4500, studiomuseum.org

Pamela 3, 1983 (above) and Junction, 1991 (right) are two of the works by Alex Katz on exhibit at the Parrish Art Museum.

The Studio Museum presents watercolors from its permanent collection, including John Bankston’s The Fabulists Garden #2, 2004 (above) and Romare Bearden’s Untitled (Classical Series), 1948 (below).

KATZ EYE VIEW Alex Katz: Seeing, Drawing, Making at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, New York, takes us through the creative process of the influential figurative artist.

The exhibit takes viewers through the various mediums the artist uses, including intuitive drawings, oil sketches, pencil and ink drawings, large-format charcoal cartoons, and final paintings. A bonus is that many of the works are from the artist’s personal collection and have never been exhibited. Through April 4, Parrish Art Museum, 25 Job’s Lane, Southampton, 631.283.2118, parrishart.org EYES HAVE IT The Brooklyn Museum draws on its renowned Egyptian collection for a new look at the art of the ancients. Body Parts: Ancient Egyptian Fragments and Amulets presents 35 sculptural fragments, each representing individual body parts. By seeing these isolated body parts, viewers can marvel at the ancient Egyptians’ careful attention to detail and artful portrayal of the human body. Through October 2, 2011, Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, 718.638.5000, brooklynmuseum.org The Brooklyn Museum Body Parts exhibit presents sculptural fragments from its renowned ancient Egyptian collection. Right Eye From an Anthropoid Coffin is pictured below.

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CultureCalendar

The Jewish Museum reexamines the life and work of Man Ray: Self-Portrait as a Fashion Photographer, 1936 (right) and The Rope Dancer Accompanies Herself with Her Shadows, 1916 (above). © 2009 Man Ray Trust/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris.

REVEALING MAN RAY The Jewish Museum reconsiders the life and work of a master Surrealist in Alias Man Ray: The Art of Reinvention. While the world celebrated Man Ray’s avant-garde work as a painter, photographer, and object maker, few knew of his suppressed past as the son of Russian Jewish immigrants. The exhibit ties this personal history to over 200 works on display. Through March 14, The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., 212.423.3200, thejewishmuseum.org

Rochas’s (Olivier Theyskens) evening dress made from black chantilly lace with black-and-silver cellophane embroidery is one of the fashions on display in Night and Day at the Museum at FIT. Photo courtesy MFIT.

FASHION FORWARD The Museum at FIT explores how our dress code has evolved in Night & Day, an exhibit devoted to women’s fashion over the past 250 years. Over 100 day and evening garments and accessories are on exhibit from Art Deco-inspired sportswear of the 1920s to deconstructed silhouettes of the 1990s and beyond.

Through May 11, Museum at FIT, Seventh Ave. at 27th Street, 212 217.4558, fitnyc.edu/museum DOWNTOWN SNAPSHOT New York University’s Grey Art Gallery offers an insider’s look at the art and culture that defined the “downtown scene.” The new exhibit Downtown Pix: Mining the Fales Archives, 1961-1991 focuses on the role photographers played in capturing the spirit of the times, as well as the artists, writers, performers, and activists who defined them.

Through April 3, Grey Art Gallery, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, 212.998.6780, nyu.edu/greyart Some of the photos from Downtown Pix at the Grey Art Gallery include images of a 1984 production of Through the Leaves at the Interart Theater (above, left, photographed by Nancy Campbell), Untitled from the series Rimbaud in New York, 1977-79 (above, right, shot by David Wojnarowicz), and a performance by David Gordon and Valda Setterfield (left, shot by Robert Alexander).

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Adad Hannah’s The Raft of the Medusa (100 Mile House), 2009 is part of the artist’s first solo museum exhibit at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Courtesy of Pierre-François Ouellette art contemporain, Montreal.

STRIKE A POSE The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in beautiful Ridgefield, Connecticut, hosts the first solo U.S. museum exhibit of the video art of Adad Hannah. Hannah re-envisions 19th-century tableau vivant, a popular entertainment in which live models hold a pose to stage a painting. Some of the works in Adad Hannah: Recent Video include the artist’s take on Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights and Diego Velázquez’s Las Meninas, shot on location at the Prado in Madrid, and Théodore Géricault’s The Raft of the Medusa. March 21-May 30, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, 203.438.4519, aldrichart.org SACRED ART The Asia Society takes visitors on a sacred journey in Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art. The exhibit is dedicated to sacred art inspired by the practice of Buddhist pilgrimage in Asia. Sacred objects, textiles, sculpture, and paintings illustrate how pilgrimage has been a source of artistic inspiration over the ages. March 15-June 20, Asia Society, 725 Park Ave., 212.288.6400, asiasociety.org A portable prayer wheel (left) and a votive plaque from Nepal (right) are some of the sacred artworks in Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art at the Asia Society. © The Walters Art Museum.

BRONX FLASHBACK The Bronx Museum of the Arts paints a picture of the city through the personal mementos of artists in Urban Archives: That Was Then This Is Now. The first in a series of exhibits, Urban Archives calls on artists such as Charlie Ahearn, Afrika Bambaataa, and Lady Pink & Jenny Holzer to contribute their art and cultural artifacts as a collective remembrance of the Bronx since the late 1970s. Through March 1, Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, 718.681.6000 Lisa Kahane’s Beauty Supplies (© Lisa Kahane, NYC) and Joe Conzo’s The Cold Crush Brothers performing at South Bronx High School for the 1980 High School Prom, 1980 (courtesy of the artist) are part of Urban Archives at Bronx Museum of the Arts.

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Books&Media Jacques Grange: Interiors

Hue

Style and Substance: The Best of Elle Decor

Orlando Diaz-Azcuy

By Pierre Passebon Flammarion, 268 pages, $75

By Kelly Wearstler Ammo Books, 288 pages, $49.95

By Margaret Russell Filipacci Publishing, 240 pages, $45

By Diane Dorrans Saeks Rizzoli, 224 pages, $60

The coffee table book is a curious phenomenon. Many are simply compilations of lavish photographs and great resources of design information; some are classic monographs that herald and celebrate exemplary careers. Jacques Grange: Interiors is all these things. Chronicling a four-decade-long career, the book showcases striking spaces from Yves St. Laurent’s hideaway in Tangier to Grange’s own Parisian apartment in the Palais Royal. The French-born interior designer studied at the feet of design legends Henri Samuel and Didier Aaron, and it shows—each interior is devoid of a “designer” look and instead, reflects his philosophy that decor should be a “self-portrait” of the owner and not the designer.

His list of commissions reads like a proverbial who’s who—Princess Caroline of Monaco, Madeleine Castaing, the Rothschilds—and the book features a diversity of design styles ranging from understated modern to rococo to 18th-century classic.

What’s in a color anyway? Megadecorator Kelly Wearstler tackles the subject in her eagerly awaited third book, Hue. Cleverly divided into sections by hue (Camellia, Wisteria, and Vermillion start off the first chapter), the book is a photo essay of Wearstler’s work, showcasing her wide body of commissions, from the 1926 James Dolena estate in Los Angeles to the Tides Hotel in Miami Beach. Her signature use of strong and varied colors will prove to be both inspirational and instructional, and encourages the reader to use unlikely yet successful color combinations. In case you have been living under a rock, Wearstler is perhaps one of the most famous designers working today, even more notable than her tony resorts and celebrity clients. Taking a page from decorators Dorothy Draper and William Haines, Wearstler brought back true glamour with her mix of baroque, Hollywood Regency, and modern interiors. Her hip, cutting-edge and above all memorable interiors form a diverse resume that includes the Viceroy, Maison 140, and Avalon hotels; Bergdorf Goodman’s restaurant and lounge; books, home accessories, fabric, rugs, and wallpaper.

The common denominator? A bold use of color.

Imagine being an editor-in-chief of a very chic and popular shelter magazine and having to choose “the best of” from your vast archives of trendsetting interiors. The result is Elle Decor’s 20th-anniversary celebration—Style and Substance: The Best of Elle Decor. Written by editor Margaret Russell, the book features 240 pages of luxurious rooms we have come to associate with Elle Decor—classic, sophisticated, unique.

Divided into user-friendly chapters of “Inviting Interiors,” “Private Spaces,” and “Outdoor Living,” the book features the work and residences of notables from the worlds of fashion, film, and design: Yves St. Laurent and Donatella Versace; Madonna and Sarah Jessica Parker; and Albert Hadley and Vicente Wolf, respectively. The book also features great decorating tips and concludes with a sourcebook filled with the editor’s favorite Web sites, stores, and vendors. It’s a must-have addition for the design library, particularly if you are someone who doesn’t stockpile back issues of your favorite magazines. And that would be me.

Diane Dorrans Saeks, one of my favorite design writers, specializes in books on California designers, lifestyle, and interiors. Couple her prose with the beautiful images and work of San Francisco and New York designer Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and you have a winner. For the uninitiated, the Cuban-born designer has a resume that is beyond impressive: former design principal with Gensler and Associates; commercial projects such as Levi Strauss headquarters; and furniture, fabric, and lighting collections for Hickory Business, McGuire, Schumacher, and Boyd Lighting. The book reflects the signature approach of a designer known for his modernist and architectural approach to interiors: elegant, classic forms that are minimal and clean with bold splashes of color. Spectacular photography of residences from Manhattan to California are highlighted, and the book closes with, a chapter on “The Importance of Books,” offering tips on building an inspirational library. And who better than the renowned designer John Saladino (who shares his subject’s design sensibilities) to write the book’s forward?

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By Cathy Whitlock

Grange and Wearstler hit the books, Domino staffers resurface online, plus must-have design apps.

The Editor at Large editoratlarge.com

Lonny Magazine lonnymag.com

iFurniture iPhone App

By Hu Cang, $0.99

mySurface iPhone App

By Dupont, Free

The world of the internet is certainly getting interesting these days as sadly, more and more design print editors and writers find themselves in the unemployment line.

Fortunately, that editorial talent is not going to waste thanks to Julia Noran (formerly of Veranda) who founded the popular interior design web site The Editor at Large. Noran taps the expertise of former editors of top shelter magazines such as Tom Delavan (Domino), Sophie Donelson (Hamptons Cottages & Gardens), Carolyn Sollis (House & Garden), Marisa Marcantonio (O at Home), and Caren Kurlander (Western Interiors and Design), among others. The site offers job postings, current design news, events, and product introduction. Of particular interest is a service that will appeal to many designers: The group of former editors serve as middlemen, linking potential projects with international, national, regional, and online magazines, book publishers, television, and bloggers (for a fee of course). The Editor at Large television feature provides an online video of current design events, openings, and showhouses of interest to those who live in other cities.

Domino magazine closed last year, leaving tens of thousands of subscribers heartbroken. Enter Lonny— an online magazine that has the look, feel, and design aesthetic of Domino and offers chic and affordable design to the masses. Started by former Domino market editor Michelle Adams and photographer Patrick Cline last fall, Lonny’s mission is to “deliver an intimate look into the way people really live” by not “following trends but rather in making choices that lead to happiness.” As editor-in-chief, Adams recognizes her target market’s need for decorating advice and product ideas that are affordable. Unhampered by the pesky restriction of editorialto-advertising page ratios, Lonny can produce as many pages online as it likes— an enviable position for an editor. While not a carbon copy of Domino, the magazine plans to attract the male market as well with a feature known as the “Dude Page” which will cater to decorating and products for men. And the beauty of the online experience makes it an instant-gratification fix for readers: They can click a product and immediately land on its Web site. P.S. The name comes from the founders’ roots— London (Cline) and New York (Adams).

One of the hardest things about the design business is keeping track of paperwork, memos, samples, and tear sheets which are, of course, vital to your business. How many times have you been out shopping, located the perfect item yet no information exists? I am all for anything that will aid with a quick sale and keep you organized.

Thankfully, the iFurniture phone application takes care of that. This app can serve as an immediate aid in recording dimensions, store location, notes, and of course, a photograph when shopping for furniture.

Think of it as a virtual tear sheet on your phoneThe iFurniture app for iPhone can serve as an immediate aid in recording dimensions, store location, notes, and of course, a photograph when shopping for furniture. You can e-mail the item directly to the client and it will even list the store’s location by GPS. And after a heavy day of antiquing and furniture and accessory shopping, trying to decipher my scribbled notes is about the last thing I want to deal with. And while the iPhone these days can do everything but scramble an egg, it’s nice to think we as designers can find ways to use our phone to help with our business.

Tired of lugging around surface chips from client to client? Find yourself on a job site and need to immediately explain your kitchen and bath counter choices to a visually challenged client? Once again the iPhone is revolutionizing the way we do business. Dupont has come up with the perfect solution. The iPhone app mySurface features the entire color palette of Corian solid and Zodiaq quartz surface colors. (Zodiaq incorporates pure quartz crystal and makes the product more durable and scratch resistant than its cousin Corian.) All you have to do is browse, select, zoom, and show your client via your phone screen or e-mail. The fullscreen shot of the surface texture is high definition and works just as well as the real thing. It is also organized by name and hue making it user-friendly. Colors can be saved and loaded into a favorites section for quick reference. With a dizzying array of 130 Corian and 60 Zodiaq choices, it also helps the designer and client in eliminating what they don’t want. The application also allows you to immediately call and ask for a product sample—and I am all for instant gratification. And it’s free for both Apple iPhone and iTouch users!

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Trove

By Leanne French

Stylish products for springing ahead, from the latest in bicycle chic to a charming sculpture that’s for the birds (and that’s a good thing)…

01 FAN CRAZE Dyson puts the cool in cool air with its Air Multiplier fan that shoots the breeze with no blades or grills. The circular design—compared by some fans to the Stargate sci-fi wormhole—will not transport you to a distant galaxy, but it will generate a smooth stream of air to keep you chillin’.

No blades means safe and easy cleaning. 10-inch table fan, $299.99, dyson.com

02 THIRST FOR DESIGN

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HOME TWEET HOME Something caught our eye while Etsy surfing, and it’s for the birds (literally). The Charm Hanging Bird Feeder by Joe Papendick is a lucky little rest stop for the feathered set. The St. Louis-based designer builds each feeder by hand from welded and stainless steel that is coated with enamel. A stainless steel screen holds seeds and serves as a stylish perch. $65, joepapendick.com

Green thumbs who love great design will want Pascal Charmolu’s Watering Can in their gardening arsenal. The streamlined stainless steel design from Born in Sweden features a flexible silicone hose with a built-in magnet that allows it to be attached to the can’s body when not in use. It’s a sleek way to quench your plant’s thirst. $96, aplusrstore.com

04 WALL TREATMENT That wall…it’s alive! Woolly Pocket™ Soft-Sided Garden Containers let you grow beautiful gardens indoors and out. The waterproof-lined pockets are handmade in the U.S. from recycled plastic bottles. All you have to do is install, fill the pockets with full-size plants, and watch your garden grow. Available in three modular sizes and colors. Lined Wally One wall pocket, $49, woollypocket.com

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CYCLE STYLE The latest spin on cutting-edge bicycle design is the YikeBike, an energy-efficient folding electric bike made in New Zealand. The design takes inspiration from the penny farthing, the 19th-century throwback, where riders sit on a seat and hold on to side handles. To turn, simply lean to the left or right.

And when the ride’s over, your lightweight wheels (only about 20 pounds) fold up and fit into a shoulder bag. The first YikeBikes will be available in mid2010 in New Zealand and Europe. yikebike.com

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GRASS ACT

SAY “FLOWERS”

Bring a little bit of the outdoors in with French designer Christophe Vialle’s Haute Culture Chlorophylle Mini Garden. The ready-to-grow kits in Mondrian-style geometric containers include grass, peas, or basil seeds. Think of it as a tabletop mini lawn that never has to be mowed. $72, aplusrstore.com

Korean designer Jung Hwa Jin nods to our nostalgia for instant photos from bygone days with his Polaroid Vase. The planter creates a frame similar to a Polaroid picture, but the focus is on the plant growing inside. Lighting is embedded inside the planter, which is suspended on a clothespin at the end of a cord. junghwajin.com

08 STORM SAMURAI Kung fu fans can go stealth against spring showers with the kitschy Ninja Umbrella, available from UncommonGoods. The sturdy nylon umbrella features the handle of a samurai sword and scabbard-style carrying case, perfect for fighting the elements ninja-style. $28, uncommongoods.com

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Portraits by Andrew French

G R O U P D Y N A M I C Meet some of the members of the popular industry network, Design Exchange New York Before social networking involved tweets and friending, a small group of interior designers had their own idea about connecting with one another.

It all started back in 2004, when designers Amy Lau, Brad Ford, and Harry Heissmann attended a Domino magazine luncheon. The conversation flowed, great ideas were exchanged, and Lau thought, "Why don’t we do this more often?"

“Most of the time you’re so busy that you’re chained to your office and you don’t get to connect with other designers,” says Lau. “So we thought, ‘We really have to reach out more to one another. Let’s have a dinner.’”

That dinner quickly became a regular get-together and grew to include designers Adrienne Neff and Jayne and Joan Michaels, among others.

“We started going to a restaurant, and everyone just sat around a large

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table to talk about what was new,” says Neff. “We had such a good time that we wanted to do it again, and before we knew it the group grew larger and larger.”

Wanting to make the most of that momentum, Lau took inspiration from friend and fellow designer Robin Bell, who hosted her own gatherings.

“I remember Robin telling me how amazing it was to be able to pick up the phone and ask for support from other designers about anything from who to use as a refinisher to negotiating contracts to dealing with clients,” Lau says. “I thought that was great, and we started feeling that we could do that too.”

But the group was outgrowing the restaurant scene, not to mention the headache of divvying up the bill at the end of a meal. So meetings were

Members of Design Exchange New York (from left) Harry Heissmann, Amy Lau, Brad Ford, Kristen McGinnis, Jayne and Joan Michaels, and Adrienne Neff.

moved to apartments and eventually to industry venues around New York. “After about a year, we realized that there was an opportunity to get more involved with artists, antique shops, manufacturers, and showrooms and have them host our meetings and talk about what they do,” says Brad Ford. “So we now have a real cross-section of people from the industry joining us every month.”

However, no sales pitches are allowed—the group is vigilant about keeping the focus on education and the exchange of ideas. “We don’t want any commercial agendas,” says Lau. “ t h i s i s r e a l ly a b o u t g e t t i n g d e s i g n e r s t o g e t h e r t o c u lt i vat e a c o m m u n i t y .”

And together that community—now called Design Exchange New York with its own LinkedIn page and around 200 members—meets eight to 12 times a year. The core members take turns organizing events, which can be intimate meetings, like their visit last fall to Judy Ross Textiles, where about 30 designers saw the process of textile making up close and personal, to larger meet and greets, including a party for 120 or so, hosted by designer Steven Gambrel at his home.

“Other visits have included trips to Michael Tavano’s showroom at the New York Design Center, Lepere Gallery, and Liz O’Brien Antiques—all opportunities for designers to see the creative process that fuels their business.”

“Designers seem to really enjoy hearing people’s stories and inspirations, and learning about how concepts, a scribble, or a sketch on a piece of paper become products,” says Neff.

And now more designers than ever before seem interested in joining the Design Exchange. There are no dues; interior designers simply contact Design Exchange New York through its LinkedIn page. Members are vetted to make sure they are interior designers, but all professionals are welcome. “It’s really about meeting new designers and seeing old friends who you've known for many years,” says Neff.

On the following pages, we profile some of the talented designers in the Design Exchange and take a look at some of their high-end work.

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Harry Heissmann Harry Heissmann’s career in New York began in storybook fashion. He’d known from an early age he wanted to move here from Germany. For years he’d collected items such as vintage cast-iron Christmas tree stands, and when the time came, he sold the majority of them to finance his trip. “ i a r r i v e d w i t h o n e s u i t c a s e , t wo p l a s t i c b ag s , a n d t wo f r i e n d s ’ p h o n e n u m b e r s .”

Despite his extensive, well-rounded training (his degree translates literally as interior design engineer) it wasn't easy breaking into the New York scene.

A cater-waiter friend got him into an industry party where he struck up a conversation that led to his first bit of work. With a local gig on his resume, he soon landed a job with Juan Pablo Molyneux and later spent nine years working with the venerable Albert Hadley. This year, Heissmann optimistically struck out on his own, opening his own firm. He says, “That’s what we give clients, an optimism towards their daily life. At least that’s what we should do, right?” Heissmann loves working alongside different types of clients—those with definite ideas about what they want and those who prefer to be shown what you think they’ll like. h e s e e s h i s wo r k a s e n t i r e ly c l i e n t - c e n t r i c , a n d s e e k s t o m at c h t h e i r p e r s o n a l i t y a n d l i f e s t y l e r at h e r t h a n i m p o s e a p e r s o n a l d e s i g n a e s t h e t i c u p o n a n y o n e . He credits his very thorough education for the practical know-how to deal with builders and tradespeople more easily than many designers. But what has gained Heissmann notoriety more recently is his playful eye for mixing elements, and a sense of adventure.

Heissmann was an early member of the Design Exchange. He remembers cramming 20 people into his tiny apartment at the time. “Of course we didn’t sit around and talk about design the whole time,” he says, “but we did share ideas, discuss trends, or just recommend a good painter—it was relaxed and fun. Back then, we could all just go out to dinner together afterward. It’s really grown!”

As for the future, Heissmann would love to do more work in Hollywood.

He thinks some of the amazing movie star homes he’s seen in glossy pages could use a few new ideas and a bit more life in them.

Until then, he’s content to remain in the city he dreamed of from afar. “ n e w yo r k r e m a i n s o n e o f t h e t r u e c e n t e r s o f t h e wo r l d . w h at e v e r yo u n e e d f o r a n y c l i e n t , yo u c a n g e t i t h e r e . t h e t r e n d s , t h e c u lt u r e , t h e i d e a s — t h e y a l l c o m e h e r e f i r s t .

“

1. Harry Heissmann’s design of an Easter-inspired room at the 2008 Holiday House, benefiting the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

2. The designer’s new Manhattan office illustrates his playful eye for mixing design elements. (harryheissmanninc.com)

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By Catherine McHugh and Leanne French

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amy lau Amy Lau has a talent for having great ideas and taking them to the next level.

Around the same time she started the Design Exchange with friends in 2004, she had another inspired idea to create an annual design event and exhibition.

“It was insane during that time,” she remembers. “It was definitely helpful having the group to talk to.”

A year later, Lau co-founded Design Miami, which has become a popular global design forum. Chalk it up to Lau’s ability to tap into the zeitgeist of design, a skill that serves the designer in another important role as co-director of the Design Council of the Museum of Arts & Design. “I’m on the exhibition committee, working with 25 luminaries who are the best in art and design,” says Lau. “It’s really exciting and an honor to foster ideas with them.”

It’s also an honor her artist grandmother would take pride in. w h i l e g r ow i n g u p i n a r i zo n a , l a u s ay s h e r i n t e r e s t i n d e s i g n wa s awa k e n e d at h e r g r a n d m o t h e r ’ s t r e a s u r e - f i l l e d h o m e . “She had collections of everything—she was a mineralogist, an expert in rare cactuses, and also very much into ornithology,” she says. “Her work really revolved around creating an environment and that piqued my interest.”

After earning her undergraduate degree in art history and marketing, Lau applied that interest, working for an import/export company in Tucson. “I had the rare experience of working all throughout Mexico,” she says. “I was brought in to buy retail and wholesale and I also designed lines in tin, ceramic, copper, silver, and wrought iron, collaborating with artisans to make their work more commercially appealing to the American market.”

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Then it was onto New York, where she was accepted to the prestigious graduate program in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby’s. “We studied under major curators and art historians and industry professionals,” she says, ”which really helped to shape and formulate my eye.”

Lau's expertise came in handy as director for Aero Ltd., where she worked with founder Thomas O’Brien. Two years later, she became the design director for the Lin-Weinberg Gallery, and then in 2001 founded her own firm, Amy Lau Design, which has kept her busy ever since.

In addition to her interior projects, Lau recently debuted a fabric line for S. Harris, will launch a wall covering collection for Maya Romanoff this spring, and has plans to create a tile line for Artistic Tile. There is also a television show in the works, and, as always, new ideas are brewing. “I’m thinking about bringing a fashion component into my products,” she says. “I love taking design to a higher level, and making it available to people outside the design community.”

And if anyone can make great ideas happen, Amy Lau can.

Amy Lau’s curatorial expertise and passion for great design translates to beautifully composed interiors. 1. The living room of a Bridgehampton beach house. 2. The living room of a West Chelsea loft. 3. The dining room of the same loft in West Chelsea. 4. A Greenwich Village penthouse. (amylaudesign.com)

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By Catherine McHugh

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BRAD FORD Brad Ford traces his successful career in interior design back to his Hendrix College degree in business and economics. Yet the Russellville, Arkansas native never imagined his love of the arts and design could translate into a viable career, so he settled into a steady job with global marketing/computer company Acxiom. But everything changed when he decided to build a small house in his hometown.

As Ford made alterations to his contractor’s plans, he realized how much he loved the process. So he sought out George Anderson, a well-established interior designer in Arkansas. “I asked for his advice about pursuing a career in interior design,” Ford says. “And the first thing he said was: ‘Move to New York.’ I just thought he was crazy, because it seemed so far out of my reach.”

But after six more months of becoming increasingly disenchanted with the path his life was taking, Ford decided to take the leap and visit New York City to check out some schools.

Once he got accepted to FIT, he packed his bags and didn’t look back. After graduation, Ford began working as an assistant for Jed Johnson. “He had such integrity, and was just such a kind person. I learned just as much from his talent as I did from his character,” Ford says.

In 1996, Ford accepted an offer from a pre-Project Runway Tim Gunn (then a dean at Parsons) to teach a basic interior design class at a new affiliate school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “The landscape there is gorgeous and so different from anything I was used to seeing,” he says. “ i j u s t l ov e t h e s i m p l i c i t y o f e a s t e r n d e s i g n .”

Upon returning to New York, Ford worked as a project manager for Thad Hayes before founding his own firm, which specializes in residential design.

He credits part of his success to making connections in the design community.

In 2004, he helped found the Design Exchange, and about a year and a half ago, he started his own blog, designtherapy.com. “I’ve actually given lectures about how social networking is a powerful marketing tool,” he says. “It’s been a fascinating learning experience for me. People in over 40 countries are reading my posts, and I only spend about eight to 10 hours a week updating it.”

He now finds that people want his advice about how to start an interior design career. “ m y b u s i n e s s b ac kg r o u n d h a s b e e n a g r e at a s s e t — a n d i t e l l p e o p l e w h o wa n t t o g e t i n t o i n t e r i o r d e s i g n t h at i t ’ s a b o u t 20 p e r c e n t c r e at i v i t y a n d 80 p e r c e n t m a n ag e m e n t . yo u r e a l ly h av e j u s t g o t t o s tay o n t o p o f i t a n d b e o r g a n i z e d .”

And, of course, never stop making connections.

Brad Ford’s modern yet warm and approachable designs include 1. The bedroom of a West Village loft designed for a young art gallery owner. 2. A family room for a client in Bridgehampton. 3. A TriBeCa living room designed for a couple with a passion for art collecting. 4. A home in the Hamptons with a handcrafted, circa 1960s chair. 5. A young family’s triplex in downtown Manhattan. 6. A bedroom in downtown Manhattan with grass cloth walls and cowhide rug. 7. A study in a Hamptons home with vintage desk and mercury lamp. 8. A family room in downtown Manhattan. (bradfordid.com)

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By Robert Cashill

Kristen McGinnis Kristen McGinnis goes all out for her clients. “I recently did a project for an Astor Place bachelor pad. He brought his books, clothes, and keys, and I gave him a turnkey apartment. I went shopping, full throttle, for absolutely everything, for his kitchen, bathroom, refrigerator—I even found him his maid and taught her how to iron his custom-made sheets.”

Chalk it up to Southern hospitality. The Tar Heel State native, who always knew she wanted to be involved in the arts, is a local talent made good.

“Graduating from the visual arts program at the North Carolina School of the Arts really prepared me for my move to New York and for Parsons,” where she studied fashion design. “It was strict, and stringent, and it stripped you bare in preparation for building you back up.” design books

(she

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i n s p i r e m c g i n n i s . In time came a senior position at Sills Huniford Associates,

and the interior designer hung her own shingle in 2005. A key project was the revamp of the Park Avenue apartment of art world high priestess Agnes Gund, where among other tasks she fit early 20th-century French furniture around the former MoMA chief’s formidable private collection. “Working with Ms. Gund, it was a matter of rotating that fabulous art collection back into the space as we renovated, which was slightly intimidating at first but such a wonderful opportunity. I don’t think ‘out of the box,’ because each client has their own needs and the process is so personalized.” h e r s t y l e , s h e s ay s , i s d e f i n e d b y o n e wo r d .

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i va l u e i s t h e p u r i t y o f m at e r i a l s a n d a p u r i t y t o t h e a p p r oac h . n o p r e t e n s e . w h at yo u s e e i s w h at yo u g e t w i t h m e .”

What McGinnis gets from the Design Exchange, which she’s been a part of for two years, is “the chance to meet so many amazing people, and to network. A lot of great tradespeople are part of this. Interior design is so much about the relationships that you have and the referrals that come in. Fashion is very much part of me; it definitely helps with the tailoring of my work, as there’s a couture level of detail that I brought from fashion into my interior design. Still, I don’t think something like this could exist in the fashion industry, which can be more cutthroat. Design Exchange offers something for everyone.”

Kristen McGinnis created a timeless, contemporary design for a home on Astor Place, adding personal touches for her discerning client from custom-made furnishings to hand-selected decorative items. (kristenmcginnis.com)

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By Michele Keith

Jayne and Joan Michaels “ a r t d r i v e s o u r d e s i g n s ,” say identical twins Jayne and Joan Michaels, principals of New York–based 2Michaels Interior Design. But it is the “sophisticated creativity” of such midcentury icons as Franco Albini, Carlo Mollino, and Carlo Scarpa with which they became intimately familiar while studying in Italy that is the pair’s most important inspiration. It has never left them, they explain, and continues to influence their work in a profound way.

Fashioning the spare yet luxurious 2Michaels style begins the moment they walk into a room, when ideas for the artwork to use start percolating. Next is color, and finally, the composition of the furnishings. The system evidently works, as seen in the residences and commercial spaces they’ve designed in New York, California, and the Midwest. “We love it when the homeowner wants to be involved,” they say. “It can become a voyage of discovery, especially for those who accompany us to the galleries during our search for pieces that reflect their souls as well as their personalities.” To avoid anything redolent of cookie-cutter design, they often mix unique pieces from their favorite years spanning the 1920s to the 1970s. And regardless of the space, t h e g oa l i s a lway s e a s y c o m f o r t : a r e l a x e d a n d b e a u t i f u l e n v i r o n m e n t t h at r e f l e c t s t h e c l i e n t ’ s p e r s o n a l i t y a n d m e e t s their needs.

Each designer brings different talents to the table: Joan is the colorist, “amazing” with fabrics, Jayne says, and the final flourishes. Jayne is more involved with the architecture, furniture selection, and lighting. A TriBeCa loft they renovated for a young couple with a baby on the way is a good example of what they do: They kept the industrial feel, yet made it warm and cozy for the family and brighter for the wife, who is a professional writer.

The sisters say it’s always a delight when they’re invited for dinner and get to see how happy the couple is in their renovated home. Currently the two are paving the way for more commercial work in the future—boutiques, hotels, and restaurants top their list—and are in discussions about hosting an interior-design–oriented television show with a more sophisticated format than those presently aired.

Of the Design Exchange, which they joined many years ago, they say, “Right from the start we found it not only useful for business—everyone experiences the same challenges—but for the new friends we made. It’s like a family of designers, even today.”

Jayne and Joan Michaels’s art-driven designs blend sophisticated creativity with an easy comfort. 1. A dining and living area in a TriBeCa loft. 2. A Sutton Place apartment. 3. A living room on Sutton Place. 4. A kitchen in a TriBeCa loft. (2michaelsdesign.com)

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By Leanne French

Adrienne Neff Adrienne Neff brings a native New Yorker’s sensibility to the beautiful high-end residential interiors she designs in and around the city where she grew up.

“I grew up right here in Stuyvesant Town in downtown Manhattan in the ’70s,” says Neff. “It was a wild place like in the movie Taxi Driver, but I loved the chaos and creative energy of it. And then when I was a little older, my family moved to the Upper East Side. For me, it was Catholic school and uniforms, a whole other side of Manhattan.”

Like so many designers, Neff remembers an early fascination with design, spending hours rearranging furniture in her dollhouse, although even back then she had high-end tastes and an eye for custom design. “My mother would hand sew different elements, and I would find pieces of marble to incorporate,” she remembers. “Plus the house was electrified, which was very exciting.”

Translating that early love of design into a career, however, wasn’t always fully illuminated. “At the time, there wasn’t such a big awareness of design,” Neff remembers. “I have someone who works for me now who has a masters degree in design, but that wasn’t an option when I was in school.”

Instead Neff studied English and philosophy at Barnard College, but always took art history courses, including one summer delving into 18th-century landscape design and architecture in England. Her interest in art also led her to Sotheby’s prestigious graduate program in fine and decorative arts where her classmate was fellow Design Exchange member Amy Lau. And while Neff’s first job out of college was working in a publishing house, she ultimately found her way into the design field. Her plan: work for design pros like Thomas O’Brien, Alan Wanzenberg Architects and antique dealer Liz O’Brien during the day, and take courses at Parsons and Pratt at night. “ i f o u n d t h e b e s t way t o l e a r n a b o u t i n t e r i o r d e s i g n wa s t o wo r k f o r d e s i g n e r s ,” s h e s ay s . “ yo u l e a r n a l o t o f t h e o r y i n c l a s s , b u t yo u l e a r n a b o u t t h e b u s i n e s s o f d e s i g n i n t h e r e a l wo r l d .”

2004, s p e c i a l i z i n g i n i n t e r i o r s , “ a m i x o f t r a d i t i o n a l a n d m o d e r n ,” w i t h a n e c l e c t i c u s e o f a r t , a n t i q u e s , a n d c u s t o m e l e m e n t s . One of the designer’s personal passions is color photography, particularly the work of Lisa Kereszi, Laura Letinsky, Adam Fuss, and Alec Soth. “I started collecting maybe five years ago, and I think it is such an exciting area because there is so much creative talent out there,” she says. n e f f s ta r t e d h e r ow n f i r m i n which she describes as

There is also plenty of creative talent closer to home—Neff recently launched Uzu, her own wallpaper collection, with Holland & Sherry. Inspired by ancient and Neolithic decorative arts, the designs are custom-made by hand, using water-based paints and recycled paper. “When someone places an order, we make the designs just for them so there is no excess waste,” says Neff. “The idea is to encourage designers to order custom color combinations so they can put their own mark on it and make it their own.”

Adrienne Neff balances traditional and modern styles with an eclectic mix of art, antiques, and custom elements as seen in this Upper East Side apartment. Photography by John Gruen. (adrienneneff.com)

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By Leanne French

Wood Work Restoration Timber reveals the centuries-old stories behind reclaimed wood.

When Jim Stafford was building his house in Aspen, he experienced what most people do—the unparalleled satisfaction of crafting your own home from the ground up—as well as the usual frustrations of construction. It was a learning experience for Stafford, and in the end he built not only a new home, but a new career.

Part of Stafford’s goal for his new home was to use as much reclaimed timber as possible. He trekked all over the Midwest and South to abandoned factories, barns, and warehouses in search of beautiful old-growth wood. But the search wasn’t easy, and he quickly realized that materials were either difficult to source or exorbitantly priced. That’s when the entrepreneur in Stafford recognized there was a need in the marketplace. He consulted with Mike Wilson, a former colleague with whom he had worked with in the high-tech world at Ziff Davis Publishing and Red Herring.

“We saw there was a service issue in Jim’s experience,” says Wilson. “So we talked to a number of different mills, wood suppliers, architects, and designers, and most of them had had a similar experience. We saw the problem and knew how to fix it.”

So in the summer of 2001, Stafford and Wilson launched Restoration Timber to supply high-quality reclaimed wood with a high level of service. Stafford and Wilson, who are based in San Francisco, soon realized they needed an East Coast presence, and enlisted Jim’s brother Jeff to head up a New York office.

Around the same time, Jeff Stafford had a life-changing experience being in New York during 9/11. Stafford, a Juilliard-trained actor, operated a food station for rescue workers near Ground Zero. “That experience convinced me that I didn’t need to be an actor,” he says. “I needed to have a job I believed in, and that’s when I started up the East Coast office.”

And reclaimed wood is definitely a product Stafford believes in. “ w e ’ r e f o r t u n at e i n t h i s b u s i n e s s t h at w e ’ r e d o i n g s o m e t h i n g g o o d f o r t h e e n v i r o n m e n t ,” says Jeff Stafford. “We’re not chopping down trees, we’re not hauling them out of forests. w e ’ r e r e u s i n g m at e r i a l , a n d w e wo u l d n ’ t b e a b l e t o d o i t i f i t wa s n ’ t a b e a u t i f u l m at e r i a l . It has an original patina that comes from hundreds of years of weathering and aging. Maybe cows knocked up against it in the case of barn siding, or maybe someone nailed something up and then took it down. t h e wo o d c a r r i e s a m a n - m a d e h i s t o r y a n d a n at u r a l b e a u t y yo u c a n ’ t fa k e .”

Old wood also has other characteristics not found in new wood. “Basically, the trees had to fight for their existence, so they grew more slowly and the ring count per inch is much greater than trees you get from managed forests or factory settings today,” says Wilson. “So there is a natural character in the color variations, grain, and pattern.”

“Sometimes we’d drive down roads that were barely marked to meet with people who had a barn they had just taken down or had a yard of beams they had to sell.”

Now the company has a well-established network of vendors, solid relationships they’ve built over the last eight years. And if anyone is going to get a tip about an amazing piece of wood, it is the guys at Restoration Timber. “We hear about everything going on,” says Jeff Stafford. “For example, there was a huge factory in North Carolina we got a tip about that had walnut in the subfloor. Walnut is extremely rare. Because we know so many people, we knew about it.”

Wilson remembers another priceless tip about a massive piece of oak from an old barn. “It was 15-by-18-inches, hand-hewn, 49 feet long,” says Wilson. “Normally a big piece of oak is 12 inches by 12 inches, or maybe 12 by 14; so this was just extremely large. The vendor said it almost made him cry to cut it.”

But the piece of oak found two new homes: as a ridge beam in the family room of one West Coast house, and as the support for an outdoor porch roof at another residence. The company emphasizes that each project is customized to the client.

“Basically, we look through samples at the showroom and help the client define their aesthetic,” says Jeff Stafford. “Then we talk about what kind of characteristics they’re looking for—the color tones, grain patterns, density, and patina. Then we work up a control sample with a finish on it for approval.”

Some recent projects have included transforming mahogany bleachers from a school in Wisconsin into a stunning floor in Florida, and giving reclaimed barn siding an honored place in the reception area of the National Audubon Society’s new LEED-platinum-certified headquarters in New York.

Restoration Timber has also received a high honor for its environmental commitment. The Forest Stewardship Council recently certified the company.

“We’ve always been part of the green movement,” says Wilson. “It’s who we are, and the FSC certification is further proof of that. Now we’re trying to figure out how to take it to the next level.”

A portfolio of Restoration Timber projects includes: 1. A porch built with reclaimed original sawn pine floor beams and brown board pine siding and ceiling. 2. A home with custom-finished, reclaimed hickory flooring and handhewn oak beams. 3. Another home with custom finished, white oak flooring and original sawn oak beams stained dark. 4. A kitchen uses reclaimed hickory cabinetry and custom finished, hand-hewn oak beams. 5. A detail of Western red cedar beams with a custom truss. 6. A living room combines hand-hewn mixed hardwood beams with a custom truss and reclaimed white oak flooring. 7. Reclaimed white oak flooring and pine cabinetry. 8. Flooring made from reclaimed white oak installed in a herringbone pattern. 9. Reclaimed hickory flooring with and oil and wax finish. (restorationtimber.com)

How does the company source its unique inventory? “It originally involved a lot of traveling in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, and Ohio,” says Jeff Stafford.

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Eats’N’Sleeps A Voce Columbus avocerestaurant.com 10 Columbus Circle, 3rd Floor 212.823.2523

Agua Dulce aguadulceny.com 802 Ninth Ave. 212.262.1299

Casa Lever casalever.com 390 Park Ave. 212.888.2700

Abe & Arthur’s abeandarthurs.com 409 West 14th St. 646.289.3930

Towering 70 feet above the city streets, a statue of Christopher Columbus overlooks the western edge of Central Park, the Museum of Arts & Design, and the Trump Towers. One place comes close to “seeing” the city at the same level as the statue: A Voce Columbus, a restaurant serving refined Italian cuisine. Situated on the third floor in the Time Warner Center, A Voce Columbus is just as much a spectacle to behold as the statue.

Designed by the renowned Rockwell Group, the interior is a practice in restrained modern sophistication.

Golden light gently pours off the walls of the glass-clad bar back and streams into the dining area, where shimmering chrome details are balanced by the warmth of caramel leather. A focal point of the space is the glass wall lined with over 8,500 wine bottles. The menu, designed by executive chef Missy Robbins, offers Italian classics with an innovative twist, including a succulent slab of pork belly with figs, balsamic vinegar reduction, and pistachios; and grilled lamb chops and lamb sausage with Umbrian lentils and stone mostarda fruit. The wine program, overseen

by Olivier Flosse, features nearly 80 wines from Italy, France, and the U.S. that enhance the memorable dining experience.

From the tango to Garcia Marquez, Kahlo to Capoeria, there are many reasons why people love Latin culture. Add one more reason to the list: Agua Dulce, from owners Daniela and Chris LaMotta. Located in the always-hot Hell’s Kitchen, Agua Dulce is an oasis where everything Latin is celebrated through vibrant cuisine and exciting design.

Designed by Peter Sibilia and Damien Vizuete, the restaurant has a tropical feel with a color scheme of celadon, turquoise, aqua, and lemon, which immediately conjures up thoughts of calm, cool waters and seaside cabanas. Rich dark woods ground the watery-themed space, while intricately designed wrought iron railings play with light and dark.

Situated at the front of the house is the marble-topped bar, above which hovers a dramatic three-story liquor tower. Executive chef Ulrich Sterling relied on his travels to Latin America—particularly Peru, where Chinese influences are seamlessly integrated into food—to create the menu. Signature dishes include salmon citrus ceviche with savory jalapeño; a moqueca mixta Brazilian seafood stew in coconut milk with cashews; and a smoked tea-braised beef short rib served with snap beans charred in soy sauce and a crispy ropa vieja. Aqua Dulce excites the senses and can truly be called a paradise within the city.

Are those original Warhols hanging on the wall? Yes, they are, and there are (count them!) 19. That’s the first impression you get from Casa Lever, the new restaurant in the iconic Lever House, and everything else about the restaurant upholds those standards. Owned by G&D Restaurant Associates of legendary Sant Ambroeus fame, Casa Lever indulges its guests with Milanese hospitality in a retro setting that reinforces the integrity of the landmark building that houses it. The restaurant’s airy interior, designed by William Georgis, is a tribute to midcentury modern, with Venini chandeliers dripping from the geometric ceiling. Walls on one side are cut to reveal eating nooks cleverly separated by wine racks, while the rest of the dining room flaunts Eames-style chairs. At the end of the retro chic space, nestled in another wall portal, is the magnificent glass and marble bar. Executive chef Mario Danieli’s menu features Milanese classics, including thinly sliced, slow roasted veal, tuna and caper sauce; gragnano paccheri with red snapper ragout, cherry tomato, and baby artichoke; and seared lamb chops served with polenta and roasted wild mushrooms. With its unique design and authentic cuisine, Casa Lever will probably become a classic New York establishment.

With so many restaurants in the Meatpacking District, it’s difficult to keep track of what’s closing, what’s thriving, and what’s hoping to be the next big thing. Enter Abe & Arthur’s, the first restaurant from EMM Group’s Eugene Remm, Mark Birnbaum, and Michael Hirtenstein.

This young establishment brings a sense of familiarity to a constantly changing neighborhood—it evokes the nostalgic spirit of 1930s and ’40s New York City dining. From the food to the interior design, Abe & Arthur’s is a tribute to the history of the city and of family—the restaurant is named after the partners’ grandfathers. Upon entering, patrons are swept into a gentleman’s library of an earlier era. Herringbone-marble tiles stretch throughout the space; a zinc bar sits at one end, and smart, studded antique leather chairs line the other side. The main dining room opens into a soaring space, at once elegant and edgy. The bilevel room is characterized by light woods, tanned leather, and graffiti-like scrims. The menu, created by executive chef Franklin Becker, features reinterpreted classic American fare, including tuna tartare tacos with avocado, citron-soy, and red chili aioli; and pan-roasted sea scallop and foie gras with caulifloweralmond puree, chanterelles, and blis elixir. Familiar yet exciting, Abe & Arthur’s is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

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By Marc Cadiente

Hot spots in Hell’s Kitchen, more fierceness in the Meatpacking District, and a very green hotel in SoHo.

Ardesia ardesia-ny.com 510 West 52nd St. 212.247.9191

The Standard Grill thestandardgrill.com 846 Washington St. 212.645.4100

Crosby Street Hotel firmdale.com 79 Crosby St. 212.226.6400

West 57th Street by Hilton Club west57thstreet.com 102-108 West 57th St. 212.379.0103

As Hell’s Kitchen continues to flourish, many establishments are pushing the borders of the neighborhood to the less frequented 10th and 11th Avenues. One such place is Ardesia, owner Mandy Oser’s wine bar located in the new Archstone Clinton apartment complex. Ardesia pays homage to Hell’s Kitchen’s historic past and the recent influx of modern buildings. The interior features a dazzling bar top of Venetian marble and a modern steel and wood back bar. Evoking the fire escapes of the area’s old tenement buildings is the towering glass-encased wine wall supported by exposed I-beams. The intimate lounge area at the rear of the bar is cozy enough to feel like a close friend’s living room, while the hip front space feels like a modern interpretation of an industrial-age schoolhouse replete with a blackboard wall listing the bar’s offerings.

The wine list emphasizes “mineraldriven” bottles and is a combination of classics alongside lesser-known selections from small producers. To complement the beverage service, chef Amorette Casaus offers a small plates menu, including homemade charcuterie and artisinal cheeses; a house-cured duck banh mi; and a pancetta and fried quail egg toast.

Ardesia may be located on the outskirts of the city, but with much to offer, it may become the heart of this burgeoning neighborhood.

It’s sizzling at The Standard Grill, the lively restaurant at André Balazs’s The Standard Hotel. Part French bistro, part intimate steak house, The Standard Grill dares to be everything at once for all of New York City. Located underneath the High Line park, the restaurant ushers in visitors to a light and airy space dressed in white beadboard, a walnut-topped bar, bistro style chairs and tables, and industrial French lighting. Enter the main dining room, and the restaurant shifts gears. Here, the vaulted ceiling closes in on the space, creating intimacy—although this is a place to be seen. Tufted burgundy banquettes and armchairs, along with wood accents, evoke a masculine steak house, while the penny-covered floor gives the restaurant a playful twist. Executive chef Dan Silverman offers a menu that blends the fare of traditional meat-market houses with new American cuisine sensibilities. Because Silverman utilizes the freshest market ingredients, the menu changes daily, but standard offerings include a selection of fine charcuterie from the counter; chilled lobster bar harbor tossed with baby fingerlings and greens; and a “demivache” dry-aged prime rib steak for two. From the delectable cuisine to the duality in design, it’s no wonder The Standard Grill is one of the hottest spots in the city.

Something green has popped up on a cobbled street in SoHo, and it’s causing a stir in the neighborhood.

Firmdale Hotels, the London boutique hotel group, has a knack for opening successful hotels (the group owns 11 properties in England), and hopes for the same prosperity with its first New York property, Crosby Street Hotel. Owned by husbandand-wife team Tim and Kit Kemp, Crosby Street Hotel is making news in the design world as one of the most environmentally responsible hotels built in the United States. At presstime, it was being reviewed to be gold-LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, which would make it one of the first hotels in New York to achieve such certification. Kit Kemp also holds the role of designer, and the property reflects her fresh and sometimes quirky approach to designing space— her emphasis is placed upon color and texture. Each of the bedrooms and suites are individually designed, some with bold colors and patterns, while others are more tailored and neutral. The guest rooms are a blend of sleek, modern elements and genuine antiques, playful and sophisticated. Crosby Street Hotel also boasts a bar and restaurant, a posh drawing room, and a central garden, making it that much more English— and that much greener.

Imagine owning a piece of prime real estate in New York City overlooking Central Park, and stepping onto the street, with many desirable destinations within walking distance. This is what West 57th Street by Hilton Club offers its members. Designed

by Alexandria Champalimaud & Associates, the interior of the property is a soothing sanctuary away from the bustle of the city outside. The lobby is a welcome sight, with cool cream-colored floors and sleek walnut paneling. And the front desk is a gentle metallic curve, while the concierge desk is a more dramatic form in walnut. The Owners Lounge offers guests a place to gather on creamy leather seating below high floating ceilings and among monumental walnut columns. But the most inviting aspect of the property is the guest rooms. The studios and one-bedrooms are luxurious getaways in themselves, with floorto-ceiling windows that frame the city views. The palette is a calming blend of gray-washed floors, taupe wall details, and tan leathers. Bursts of colorful art and glass partitions capture light and give the rooms a sense of whimsy. Both a Hotel and timeshare, the 28-story Hilton property is home away from home, with all the amenities of a boutique hotel. Now who wouldn’t mind sharing that?

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StyleRadar

Celebrate the great outdoors with some top designers and their favorite muse—Mother Nature.

How do plants, flowers, animals, or landscapes influence your designs?

Marc Charbonnet I work with natural elements when a client shows interest, and in my own home and office I need to be near something that is growing, thriving, and changing. Growing up in New Orleans must be the reason.

Sandy Espinet i l ov e t h e c o l o r va r i at i o n o f s a n d from soft dirty white and creams to the darker shades of taupe and brown when wet. I also use small beach pebbles on outdoor shower floors to bring the beach home.

wo r k o f m o t h e r n at u r e i s e n d l e s s ly i n s p i r i n g . m y

Charles Pavarini Seagrass carpeting, raffia, grasscloth, and hemp. I also work leopard and fawn prints, antlers, river rocks, and horns into many interiors for the dramatic, stylish effect they create.

Jamie Drake t h e

l at e s t i n t r o d u c t i o n f o r e l k ay i s a s ta i n l e s s s t e e l s i n k c a l l e d f l o r a . t h e ova l b ow l i s e t c h e d w i t h a m o d f l o r a l pat t e r n , m e l d i n g n at u r e a n d fa s h i o n .

Sandy Espinet All of my favorite color combinations are drawn from nature.

I think they’re also the most timeless. Right now I am very into bright colors in coral and fish—the colors you see when you go diving, which are intensified by the sunlight.

Darren Henault Tony Bielaczyc (deputy garden editor at Martha Stewart Living) put in a cutting garden at our house in Millbrook. i c u t b u c k e t s o f f l ow e r s e v e r y w e e k a n d f i l l e v e r y r o o m i n t h e h o u s e . t h e c o l o r s , s h a p e s , a n d t e x t u r e s o f t h e va r i o u s f l ow e r s c a n b e u s e d i n t h e s a m e way t h at fa b r i c s , f u r n i t u r e , a n d l i g h t i n g a r e u s e d i n design.

Glenn Lawson Perennials. What incredible, pure, clear colors! Animals? I love to hit the zoo and the aquarium once a year. Their natural colors, whether neutrals or fabulous warm tones, are always inspiring. Landscapes? Places where earth meets water, like waves slamming against cliffs at Big Sur, always excite me.

Darren Henault s t e p h a n i e o d e g a r d ’ s j a l i ta b l e s carved from a solid block of marble: The delicate carving reminds me of ivy, which comes to life in the spring.

If you could pick one natural setting in which to spend the rest of life, where would it be?

Marc Charbonnet i l ov e s a n ta the desert all at arm’s reach!

b a r b a r a —the

mountains, the ocean, and

Jamie Drake I would opt for the garden of the Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat in the South of France. With access to superb cuisine and a beautiful vista, this man-made bit of nature is as natural as I want to get!

Sandy Espinet

i f i n d i n s p i r at i o n i n t h e o c e a n , f r o m t h e c a l m t e a l

b r e e z e s t o t h e r u g g e d , d e e p b l u e s t o r m y day s . t h e b e a u t y o f t h e s a n d , t h e s o u n d o f t h e wav e s , a n d t h e way t h e s u n s e t s o n t h e wat e r — i t ’ s h a r d t o h av e a b a d day w h e n yo u h av e s u c h p ow e r f u l

Charles Pavarini For a client who is a nature enthusiast, we created a living room with an organic style and color palette, featuring an enlarged floral bouquet mural painting by Glenn Palmer Smith, 1930s leaf back chairs, and a turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau bibliothèque.

Matthew White & Frank Webb

Glenn Lawson c a p r i —natural drama, the sea, history, sun, simple fresh foods, easygoing people going at an easy pace. Of course I’d have to occasionally shuttle to Bonifacio for its drama and beauty.

o u r r o o m at t h e m e t r o p o l i ta n h o m e

s h ow t i m e h o u s e l a s t y e a r wa s i n s p i r e d b y t h e t v s e r i e s w e e d s .

Given nature’s botanical, free-form traits, we gravitated toward the Kagan Serpentine sofa in rich brown and the fabulous gilded Biomorphic Console table

by Tony Duquette at Baker. We also used a bench by Tucker Robbins, and designed a custom screen to create a graphic counterpoint.

What natural products attract you—what textures, colors, or patterns?

What items have you used that imitate or evoke nature well?

Marc Charbonnet The sound of water. There is a huge leafy courtyard I love here in New York with a tiered fountain, that laps into its stepped basins.

Jamie Drake The abundance of natural products provides a vast library to choose from. Walnut floors and paneling, silk and wool, steel and stone are some of nature’s bounty that I constantly use.

Glenn Lawson Though I hate to admit it, I love the textures and colors of animal fur. I would never incorporate the real McCoy in my interiors, but if my client already had a piece, I’d consider it. Other elements I’ve used that evoke nature include an architectural wave pattern as a molding detail, grass cloth on walls, and miles of marble and granite.

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n at u r e i n f r o n t o f yo u .

Charles Pavarini My lakeside New England cottage. A true boathouse, the 1920s Victorian home is made of boulders and embellished with Palladian architectural details succumbs.

1. Jamie Drake's Flora Sink for Elkay 2. Darren Henault's porch on his Millbrook home with cut flowers from his garden. 3. White Webb's Metropolitan Home Showtime design house inspired by the TV series Weeds. It includes a Vladimir Kagan serpentine sofa in rich brown color and the fabulous gilded Biomorphic Console Table from Baker by Tony Duquette, and a bench by Tucker Robbins. 4. Footsteps in the sand. 5. Jour Round Table side table with Jali carving, hand carved in white marble with Plat, Flute, and Ove Candlesticks, shown in green marble, designed

by Paul Mathieu for The Stephanie Odegard Collection, on Odegard’s Dusk III rug and in front of Odegard’s Plantation III rug. 6. Santa Barbara. 7. Sunset. 8. Capri.

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GALLERY

Additional photography by Andrew French

S trips and Stripes: Showrooms ask, W hat ’ s my line ?

Elsie Tabouret available at Baker Knapp & Tubbs, 212.779.8810 Egypt Table available at Brueton, 212.838.1630

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Harry Allen Doorknob available at S.A. Baxter, 800.407.4295

St. Cere Chair from Jiun Ho available at Dennis Miller Associates, 212.684.0070 Karma Six-Light Pendant available at Metropolitan Lighting Fixture Co., 212.545.0032

Panel Console in striped finish available at the Alpha Workshops for Profiles, 212.689.6903

Porcelain Bangle Stool, Porcelain Zig-Zag Stool, Bangle Stool, Spider’s Nest Stool, Lattice Stool, Hollow Zig-Zag Stool available at Tucker Robbins, 212.355.3383

The Upsilon Table available at Vladimir Kagan Couture, 212.689.0730

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Gallery

Barclay Console available at Saladino Furniture, 212.684.3720 Saint Marten pillows and drapes from Maxwell Fabrics available at Flourishes, 212.779.4540 Pattern 30220-516 and Danti Fabric in Leaf, part of the Barclay Butera Collection available at Kravet Fabrics, 800.645.9068.

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Gallery

Clockwise from top: Jacob Table available at Grange, 212.685.9494 Tambour created by Knowlton Brothers available at the Bright Group, 212.726.9030 Mosaico Glacier Mix Metallic Tobacco wall tile available at Porcelanosa USA, 212.252.7370 Demi-Lune Console available at Colombo USA, Inc., 212.683.3771 Hand-scraped reclaimed walnut herringbone floor with vegetable oil and wax finish available at Restoration Timber, 1.877.980.WOOD

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freshpicks T H E M O S T C U R R E N T products in nydc showrooms .

Smart Choices Kravet’s new kravetsmart furniture line aims to offer a level of quality not usually seen at value prices. The Denison Chair is part of a collection of sofas, chairs, sectionals, sleepers, chaises, upholstered beds, and ottomans in classic and modern styles. And they come with the added benefit of 60,000 fabric choices. Kravet Fabrics & Furniture, Inc., Suite 401, 212.725.0340, kravet.com

Tailor on Madison The Bright Chair Company’s well-tailored Madison Lounge Seating Collection comes as a lounge chair, settee, or sofa. It is offered in a distinctive wood or metal leg and is available in any seat depth, back height, or configuration desired for residential and commercial uses.

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All Up in My Grille Kenneth Nilson’s Grille Cabinet at Profiles is an adaptation of a honeycomb with an open grille.

The open panels can be lined with glass, fabric, or further mesh, and the interior can be fitted with racks that slide out and swivel for all your audiovisual components. Profiles, Suite 1211, 212.689.6903, profilesny.com

Life in Linen Home Life is a new collection of casually elegant linen casement weaves and crewel-like embroideries from Maxwell Fabrics. Glide, Tracings (shown), and Stencil are three new vintage-inspired embroidery designs woven on soft gauzy base cloth with chunky linen yarns.

They’re offered in neutrals—white stone, putty, concrete, and brown. Maxwell Fabrics available at Flourishes, Suite 414, 212.779.4540, maxwellfabrics.com Of a Different Stripe Talis is an ultradurable ceramic wall and floor tile from Porcelanosa that comes with a matte finish and rectified edges. The delicately lined coloring makes a subtle statement, but when installed in opposite directions (as shown here), it creates a striking pattern. Porcelanosa USA, Suite 609, 212.252.7370, porcelanosa-usa.com

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Cherry Lime on Draft With straight lines and industrial minimalism, the Architecte Collection at Grange was inspired by a turn-of-the-century architect’s drafting table. The solid lime wood frame is available in 28 painted finishes, accented by drawer casing and top surfaces in solid French cherrywood. Perfect for small spaces or children’s workstations. Grange, Suite 201, 212.685.9494, grange.fr

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freshpicks Fabric-cated Launched at the recent “What’s New, What’s Next” event, the Saladino for Savel Fabrics Collection offers linen, mohair, silk velvets, sheers, and subtle patterns in John Saladino’s signature palette. Saladino Furniture, Inc., Suite 1600, 212.684.3720, saladinostyle.com

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Shell Game In the spirit of the Art Deco revival, Colombo pays homage to an original 1925 Süe et Mare piece with this Turtle Commode. Handcrafted in palisander wood, it has massive gold leaf feet and a Macchia Vecchia marble top. Within the intricately inlaid facade swim two colossal turtles. Colombo USA, Inc., Suite 809, 212.683.3771, colombomobili.com

Boomerang, Baby The Parabola Cocktail Table from Powell & Bonnell at Dennis Miller Associates captures the hip modernity of the 1960s, offering a playfully upturned polished nickel arc supported on a satin nickel disk. A variety of top surfaces (from glass to stone) seem to float above the base. Dennis Miller Associates, Suite 1510, 212.684.0070, dennismiller.com

You're Very Welcome Designed for Brueton by Stanley Jay Friedman, Arigato is stylish, inviting seating. Shapely arms wrap around the curved exterior, enveloping its cushioned interior. Arigato is available in a multitude of configured sectionals as well as two-, three-, or four-seat sofas and chaise longue. Brueton, Suite 1502, 212.838.1630, brueton.com

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Cord Progression Part of McGuire’s Kitchen Collection, the striking Seido Walnut Armchairs and Side Chairs are constructed of American black walnut solids and veneers with a Danish cord–woven seat. Thoughtfully scaled for a kitchen environment without sacrificing comfort, these chairs are available in a satin walnut finish. McGuire Furniture Company, Suite 101, 212.689.1565, kohlerinteriors.com

Gild Hall A glamorous addition to Alpha Workshops’ Table Collection is this Cerused Wood Bedside Table with a gilded and painted finish. Cerusing opens the pores of the wood, making the grain part of the design. Paint color and gilding can be customized, and the entire collection is now available exclusively at Profiles. Profiles, Suite 1211, 212.689.6903, profilesny.com

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Hanging in the Shade The Gresham Park Shaded Pendant by Hudson Valley Lighting has elegant, clean lines made of solid brass. It’s available in four sizes, finished in polished nickel or old bronze. Available at Metropolitan Lighting. Metropolitan Lighting Fixture Co., Suite 512, 212.545.0032, minka.com Happy Accidents Accidental designs are often the best. Case in point: the Pierced Cube Scooped Stool from Tucker Robbins. When the cube was being hollowed, the saw blade accidentally popped through it—and voilà, the pierced cube was born! Available with or without a scooped seat.

Tucker Robbins, Suite 504, 212.355.3383, tuckerrobbins.com

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Simply De-Vine Designed by celebrated designer Peter Schifando, the Vines Cabinet Pull is hand-sculpted in S.A. Baxter’s atelier and foundry. The peaks and valleys of this unique piece of architectural hardware show extremely detailed intertwined vines. It is a fine example of the detail and beauty that can be achieved using lost-wax casting. S.A. Baxter Architectural Hardware, Suite 716, 800.407.4295, sabaxter.com Catch the Omnibus A new addition to Vladimir Kagan’s Omnibus family is the Omnibus 2.

Like all Kagan pieces, this one makes a statement while also allowing clients to express themselves. The tray insert is available in walnut, zebrawood, brushed stainless steel, and glass. Offered in COM, COL, and over 200 fabrics, leathers, and suedes. Vladimir Kagan Couture, Suite 715, 212.689.0730, vladimirkagancouture.com

Assembly Was Required Whether used as flooring, a tabletop, or a wall hanging, Restoration Timber’s hand-assembled end-grain mosaics in reclaimed white oak and walnut are simply amazing. Each approximately half-inchdiameter piece is lightly sanded to maintain texture, and then given a traditional oil and wax finish. Restoration Timber, Suite 436, 877.980.

WOOD, restorationtimber.com

Got Plastered Baker Knapp & Tubbs’s Anneau Table Lamp is created using a proprietary technique that applies white plaster over a brass substrate. The column’s sinuous form has an elliptical center detail and sits raised on a round base. A handcrafted Italian linen shade is fitted with a diffuser that surrounds two 40-watt bulbs. Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Suite 300, 212.779.8810, bakerfurniture.com

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STYLESPOTLIGHT F eatured highlights of craft and design .

1. Hooray for Grays Maxwell Fabric’s linen Lucinda Drape comes in natural tones including white, ivory, flax, hemp, and every tone of gray imaginable, from light silver and stone to concrete to dark charcoal. 2. Wing Ding Brueton’s modern interpretation of the classical wing chair is tall, lean, and clean. Designed by Stanley Jay Friedman, it is available with a headrest and an ottoman.

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3. Icy Inspiration The vision of a white winter forest outlined in ice inspired Charles Loomis to create Stix, a handblown glass pendant or ceiling fixture that can be custom ordered from the Bright Group. 4. Powell & Bonnell's classically inspired Piazza Bar Table at Dennis Miller Associates has a one-of-a-kind, fingerplaned antique wood top and a lyre-shaped, mirror-polished nickel base. 5. Piazza Party Iridescent Personality A Perla Chandelier at Baker Knapp & Tubbs has large, irregular pearls of Murano glass flecked with 24-karat gold hanging from its center and each of its five arms. 6. Games Afoot The patina and waxed Vintage Game Table at Grange features two double-sided tops with painted checker, chess, and backgammon boards, and a felted top for a game of cards.

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7. Totally Floored Kravet has a new in-stock collection of luxury carpets, hand-knotted in India and available in seven sizes, three designs, and two price points. 8. Fon Home The design of the Silver Porcelain Bangle Stool at Tucker Robbins comes from the Babungo Palace of the Fon in Cameroon. The pattern, representing the circle of life, has been re-created in Peruvian porcelain. 9. Former Wall Flow-er The striking silhouette of the single-lever Neox Faucet at Porcelanosa is also available as a wall-mounted fixture. Shown in brass with a chrome finish. 10. Spanning the Distance A lengthier version of his Three-Legged Coffee Table, John Saladino’s Chariot Table has doubled legs and stretchers to support the 6-foot width. FEB

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11. You Deserve an Oscar A festive array of dining chairs covered in solid silk fabric from the Oscar de la Renta Furniture Collection at Century. Mix, match, and surround your table with bold colors.

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StyleSpotlight

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12. Do the Write Thing The grand size of this late 18th-century–style Venetian Writing Desk from Colombo is softened by gentle curves, seamlessly matched veneers, contrasting inlays, and hand-carved details. Matching wall cabinets and shelves complete the picture. 13. Tri, Tri Again The Tri-Symmetric Sofa is a fresh Kagan twist on the classic Kagan Swan, offering ample seating for entertaining or comfortable lounging alone with a good book.

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14. Holed Up The Holy Pendant by George Kovacs at Metropolitan Lighting has a stainless steel finish and an acid-etched opal glass bowl. Its circular Art Deco frame is decorated with various size holes. 15. Center Stage Marbello’s handsome Rush Dining Table at Profiles is available in walnut or oak with the option of a lacewood veneer top. Its unique base looks great from any angle. 16. Light Bender From the S.A. Baxter collection, this modern lever literally bends light with its sleek, twisted simplicity. Shown here with a square rosette in polished nickel. 17. Diamond Detail This sturdy, beautiful old reclaimed white oak and walnut from Restoration Timber was hand scraped and finished with vegetable oil and wax.

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De. FIN. ingPieces items that sum up what a showroom is all about.

THE BRIGHT chair company Douglas Levine’s simple, elegant, and iconic Elana Bench has 11-inch sections that remind us of piano keys. Elana comes standard in 66- and 77-inch lengths, but can be custom ordered in a range of finishes. The Bright Chair Company, Suite 1511, 212.726.9030, brightchair.com

Colombo USA Inc. This Dining Table, handcrafted in spotted myrtle burl and cherrywood, features a handcarved pedestal with Egyptian and Greek elements, interpreted through neoclassic lines. With banded inlays and gold leaf accents, it can serve as an elegant round dining or foyer table. Also available in two-pedestal racetrack shape. Colombo USA, Inc., Suite 809, 212.683.3771, colombomobili.com FEB

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Dennis Miller Associates The aptly named T-shirt Sofa (think durability, modest styling, comfort), is a go-everywhere seating option. Clodagh designed this piece to look good with everything and never go out of style. Also available as a lounge, love seat, and sofa bed. Dennis Miller Associates, Suite 1510, 212.684.0070, dennismiller.com

Profiles A classic updated and accented with a graciously curved wood frame, the Piedmont Swivel Chair by Michael Berman has impeccable tailoring. Choose from oak (cerused or plain), mahogany, or walnut. Profiles, Suite 1211, 212.689.6903, profilesny.com

Saladino furniture, inc.

A variation on Saladino’s Oval Night Table, this commodious Oval Chest has three discreet drawers and a convenient pullout “drink” shelf that make it a perfect bedside partner. Shown here in bookmatch curly maple veneer, it can be ordered in custom sizes, woods, finishes, and details. Saladino Furniture, Inc., Suite 1600, 212.684.3720, saladinostyle.com

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Baker Knapp & Tubbs The Bombé Chest, part of Baker’s Stately Homes Collection, is an aged George II walnut and inlaid commode by George Channon. It features two short and four long drawers fitted with swan-neck handles and bear-paw feet carved with laurel leaves in relief. Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Suite 300, 212.779.8810, bakerfurniture.com

Vladimir Kagan Couture Classic, modern, and refined, the Sloane Sofa can fill an entire room or just make a subtle, elegant statement. Sloane is available in one piece, as shown, or as a curvy multipiece sectional. Kagan now also carries Maharam fabrics among its 200 choices, including leathers and suedes as well as COM. Vladimir Kagan Couture, Suite 715, 212.689.0730, vladimirkagancouture.com

Grange This Gentlemen’s Wardrobe Armoire from the Victoria Collection appears at first glance as a double-high chest in the transitional Louis-Philippe style. The faux front opens to reveal hanging space on the right side and shelving on the left. The center panel pulls out with additional shelving and drawers for ties, cuff links, socks, etc. Grange, Suite 201, 212.685.9494, grange.fr

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DefiningPieces MAXWELL FABRICS Commodore is a sophisticated texture that replicates the natural look of a classic linen weave, using polyester yarns for enhanced practicality. The durability allows for more diverse upholstery applications, and the fullbodied hand creates a casually tailored drape.

Maxwell Fabrics available at Flourishes, Suite 414, 212.779.4540, maxwellfabrics.com Porcelanosa One of Porcelanosa’s most popular ceramic wall tiles, Line mimics the look of glass. Its highgloss surface helps brighten a room, giving it an open look and feel. Line also makes for a perfectly elegant backsplash for the kitchen or bath. Porcelanosa USA, Suite 609, 212.252.7370, porcelanosa-usa.com

tucker robbins The Natural Coffee Table has a rich, elaborately grained kumbuk top with an organic edge, displayed on a simple metal base. Each piece of this responsibly salvaged solid hardwood has a unique beauty all its own. Tucker Robbins, Suite 504, 212.355.3383, tuckerrobbins.com

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KRAVET Kravetsmart upholstery fabrics include a plethora of richly tactile and visually stimulating weaves, plus a handsome selection of herringbones that are Teflon protected.

They’re all part of Kravet’s Guaranteed in Stock and Free Fabric on Furniture programs.

Kravet Fabrics & Furniture, Inc., Suite 401, 212.725.0340, kravet.com

Restoration Timber This factory maple with oil finish has its original patina showing all the old dents and dings of its history. The wood is more than 100 years old and came from an Edison furniture factory in Wisconsin. Restoration Timber, Suite 436, 877.980.WOOD, restorationtimber.com

Brueton J. Wade Beam’s ingenious manipulation of form, shape, and structure provides his low Triform Tables with adaptability of design and flexibility of expression. Various glass-top shapes can intersect the slotted, monolithic, triangular prism to create virtually unlimited compositions. Available in round, elliptical, square, or rectangular versions in various sizes.

Brueton, Suite 1502, 212.838.1630, brueton.com

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freshpicks Metropolitan Lighting Fixture Co. The Bling Bling Pendant by legendary designer George Kovacs has a sparkling personality that fits its name. Made of perforated steel with shiny crystals that glow, it’s a fun, modern choice. Part of the Kovacs line at Metropolitan Lighting. Metropolitan Lighting Fixture Co., Suite 512, 212.545.0032, minka.com

S.A. Baxter The Nita Suite Door Lever won Interior Design magazine’s prestigious “Best of the Year Product Design Award” in 2008. Part of renowned designer Anthony Browne’s Nita Suite, it showcases graceful curves with an understated elegance suitable for formal and informal settings. S.A. Baxter Architectural Hardware, Suite 716, 800.407.4295, sabaxter.com

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ShowroomPortraits Profiles of Some of NYDC’s Most Familiar Names.

APROPOS Suite 102

ATELIER INTERIOR DESIGN Suite 202

BAKER, KNAPP & TUBBS Suite 300

BENJAMIN MOORE & CO. Suite 714

Apropos is a fourth-generation showroom to the design trade. Serving the design community for over 25 years with uncompromised service and product offerings, Apropos strives to be a leader for self and for future generations.

Apropos, Suite 102, phone 212.684.6987, fax 212.689.3684, apropos-furniture.com

Atelier offers an exceptional selection of residential and contract furniture, lighting, accessories, and artwork. The contemporary designs on offer are advanced in quality, comfort, functionality, and aesthetics. Atelier's mission is to provide a plethora of lifestyle alternatives in contemporary living and offer highly personalized service and inspiration.

Atelier Interior Design, Suite 202, phone 212.696.0211, fax 212.696.0299, atelier-nyc.com

Founded in 1902, Knapp & Tubbs was Chicago’s first wholesale decorative furniture showroom. Today, Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Inc., remains one of the largest wholesale distributors in the industry, representing some of the world’s finest manufacturers with 17 showrooms in major U.S. design districts and one in Paris. Pictured: Drink table from the Jacques Garcia Collection, featuring optional shelves with mirror glass inlays.

Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Suite 300, phone 212.779.8810, fax 212.689.2827, bakerfurniture.com

Benjamin Moore has opened the doors of its new designer showroom for the New York City design community. This to-the-trade show­room brings the company’s color design tools and color consulting directly to the New York City market. The goal is to be at the heart of the design community—to provide convenience, accessibility, service, and inspiration when it comes to color selection.

Benjamin Moore & Co. Suite 714, phone 212.684.2001, fax 212.684.2115, benjaminmoore.com

BRUETON Suite 1502

CENTURY FURNITURE SHOWROOM Suite 200

CLIFF YOUNG, LTD. Suite 505

COLOMBO USA, INC. Suite 809

Brueton, a U.S. manufacturer based in New York, manufactures a full line of contemporary furniture including sofas, tables, chairs, case goods, and accessories catering to residential and commercial clients. In addition, Brueton offers vast custom capabilities, including fabricating the simplest to the most complicated stainless steel products and architectural metals for architects and designers.

Brueton, Suite 1502, phone 212.838.1630, fax 212.838.1652, brueton.com

Century Furniture is the world’s largest privately owned manufacturer of highend residential furniture distributed through high-end retail outlets and to the trade. Its broad product line of both wood and upholstered furniture consists of bedroom, dining room, leisure (outdoor), and occasional collections in traditional, transitional, and contemporary styling.

Century Furniture Showroom, Suite 200, phone 212.479.0107, fax 212.479.0112, centuryfurniture.com

In 40 years of creating contemporary furniture, Cliff Young, Ltd., always brings a classic approach to design— clean lines and perfect proportion combined with luxurious materials and exquisite details. A favorite for family rooms and sunny living rooms, the Bon Bon Ottoman will catch instant attention and provide a stylish focus. Easy, comfortable, and versatile, it enlivens any room.

Cliff Young, Ltd., Suite 505, phone 212.683.8808, fax 212.683.9286, cliffyoungltd.com

Colombo USA is very flexible in accommodating your special requests, such as changing sizes, finishes, and details on standard catalog models. The careful selection of the different types of solid wood and precious inlays is the distinctive feature of Colombo’s exquisite collection. Pictured: Biedermeier-style Vitrine (cornice detail) in cherrywood and yew wood with hand-carved gold leaf crown.

Colombo USA, Inc., Suite 809, phone 212.683.3771, fax 212.684.0559, colombomobili.com

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CÔTÉ FRANCE Suite 1201

DENNIS MILLER ASSOCIATES Suite 1510

FLOURISHES Suite 414

Girard-Emilia CUSTOM WOODCARVERS, Suite 905

Visit Côté France for quality, style, and originality. Côté France’s French workroom proudly boasts generations of one family continuing a tradition of fine handcraftsmanship. In addition to classic designs in authentic finishes, Côté France brings tradition into the 21st century, with vibrant colors and unique painted designs. Côté France also introduced a modern collection that includes Deco seating, recalling the glorious days of the ocean liner.

Côté France, Suite 1201, phone 212.684.0707, fax 212.684.8940, cotefrance.com

Since 1983, Dennis Miller Associates has offered innovative furniture and lighting collections designed by architects, interior designers, and artisans. Its showroom provides a continually evolving showcase of contemporary and 20th-century classic design excellence.

Its popularity with top designers speaks for itself. Come see the recent additions to Dennis Miller Fabrics, Lighting, and Rug collections.

Dennis Miller Associates, Suite 1510, phone 212.684.0070, fax 212.684.0776, dennismiller.com

Maxwell Fabrics is a 55-year-old, thirdgeneration family business that focuses on creating looks of exceptional style and value for the designer and decorator. Over the years, Maxwell Fabrics has enjoyed tremendous growth within Canada, leading to the creation of Maxwell Fabrics, Inc., which opened in the United States in 2005. Maxwell continues to provide outstanding style, value, and customer service.

Maxwell Fabrics available at Flourishes, Suite 414, phone 212.779.4540, fax 212.779.4542, maxwellfabrics.com

Whether a faithful reproduction or an imaginative original, each Girard-Emilia piece is hand-carved under the guidance of master carver and cabinetmaker Nicola Vignapiano, whose family has been carrying on the European tradition for centuries. The rare quality of its wood and other materials is complemented by an equally uncommon level of workmanship. Come explore the subtlety and refinement of its pieces.

Girard-Emilia Custom Woodcarvers, Inc., Suite 905, phone 212.679.4665, fax 212.447.5780, girardemilia.com

GRANGE Suite 201

HENREDON INTERIOR DESIGN SHOWROOM, Suite 1601

KRAVET FABRICS & FURNITURE, INC. Suite 401

LOUIS J. SOLOMON, INC. Suite 911

Grange, introduced in the United States in 1982, has a commitment to the techniques of master artisans. Each piece is handcrafted using 19th-century methods and materials and 21st-century green practices. Grange uses waterbased paints and varnishes to reduce emissions and good-sense forestry practices that honor the 60-to-80-year rotation. Since 1904, the factory has been based in the foothills of Lyon, France.

Grange, Suite 201, phone 212.685.9494, fax 212.213.5132, grange.fr

The mission of the Henredon Interior Design Showroom is to service the design trade at the highest possible level, while offering a fashion-foward shopping experience. They represent Henredon Furniture, Barbara Barry Realized

by Henredon, Laneventure, and Henredon Custom. Founded in Morganton, North Carolina, in 1945, Henredon now offers hundreds of beautiful wood and upholstery designs for every room.

Henredon Interior Design, Suite 1601, phone 212.679.5828, fax 212.679.6509, henredon.com

Kravet’s showroom strives to create a unique shopping experience for every designer in order to be the primary resource in the decorative fabrics and furnishings industry. Their goal is to create for designers a comfortable workspace and resource center that serves as an extension of their own design studios.

Product selections are presented in an environment that is both functional and stimulating.

Kravet Fabrics & Furniture, Inc., Suite 401, phone 212.725.0340, fax 212.684.7350, kravet.com

Custom hand-finished furniture is worth waiting for, but sometimes one simply can’t wait. Louis J. Solomon, Inc., is proud to announce its new Quick Ship Program. Many of its best-selling items with its most popular finishes are now in stock. These items are offered at attractive prices with immediate delivery. Come in and see some examples of their new prefinished items.

Louis J. Solomon, Inc., Suite 911, phone 212.545.9200, fax 212.545.9438, louisjsolomon.com

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ShowroomPortraits

MCGUIRE FURNITURE COMPANY Suite 101

METROPOLITAN LIGHTING FIXTURE CO., Suite 512

ODEGARD, INC. Suite 1205/1206

ORREFORS KOSTA BODA Suite 602

The name McGuire is synonymous with style and elegance. For almost 60 years, McGuire Furniture Company of San Francisco has built a reputation for design and quality as gracious and lasting as the furniture it makes. McGuire consistently pairs classic and modern materials with innovative designs to provide a repertoire of furniture that has withstood, and will continue to withstand, the test of time.

McGuire Furniture Company, Suite 101, phone 212.689.1565, fax 212.689.1578, kohlerinteriors.com

Metropolitan Lighting Fixture Co. has been illuminating fine interiors since 1939. Now part of the Minka Group, the Metropolitan showroom represents lighting from all Minka companies, including George Kovacs, as well as products from other quality lighting manufacturers. Its large showroom offers one of the most comprehensive selections of designer-oriented lighting in the industry.

Metropolitan Lighting Fixture Co., Suite 512, phone 212.545.0032, fax 212.545.0031, minka.com

Odegard is a leader in bold design and color innovation in the production of high-end, hand-knotted carpets. It has recently added the multiline Stephanie Odegard Collection featuring furniture, lighting, antiques, and decorative accessories from across the globe. In all her products, Stephanie Odegard requires strict adherence to social responsibility, raising standards of living for thousands of craftspeople in developing countries.

Odegard, Inc., Suite 1205/1206, phone 212.545.0069, fax 212.545.0298, odegardinc.com

Orrefors designer Martti Rytkonen likes to give his clear crystal designs a narrative theme. Even in experiments with form and execution, his collections are always designed in true “Orrefors spirit.” In his Fashion series, he recreates the grid pattern of the city’s streets and avenues, while the subtle optics and finely rendered cuts suggest something of the pace and pulse of the exciting Manhattan scene.

Orrefors Kosta Boda, Suite 602, phone 212.684.5455, fax 212.684.5665, orreforskostaboda.com

PALECEK Suite 511

PORCELANOSA Suite 609

PROFILES Suite 1211

RESTORATION TIMBER Suite 436

Since 1975, Palecek has built a reputation for creating distinctive handcrafted designs from the finest sustainable, natural materials. Founder Allan Palecek has developed an extensive global network of talented artisans, who together have created award-winning products that have made Palecek synonymous with a lifestyle encompassing beauty, innovation, and an appreciation for quality. Express yourself with Palecek.

Palecek, Suite 511, phone 212.287.0063, fax 212.287.0066, palecek.com

Porcelanosa, a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of tile, kitchen, and bath products, has become the industry standard by providing what every client wants: designs of beauty and quality; technologically superior products; and dependable service.

Porcelanosa, Suite 609, phone 212.252.7370, fax 212.252.8790, porcelanosa-usa.com

Serving the design profession since 1980, Profiles workrooms in the United States and Europe create pieces of uncommon beauty and imagination for both residential and contract customers. Profiles offers a full spectrum of furniture in a variety of woods, metals, and finishes, as well as finely tailored upholstery—all to the designer’s specifications.

Profiles, Suite 1211, phone 212.689.6903, fax 212.685.1807, profilesny.com

Restoration Timber offers a wide spectrum of materials, including reclaimed wood flooring, wainscoting, beams, siding, and stock for furniture and cabinetry. Naturally weathered by a century or more of use, Restoration Timber provides wood rich in history, unparalleled in beauty, and solid with age. Environmentally responsible reclaimed wood adds warmth, depth, and character to almost any installation.

Restoration Timber, Suite 436, phone 877.980.WOOD, fax 212.679.5408, restorationtimber.com

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S.A. BAXTER ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE Suite 716

SALADINO FURNITURE, INC. Suite 1600

THE BRIGHT CHAIR COMPANY Suite 1511

TAILLARDAT Suite 804

S.A. Baxter designs and manufactures timeless custom and semi-custom architectural hardware for high-end residential homes and buildings. It offers the most extensive palette of patterns, metals, and finishes in the industry and utilizes advanced CAD/CAM modeling to quickly produce prototype pieces for your approval. Its rapid in-house manufacturing process enables S.A. Baxter to deliver its products faster than anyone in the business.

S.A. Baxter Architectural Hardware, Suite 716, phone 800.407.4295, fax 212.252.1031, sabaxter.com

Established in 1986 by renowned designer John F. Saladino, the Saladino Furniture collection currently has over 75 original designs of upholstery, case goods, and lighting. The line is available exclusively through its New York showroom among select antiques and accessories. A 75-page catalog may be purchased via the Web at saladinostyle.com.

Saladino Furniture, Inc., Suite 1600, phone 212.684.3720 x31, fax 212.684.3257, saladinostyle.com

The Bright Chair Company, known as a leading upholstered seating manufacturer located in Middletown, New York, is pleased to introduce you to Eno, a unique couture-upholstered conference room swivel chair. With custom sizes available, Eno can fit into any environment, whether residential, corporate, or hospitality. Each chair is made to order within standard lead times.

The Bright Chair Company, Suite 1511, phone 212.726.9030, fax 212.726.9029, brightchair.com

Since 1987, Taillardat has created highquality furniture inspired by the 18th century. Led by Micheline Taillardat, the firm is a model of French refinement, both in its style as well as the skills employed in her Orléans workshop. Pieces are assembled using traditional methods—hand carving, dovetails, mortise and tenons, and house-mixed tints, finishes, and patinas—preserving the great French traditions of furniture making.

Taillardat, Suite 804, phone 212.532.3891, fax 212.679.2969, taillardat.fr

TED BOERNER Suite 515

TK COLLECTIONS Suite 410

TUCKER ROBBINS Suite 504

VLADIMIR KAGAN COUTURE Suite 715

Ted Boerner, Inc. New York offers a diverse and captivating variety of home furnishings and artwork. The showroom includes collections from the following renowned designers and artists: Ted Boerner, Lesley Anton, Tracy Kendall, Christopher Farr, Michael Shemchuk, and Rick Chapman.

Ted Boerner, Inc., Suite 515, phone 212.675.5665, Fax 212.675.5654 tedboerner.com

For over two decades. TK Collections has been the sole importer of the classic French handcrafted rattan café chairs and stools along with the French sidewalk café tables. In addition, its new collection also includes decorative wrought iron table bases, coffee tables and cast bronze lighting made in France.

TK Collections, Suite 410, phone 212.213.2470, fax 212.213.2464, tkcollections.com

A founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council, Tucker Robbins has a passion for global tradition, indigenous craft, and sustainable practices—all of which are seen in every hand-carved detail of his furniture. The Snakawaka hails from Cameroon, the Natural Bed celebrates the grain of salvaged kumbuk from Sri Lanka, and the Pierced Cube is a collaborative effort by Tucker and the carvers of Baguio, Philippines.

Tucker Robbins, Suite 1516, phone 212.355.3383, fax 212.355.3116, tuckerrobbins.com

Vladimir Kagan of Vladimir Kagan Couture Showroom is one of today’s most enduring designers of modern furniture, with a career that has spanned more than 60 years. He started designing in 1946 and, by the early ’50s, his innovative sculptured designs created a new look in American furniture. Today, his sparkling creations are on the cutting edge of the 21st century.

Vladimir Kagan Couture, Suite 510, phone 212.689.0730, fax 212.689.1830, vladimirkagancouture.com

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NYDCEvents Calendar W hat’s New, What’s Next @ 200 Lex On September 23, the New York Design Center launched its first building-wide event focusing on all things new in the design industry. Thousands of designers, architects, press representatives, and design enthusiasts viewed the 1,500 new product introductions from nearly 100 showrooms. The design community traveled NYDC's 16 floors, visiting participating showrooms for informative and stimulating programming. In addition, the event boasted a design-blog panel discussion, book signings, designer conversations, and special programs supported by media partners Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Interior Design, Luxe Interiors + Design, Manhattan, Metropolitan Home, New York Spaces, The New York Times, Traditional Home, and Veranda.

Oscar de la Renta H ome for C entury L aunch The luxurious red room in the Century Furniture showroom was the setting for the latest collection launch by famed designer Oscar de la Renta on November 17. This new collection has extensively added to the Oscar de la Renta Home Furniture Collection at Century.

Oscar de la Renta’s Home collection showcased in the Century showroom; designer Miles Redd, Alex Shuford, Sr., Oscar de la Renta, and Alex Bolen.

Dumplings and Drinks in P rofiles The Profiles showroom and Ann Maine of Traditional Home held a dim sum dinner in the Profiles showroom on September 22 to celebrate and kick off What’s New, What’s Next @ 200 Lex. Designers spent the evening starting the buzz about the building-wide event that would commence the following day.

Left to Right: House Beautiful’s Style Director Newell Turner, senior interior designer for Benjamin Moore, Sonu Mathew and HB publisher Kate Kelly Smith host a discussion on "Colors You’ll Never Get Tired Of" in the Benjamin Moore showroom; Laurence Brandon of Helene Aumont with Jim Druckman, president of NYDC and Helene Aumont; the McGuire showroom’s panel discussion titled “What’s Newer than a Design Blog?” with the industry’s best design bloggers; Jane Seamon of Saladino, with Veranda’s editor-at-large Carolyn Englefield, previewed the upcoming “Designer Visions On Film” Townhouse; an artisan demonstration in the Restoration Timber showroom; Elle Decor’s editor-in-chief Margaret Russell with editor-at-large Mitchell Owens highlighted 20 years of style in the Profiles showroom; T.K. Collection’s newest products, highlighted by What’s New, What’s Next @ 200 Lex tags; Andrea Brooke of Brunschwig & Fils, designer Mike Brummel, Jennifer Matthews of Luxe. Interiors + Design, designer Michael Tavano, Valerie Cruice of Luxe .Interiors + Design, and designer Lloyd Marks in the Michael Tavano showroom; Metropolitan Home’s editor-in-chief Donna Warner signing Glamour: Making it Modern in the Ted Boerner showroom; the NYDC raised a new flag to inaugurate this exciting event!

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Designer Scott Salvator, Amy Bleier Long, of Traditional Home, and designer Elaine Griffin; James Nauyok of Kohler Interiors, Debra Brandt of Traditional Home, and John Hart of Kohler Interiors.

D ESI GN 4 HE A LT H CARE—P rogram 1 The NYDC held the first of a four-part program on November 18 highlighting healthcare design. Showrooms showcased innovative designs for hospitals, and renowned and successful healthcare practicing firm Perkins + Will held a presentation. Attendees gathered on the 14th floor to gain insight and learn about the firm’s design and sustainability for a new Greenfield hospital, and then traveled through the four contract floors for food, drink, and a chance to win annual dual MoMA memberships.

Left to Right: The DESIGN 4 HEALTHCARE door tags signified the participating showrooms; Chris Bormann, Carolyn BaRoss, Laura Morris, and Kim Farrah, presenters from Perkins + Will; Peter Lovell, of Krug, Dennis Cahill, of NYDC, Carolyn BaRoss, of Perkins + Will and Matthew Levine of Levine Calvano pose in the Krug showroom; Suite 1111’s setup included specialty healthcare products for the event.

A L uncheon Celebrating Michael Tavano ’ s S howroom Expansion On October 8, designers and editors joined Michael Tavano for a private luncheon celebrating the recent expansion of his showroom, and the launch of his own Wow and Forever furniture collection. The new showroom offers elegant products and comprehensive services for crisply executed custom projects involving exclusive fabrics and trim collections, custom upholstery, furniture, window treatments, and more.

Left to Right: designers Michael Tavano, Brad Ford, and Robert Passal; Arlene Hirst, of Metropolitan Home, Lloyd Marks, designer Jamie Drake and Katie Brockman, of Veranda; Deborah Burns, Jennifer Matthews of Luxe. Interiors + Design, and designer Kirsten Brandt; Rue Richey,of Architectural Digest and Jim Druckman.

Grange C elebrates Winter The Grange showroom kicked off the season of festivities with a fete celebrating winter on December 8. Four design teams, inspired by the season, created vignettes in the showroom using Grange furniture and their own creative accents. Designers included Theresa Henkelmann, Thomas Plominski, Carmen SaenzWick and Susan Slotkis.

Left to Right: Sims Bray, of Veranda, with Ken Wampler of The Alpha Workshops; Alix Lerman, of the NYDC, Karen Marx and Barbara Friedmann of Elle Decor; Kim Huebner of Pierre Frey, and Ryan Brown of House Beautiful; Sabine Rothman and Ann Maine of Traditional Home, and Maria Parasugo of Century Furniture.

For a list of NYDC's upcoming events, visit nydc.com.

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MasqueradeBall 2009 The New York Design Center and The Alpha Workshops hosted the Fourth Annual Masquerade Ball on October 29. The event unified the industry for a funfilled evening with editors, designers, architects, and manufacturers all embracing the theme "C’Mon Get Happy." Costumed guests showcased their creativity, resulting in a magnificent array of color and sparkle. The Alpha Workshops’s remarkable red carpet and dazzling marquee transformed the NYDC lobby, while their decor turned the 11th floor into a 1930s movie musical. The evening raised funds for The Alpha Workshops, a nonprofit organization training people living with HIV/AIDS in the decorative arts. The New York Design Center would like to express gratitude to all of the sponsors and guests for making the 2009 Masquerade Ball a huge success. The continued support over the past four years has helped raise over $250,000 for The Alpha Workshops.

Left to Right: The NYDC lobby transformed into a 1930s movie musical created by The Alpha Workshops; Lela Ilyinsky, Jennifer Bouchard, Elizabeth Blitzer, and Alison Marx of Susan Becher PR; Masquerade ball hosts Ken Wampler, executive director of The Alpha Workshops, and Jim Druckman, president of the New York Design Center; three cheers for Amy Lau Designs; Susan Victoria and Arlene Hirst of Metropolitan Home; Joe Harney, Peira Pierasicano, Roby Whitlock, Rob Whitlock, and Tony Manning; Baker, Knapp & Tubbs's showroom staff dressed as Lights, Camera, Action!; designer Jamie Drake and his superheroes; the blooming Traditional Home awards Best Costume to Ed Rodriguez and Jennifer Novarro; the masked Architectural Digest team; Craig Hoeksema, Marcus Hutcheson, Gerry Le Francois, and Dennis Miller light up the night; House Beautiful cleverly dressed as Freudian slips.

M edia S ponsors

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W e would like to thank the 2 0 0 9 supporters :

ALBERT HADLEY W illiam H odgins

Tony Manning

William Spink

Susan Sullivan— PO LL AC K Left to Right: Joshua Schoenfelder, Nicole Janok, Lisa Jasper, and Alex Kirckman of Veeder+Perman; Christine Keller, Richard Frazier, Laura Kirar, Michael Tavano, Lloyd Marks, Erin Iba, and Simon Cohen of the Michael Tavano showroom; designer Dennis Rolland with Janice Langrall; Ken Wampler of the Alpha Workshops, designers Brad Ford, Wayne Dickinson, Kirk Hunter, and Sydney Frazier; designer Pierre Frey, winner of the Metropolitan Home Best Costume Award; Noel Kirar, designer Kirsten Brant, and Tori Mellott; Veranda staffers Catherine Davis, Rosie DíArgenzio, and Angela Jett; Julia Noran and Sophie Donelson of The Editor at Large; Chelsea Workroom staff; Danielle DeVita and Chris Abbate dressed as design calendars; Harold Spitzer striking a pose; designers Jayne Michaels, Kate Korten, and Joan Michaels; Leah Blank, Alix Lerman, and Alana Moskowitz of the NYDC.

Kenneth Wampler

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ShowroomDirectory A Complete List of Who’s Where In 200 Lex SHOWR OOM

PHON E

FA X

S H OW RO O M

Antique Rugs, Jerry Livian Collection 1014

S uite

212.683.2666

212.683.2668

KPS Reproductions

S uite

P H O NE

FA X

1210

212.686.7784

212.689.2982

Apropos

102

212.684.6987

212.689.3684

Aqua Creations

427

212.219.9922

212.219.4042

Kravet Fabrics & Furniture, Inc.

401

212.725.0340

212.684.7350

Krug, Inc.

1415

212.686.7600

212.686.7686

Aquarium Arts, Ltd.

424

212.889.1177

Arc|Com Fabrics

1411

212.751.1590

212.889.1675

LaCOUR, Inc.

1012

212.213.6600

212.213.9550

212.751.2434

Laserow Antiques

408

Architex

1320

212.213.6972

212.213.8033

The Levine Calvano Furniture Group, Inc.

Atelier Interior Design

202

212.696.0211

212.696.0299

Louis J. Solomon, Inc.

1406

212.686.7600

212.686.7686

911

212.545.9200

Atlas Carpet Mills, Inc.

1314

212.779.4300

212.779.7905

Mannington Commercial Carpets

212.545.9438

430

212.251.0290

Auffray & Co., Inc.

710

212.889.4646

212.889.4739

212.251.0299

Maxon Furniture, Inc.

1307

212.684.7788

212.686.9781

Availvs Corporation

1412

212.299.0147

Baker Knapp & Tubbs

300

212.779.8810

212.299.0149

McGuire Furniture Company

101

212.689.1565

212.689.1578

212.689.2827

Metro Design Group, LLC

212.679.3305

Bang & Olufsen

425

212.532.4787

212.532.4705

212.679.3356

Metropolitan Lighting Fixture Co.

512

212.545.0032

212.545.0031

Barton-Sharpe, Ltd.

914

646.935.1500 646.935.1555

Michael Tavano

1212

212.564.0034

212.564.0035

Benjamin Moore & Co. Bograd Kids, Inc.

714

212.684.2001

212.684.2115

M. Topalian, Inc., Antique Carpets

802

212.684.0735

212.725.2185

433

212.726.0006 212.726.0061

Napier + Joseph + McNamara, Ltd.

1509

212.683.7272

212.683.7011

Boyce Products, Ltd.

1318

212.683.3100

212.683.5005

Norman Contract, Inc.

417B

212.686.6450

212.686.6540

The Bright Chair Company

1511

212.726.9030

212.726.9029

Odegard, Inc.

1205/1206 212.545.0069

212.545.0298

Brueton

1502

212.838.1630

212.838.1652

Orrefors Kosta Boda

602

212.684.5455

212.684.5665

Calger Lighting

434

212.689.9511

212.779.0721

Palecek

511

212.287.0063

212.287.0066

Century Furniture Showroom

200

212.479.0107

212.479.0112

Paoli/ Whitehall

1110

212.683.2232

212.683.1297

Cliff Young, Ltd.

505

212.683.8808 212.683.9286

Peter Lawrence

906

212.213.8911

212.213.8728

Colebrook Bosson Saunders

1111

212.401.6150

212.614.2378

Porcelanosa USA

609

212.252.7370

212.252.8790

Colombo USA

809

212.683.3771

212.684.0559

Prelle

407

212.683.2081

212.683.2142

Cosmopolitan Entertainment Systems

1601

212.679.5828

212.679.6509

Pringle-Ward Associates

1106

212.689.0300

212.689.7143

Côté France

1201

212.684.0707

212.684.8940

Profiles

1211

212.689.6903

212.685.1807

David Edward/Blueridge Carpet

1416

212.689.2056

212.689.2206

212.213.1691

212.213.9843

Dennis Miller Associates

1510

212.684.0070 212.684.0776

Renaissance Carpets & Tapestries, Inc.

1006

212.696.0080

212.696.4248

DesignLush

411/415

212.532.5450

212.532.5360

Restoration Timber

436

877.980.WOOD

212.679.5408

DIFFA

Disegno by James DiPersia

1016 606

212.727.3100 212. 679.3927

212.727.2574 212.679.2763

Riservato & Co.

1307

212.252.9804

212.252.9845

Roubini Rugs and Furniture

701/706

212.696.4648

Elijah Slocum

615

212.689.0451

212.689.4189

S.A. Baxter Architectural Hardware

716

800.407.4295

212.252.1031

Flourishes

414

212.779.4540

212.779.4542

Saladino Furniture, Inc.

1600

212.684.3720

212.684.3257

Gans Bros.

422

212.532.7990

212.481.7051

Sanford Hall Carpets

400

212.684.4217

212.545.8376

Gibson Interior Products

1310

212.685.1077

212.685.1078

Smart Technologies

1115

212.696.9762

212.683.1297

Giorgetti USA

506

212.889.3261

212.889.3294

Smith & Watson

801

212.686.6444

212.686.6606

Giorgio USA, Inc.

605

212.684.7191

212.725.2683

Studio Dekor Lighting

1015

212.995.8328

212.867.1960

Girard-Emilia Custom Woodcarvers

905

212.679.4665

212.447.5780

Sun Decor Fabrics

417A

212.213.2703

212.231.2708

Gordon International

1401

212.532.0075

212.779.0147

Taillardat

804

212.532.3891

212.679.2969

Grange

201

212.685.9494

212.213.5132

Ted Boerner

515

212.675.5665

212.675.5654

Greater NY Home Furnishings Assn.

418

212.725.0091

212.481.8655

Texstyle

423

212.679.3935

212.679.4924

Hamilton Furniture

601

212.213.2487

212.213.2723

Thompson Contract

1111

631.589.7337

212.614.2378

Reliable Delivery Associates (RDA)

212.696.2475

HBF/HBF Textiles

1501

212.686.3142

212.471.3040

TK Collections

410

212.213.2470

212.213.2464

Henredon

1601

212.679.5828

212.679.6509

Tucker Robbins

504

212.355.3383

212.355.3116

Hickory Chair-Pearson

616

212.725.3776

212.725.3763

The Café by Design

Hightower Group

1316

212.725.3509

206-260-3287

Victor’s Sample Room

212.686.2059

212.213.5159 906

212.213.8911

212.213.8728 212.979.5717

In House Kitchen Bath Home

100

212.686.2016

Viscusi Executive Search

413

212.979.5700

Indiana Furniture

1305

212.686.8500 812.482.9035

Vladimir Kagan Couture

715

212.689.0730

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ARRAY INSIDE THE NEW YORK DESIGN CENTER

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3

BACKSTORY On-the-Job Training

By Hashim Rahman

Parsons students make design a community service .

Clockwise from top: Students in the field working on the 2008 Design Workshop BronXscape; a diagram illustration of how the design provides a unique series of spaces on the rooftop; a rendering showing a view of the pavilion with solar array on the roof and greenhouse below. All photos courtesy of Parsons the New School for Design.

One year after Hurricane Katrina ravaged DeLisle, a small town on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, a group of 13 architects in training arrived with hammers, nails, and designs. The students were part of the Design Workshop at Parsons the New School for Design. They spent 15 weeks designing and 12 weeks constructing a 2,000-square-foot freestanding building called InfoWash, which doubles as a Laundromat and information center.

Like all other Design Workshop projects, the DeLisle building was designed and constructed free of charge. Students were given a budget, a timetable, and a client (which is always a nonprofit organization). But nearly all else— designing, finding materials, operating machinery—was up to them. Since its inception in 1996, Parsons is still one of the few programs where students design, and then go out and build.

“You learn that connection between what you draw and what it takes to actually build it, and it completely changes your outlook on how you design,” said 2003 alumnus Federico Negro, in a short video anthology about the Workshop’s many projects.

Students test this connection between concept and creation on projects that are community-service-oriented. David J. Lewis, director of the Design Workshop, said that given the realities of the architectural profession, where time spent is based on how much a client can pay, the projects that are undertaken at the Workshop usually would not receive this kind of attention elsewhere.

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Two years after InfoWash, students again combined community service with architectural practice to build a green roof atop the NSC Young Adult Residence in the Bronx. The residence, which houses young adults who are aging out of the foster care system, needed a space where residents could socialize and relax. Workshop students met the challenge by creating a green rooftop addition where they designed and constructed walkways, partitions, seating areas, and a carefully landscaped area for gardening and composting.

A year before that, students designed and built a 6,000-square-foot opensided pavilion in the town of Margaretville, in upstate New York. Here, students needed to answer to an entire town—one that became very involved in the pavilion’s creation. The end result was a smart, sleek structure with ample lighting and versatile spaces that are conducive to the town’s many needs.

The most recent project set sights closer to home, where students renovated design studios for Parsons School of Constructed Environments. Design studios are especially challenging, as they require a careful blend of disparate components in large, open, collaboration-friendly spaces. For this project, students redesigned furniture and developed new spacial connections to create flexible multiuse areas.

Lewis said that the constantly evolving program encourages students to “take on a kind of fearless approach to their work.” As the Workshop continues to grow, there is no telling what his fearless cadre will take on next.

ARRAY INSIDE THE NEW YORK DESIGN CENTER

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3

ARRAY INSIDE THE NEW YORK DESIGN CENTER

timelessly inspired. kravet

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3

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