MANHATTAN
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LONG ISLAND l BROOKLYN l QUEENS l STATEN ISLAND l ROCKLAND COUNTY l NEW JERSEY
16 8 Buying a Condo
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Small Spaces, Fort Lee
12
Making a small apartment multi-functional
Year Round Gardening
14
Bring your garden inside
At the Crossroads of Technology & Design
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See it before you build it
Paper, Paper Everywhere
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A guide to wallpaper
Sports in New York
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All about the Brooklyn Dodgers
Flowing Lines and a Stunning White Chrome Finish
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A new line of faucets and showers
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Fun decorating ideas for a child’s bedroom
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Get Organized
36 L I V I N G
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M O R E
www.interiornewyork.com
4 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
Is it smarter than buying a house?
editors note
living and more
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Here we are at the start of yet another year, one which I’m eagerly anticipating because there are going to be so many important, exciting things happening. Spring must be right around the corner because the subject of Baseball is slowly starting to dominate the news. We kick off the new year with a series of sport related articles, the first one of course being New York’s favorite; Baseball. With the ever shifting economy these days, buying a home may not be a good fit for many family budgets. How about a condo instead? Buying a Condo May Be Smarter Than Buying a House. With the winter blues running full force, there’s no better time than now to spruce up your living space with some color and giveit a special look, using some popular painting techniques thatwe’ll share with you. Decorating a child’s room is not as easy as pink and blue. Let’s face it, kids change and so should their rooms. We’ll explore the endless possibilities in this months’ Getting Organized. Wallpaper can change the appearance of the rooms in our homes in many ways. It is very popular for decorating our homes and has been used a lot over the years for making the interior of our homeslook their best. We’ll show you how to decide what’s best for you. Regardless of the weather, houseplants bring life to your home, and can also be a source of fresh herbs for cooking. Inthis months’ issue, we examine the care and maintenance of houseplants.
Finally, we spend a lot of time writing about other folks design ideas. We’d like to see yours!! If you are interested in submitting a photograph of a special area of your house we’d love to see it, along with a brief explanation and if selected, it will be showcased in an upcoming edition. Please note that all submissions become the property of INTERIOR NEWYORK living and more ©. Only digital photographs will be accepted and should be sent to editor@interiornewyork.com.
Carole Delmonico
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PUBLISHER W MEDIA EDITOR IN-CHIEF CAROLE DELMONICO SENIOR EDITOR DAVID P. KAUFMAN GRAPHIC DESIGNER EFRAIM SCHNALL PHOTOGRAPHY W MEDIA DIRECTOR OF MENASHE SCHWARTZ OPERATIONS SALES RAIZY NEUFELD PRODUCTION ABE BERKOWITZ COORDINATOR CONTRIBUTING JULIA LISANTI WRITERS ZACHARY SCHLEE ADVERTISING 1227 60th Street OFFICE BROOKLYN NY 718.854.3773 www.interiornewyork.com
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Interior New York has openings in its sales department. Commissioned sales are offered at a competitive rate in a great work environment. Please contact Carole Delmonico at (718) 854-3773
Buying a Condo May Be Smarter Than Buying a House By Seb Fry
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any people don’t realize that there is a big difference between buying a condo and buying a house. Depending on your home owner style, you may prefer to buy one or the other, but the fact is, going with a condo may actually be the better idea. When you buy a house, you are purchasing not only the actual home you are also purchasing the land it sits on. You are responsible for the upkeep of the house, its exterior and yard, if any. This can get rather expensive, and, in general, houses are more expensive to buy than condos. While you can customize the exterior of a house fairly easily and usually without complaints, you have to decide if this is important enough to take on the responsibility of a house. Condos, on the other hand, are homes that share common land and walls. Though there are now instances of detached condos, the majority are still built in rows, somewhat like townhouses, with a common wall between them. When you buy a condo, you are purchasing the interior and will become part of a homeowner’s association. The homeowners are jointly responsible for the property, requiring you to pay a monthly fee for upkeep and maintenance. It’s important to read the legal documents carefully because there are a lot of rules that go along with joint ownership of the condo complex. Each homeowner’s association will have different rules and the paperwork can get pretty lengthy. There may be regulations against changing the exterior appearance of your home, even by planting flowers. If you don’t do well with such strict guidelines, you’d be better off looking for a place that has looser ones. That being said, there are some distinct advantages to purchasing a condo, over buying a house. For busy home owners, not having to actually deal with the upkeep and looks of their home can be a very good thing. In some cases, utilities such as water, gas and electricity are included in the monthly homeowner’s fee, meaning a big savings in the long run. In addition, condos tend to be cheaper to buy, in part because of the monthly fee requirement and in part because they are smaller than a regular house. Still, a condo is an excellent choice, particularly for young, single people or young couples who are looking for Photo by David Zybin Broker Nord-East Realty Group, LLC www.NordEastRealtyGroup.com 718-496-9400 tel FEBRUARY 2010 I INTERIOR NEW YORK
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Article by Seb Frey is a real estate Broker who enjoys helping people find their piece of the American Dream. 10 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
Photo by David Zybin Broker Nord-East Realty Group, LLC
something comfortable that requires minimal upkeep. This can be an excellent way to start out your life in your own home. You have the benefits of home ownership, without all the responsibilities that go along with owning property. Security and living stability, but the maintenance is taken care of. Condos are not right for everyone, but they can be a good choice for anyone looking to own a place without having to take care of it much. Just be sure to look carefully at the documents before signing anything and you’ll be fine.
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Maria M. Gross, allied ASID, CID Interior Design Associates 220 Alexander Street Princeton, NJ, 08540 (609) 306-5000 12 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
Fort Lee apartment Scope of work
This eleven hundred square foot, one bedroom apartment is on the 25th floor of a luxury hi-rise in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The apartment looks out on the Hudson River and the New York skyline. The apartment had not been renovated since its construction in the early 1980’s. The owner, a bachelor decided to update the apartment, which he uses when he is in the area, but is not his primary home. The client was very precise with his requests. He wanted a very streamlined apartment, easily maintainable with custom designed furniture to house media equipment, books, china, glassware, etc behind glass doors. Every detail was planned and designed by the designer in very close collaboration with the client. Although the apartment footprint is not very large, more than adequate space was provided through the design of the cabinet system. The neutral colors provide very calm environment and serve as a backdrop for the client’s art. Since it is a one bedroom apartment, we created multiple functions for the living room. A custom designed armoire hides a compact office with a drop down work surface, place for computer, printer etc. A matching cherry cabinet with file drawers completes the office at the same time functioning as a sofa table behind the sofa for lighting and accessories. At the other end of the office the living room is separated from the entry by shoji screens that provide privacy for guests staying over. The sectional opens into a queen size sofa bed. Across the room, a 12 foot long cabinet houses the flat screen TV, speaker, and media equipment. Another cabinet next to the entry door houses books and additional file drawers. The cement ceilings precluded adding general lighting in areas other than locations where junction boxes already existed. Additional down lights, wiring and cables are located in a drop down soffit built for the purpose. Floor and table lamps add warmth to the living room. The built in breakfront in the dining area also has a large storage closet for storing the balcony furniture
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during the winter as well as glass fronted shelves for china and glassware. The beautiful glass and bronze dining table and the elegant chairs covered in a rich orange and brown fabric provide a beautiful counterpoint to the neutral colors and built in furniture. The Galley kitchen was totally rebuilt for maximum efficiency with cherry cabinets Silestone counters and a porcelain tiled floor. The stainless appliance, stainless farmer’s sink and the dropped track lighting with tiny MRI heads create a streamlined look. The built in cabinets in the bedroom were designed to house both electronics and clothing. The cabinets abut the existing closet and all the doors are mirrored to create an image double the size of the room and reflect the view of the Manhattan skyline. The base of custom bed provides storage drawers for the bedding . The interior of the cabinets are outfitted with a complete Elfa system with drawers, shelves and hanging rods. A mirrored vanity is also hidden behind full height mirrored doors. The solar shades and fine bamboo roman shades are usually in an open position to provide maximum view of the Manhattan skyline while the client is in residence. When they are closed they offer full protection from the sun and fading while he is away. We expanded the master bathroom by incorporating an existing walk in closet to create a large luxurious shower and still have space for a free standing soaking tub, large enough for two people. A marble clad platform was built to run the plumbing for the new shower and tub, A soffit similar to those in the bedroom and living room hide the lines for the lighting and fan. The mirrored surround over the vanity reflects the glass shower enclosure making the bathroom seem twice the size. The client is very happy with the peaceful environment which provides the perfect getaway with easy access to New York. Lori Margolis - Commercial Design Group P:908-277-2880 www.commercialdesigngrp.com
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HOME ACCENTS
BEAUTIFUL PIECES TO DECORATE YOUR HOME
Hollywood Neutral and Orange Tile with Orange Parallel Border available at Classic Tile 718-331-2615 www.classictileny.com
Wide spread Faucet by PuraVida™: Hansgrohe
For a relaxed and comfortable seating area, tuck this magazine rack beside a favorite chair
Elegent Chandlier with czech crysal by WEISS & BIHELLER 212-979-6990 weissandbiheller.com
The slender Arts and Crafts-inspired table lamp makes a statement that’s simple yet elegant. Made of white metal finished in hand-applied dark bronze, the look is graphic and contemporary. Available with a beige linen hardback shade or an oiled Kraft paper shade.
Featured here is a French Style Curio, With exquisite Italian Workmanship and Beautiful Bronze detail. These fine woods and inlays will create an ambiance of elegance and timeless design in any home. With its high quality it is sure to become a family Heirloom. Available at RENAISSANCE FURNITURE- 718-851-3977
Using traditional Italian techniques, glass blower Caleb Siemon designs contemporary art glass vessels in brilliant hues, as seen in this classic amber bowl.
Z Table Hand Made wrought Iron Made by HMH Iron Design 718-851-5870 www.hmhirondesign.com FEBRUARY 2010 I INTERIOR NEW YORK
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Year Round Gardening A Guide for Happy Houseplants
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or those of us for whom gardening is a passion, the winter months can be a very long and depressing time of year. We plant our bulbs in the fall and then count the long months until the ground thaws and it’s time to start our seedlings. But gardening doesn’t need to be a ‘fair-weather’ friend, nor does it need to be reserved for those of us lucky enough to have an outdoor garden. Even people with no interest in gardening whatsoever, or no space in which to plant a garden, can enjoy the natural beauty of plants year round. Houseplants can add style and a touch of life to any home, even if that home happens to be a tiny apartment with little or no natural sunlight. There are literally hundreds of types of plants suitable for indoor growing, and this variety means that you can always find a plant, or plants, to suit your taste. Houseplants are generally also very easy to care for, with most requiring little more than the proper amount of light and a once a week watering. This relative ease of care means that even people who think they completely lack the green thumb can have great success in keeping their plants alive and happy for years to come! Decorating with Houseplants Aside from the people (and possibly pets) that inhabit them, most homes are full of lifeless, inanimate objects. Although not necessarily animate (unless you get a Venus fly trap), houseplants offer a way to introduce a living, breathing, natural element into your home’s décor. This natural element
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can be especially important for people who live in cramped city apartments, where any semblance of nature is sorely lacking. The aesthetic appeal of houseplants is not limited, however, to the fact that they are alive. They are available in such a wide variety in terms of sizes, shapes, colors, and textures that they can be used to enhance any decorating style. Wispy, feathery plants can be used to soften a room, while plants with clean lines and sharp points can be used as a focal point in modern designs. Using your imagination is the key to decorating with houseplants. Your choice of houseplants is an individual expression of your own tastes. You should pick your plants primarily because you like them. If you prefer things that are bright and colorful, pick bright and colorful plants. These plants include: like caladium, orchids, croton, cryptanthus, and tropical plants like a pineapple plant or a Hawaiian Ti. If you are more interested in the leaf forms than color, pick plants that are visually appealing or have interesting patterns and shapes. These plants might include: ferns, philodendrons, ficus trees, spider plants, aloes, zebra plants, dracaenas, and potted palms. No matter what types of plants you choose, it is important to keep in mind where they might look best in your home. Feathery plants like palms and ferns can be used to give an air of lightness to large, solid color rooms, while plants with large leaves can be used to add a focal point to rooms with small or varied patterns on the walls. A single, larger plant can be used to brighten up a dark corner in your home, while a grouping
Houseplants tend to be relatively easy to care for,
plants of different sizes and leaf forms can create the illusion of an indoor landscape. If your home has a very specific decorating style, you may want to pick plants that specifically compliment this style. For example, ferns work well in Victorian homes, while cacti are ideal for homes with a southwest style. Modern homes tend to be somewhat minimalist, with clean lines and smooth shapes. Pick houseplants that compliment this aesthetic by getting plants with a definitive, clean shape and slender leaves. If your home happens to be a beach house (or is decorated like one), gets plants with a tropical feel like potted palms, orchids, or anything Hawaiian. Caring for Houseplants Houseplants tend to be relatively easy to care for, but there are a few things to keep in mind. When you bring a plant home from a greenhouse, nursery, or garden center, chances are it was in a moister environment than your home is more likely to be. This being the case, it is important to keep your plant moist while it adjusts. Water it every couple of days for the first week or so and give it a spritz with a water bottle every day during this transition period. During the first week you have your plant you should also keep it out of direct sunlight, even if it is a plant that needs direct sunlight. A few of the more mature leaves may fall off, but this is a normal part of the transition phase. If leaves continue to fall off after you have moved your plant to its permanent location, it is probably either waterlogged or not getting enough sunlight. Try watering it less and see if the condition improves. If that doesn’t work, move it to a sunnier location or get an artificial plant light to supplement the sunlight. Once your plant has passed its initial transition phase, take a look at the light, humidity, and other conditions that are usually listed on the tag that came with the plant. If there is no tag, a helpful rule of thumb is that the darker green the leaves, the darker the location the plant will tolerate. Variegated plants also tend to do better in areas away from direct sunlight. Plants that need direct sunlight should be near a window, although even they may need some protection, like a thin
shade, during the height of summer to avoid being scorched. Plants that require indirect light, or diffused light, should not be kept near windows unless there is a sheer curtain between the plant and the sunlight. Many houseplants tend to be shade lovers and do well in dark corners at least a few feet away from any windows. If the leaves of your plant turn yellow, chances are they are receiving either too much or too little sunlight. Move the plant to a different location and see if it helps. Brown spots on your leaves can also indicate that the plant is receiving too much light, as can new growth that is thin or pale. Besides light, the other major concern when caring for houseplants is providing the proper amount of water. Most people kill their plants by either watering them too much or too little. The majority house plants need to be watered about once a week, unless they are in direct sunlight which can dry them out more quickly. If the top of the soil feels moist, don’t water the plant. Plants can and do drown when they are over-watered. Also, cacti and other desert plants require less watering. The soil should be allowed to dry almost completely before they are re-watered. Plants that like high humidity should be sprayed with a water bottle on a regular basis, or kept in a moister environment. Kitchens and bathrooms tend to be the most humid places in FEBRUARY 2010 I INTERIOR NEW YORK
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the home, so they are perfect for plants that like it moist. These plants include: begonias, African violet, pineapple plants, baby tears, and some ferns. Other care concerns for houseplants include fertilizing and repotting. Indoor plants should be fertilized once every month or two. Simply take the fertilizer, mix it with water as described on the package, and use it in place of a regular watering. When your plants begin to outgrow their container, it is time to repot them. You will know if it is time to repot your plant if the roots become visible on the surface, new leaves begin to grow smaller, or it wilts or dries out very quickly after watering. To be sure, gently remove your plant from its pot. If the plant is a solid mass of roots with little soil showing, it’s time to repot. Repot your plants in a planter that is at least two inches wider and two inches deeper than the previous one. You can also take the opportunity of repotting to plant several plants in a single, larger container. Just be sure that they have similar light and water requirements. To add visual interest, place plants with different shapes, sizes, and leaf forms in the same pot. For example, place a long trailing plant in the same pot with a plant that has some height. 20 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
Double Duty Plants Some houseplants are both beautiful and functional. Herb gardens in particular are a great idea to grow indoors, especially for sunny areas near the kitchen windows. Herbs such as thyme, rosemary, parsley, oregano, mint, and chives all do well indoors. In addition to being great for cooking, these herbs create a great fragrant note in your home even when the stove is off. Other edible plants can be grown indoors using hydroponics systems, which are now widely available. Most of these systems utilize seed “pods� placed under a plant light to grow herbs, vegetables, and even some fruits. If you are interested in fruits in particular, miniature citrus trees have also been developed for indoor growth. Although not edible, aloe plants are another great double-duty plant to have indoors. Aside from being beautiful to look at, the soothing aloe provided by the plant can be used to treat sunburn, as well as scrapes, cuts and other minor burns related to cooking. Plant Safety Besides the edible plants described above, it is important to note that many houseplants can be poisonous if consumed. Although most adults know enough not to eat their plants, animals and small children may not. It is therefore important to keep these plants off the floor and out of the reach of small children and pets. Particularly dangerous to both humans and animals alike is anything from the Araceae Family, including philodendrons and caladiums. The Spurge Family, which includes pencil trees poinsettias, is also poisonous if eaten. In fact, it is a good idea to keep all holiday plants away from pets and children. Ivy, holly, mistletoe, and hibiscus are all toxic to both humans and animals. If your child or pet does manage to eat any plant you are not sure about, immediately contact your doctor or veterinarian.
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At the Crossroads of
Technology & Design A
s anyone doing a significant home renovation project can tell you, the experience can be daunting. And when that project entails a new kitchen, it can be all the more challenging. Which made our recent renovating experience all the more incredible. My husband Jerry and I finally decided our hopelessly old and outdated kitchen had to go. We loved our house and our neighborhood, but we just couldn’t deal with how ugly and impractical the kitchen was. We hired a contractor, arrived at a workable budget, and prepared to start construction. We sat down with a few highly recommended interior designers and decorators, and each shared with us their grandiose visions for our new kitchen. However, we kept running into the same problem- we just couldn’t see their vision. We began panicking. Then a friend recommended that we get help from Cheryl Kamenetsky. Known as one of New Jersey’s premier designers, we heard that Cheryl uses the latest in design software, the SeeItYourWay design tool. I decided to meet with her. I went to my first meeting with Cheryl alone, having no idea what to expect. I had sat with designers who used other design software, but they used computer-generated images that were just helpful in laying out the kitchen. They were in no way helpful in giving me the ability to actually picture how the various colors and styles of the components in my kitchen will look together. It was obvious from the onset that I had made the correct
choice. Cheryl was super! She listened to my interests, tastes and concerns, and got a clear idea of what I was looking for. She offered many creative, yet practical, suggestions as to how our kitchen could be designed. Her ideas were innovative and impressive, yet still cost-effective. Her questions were to the point, and I knew that I was in for a great partnership and experience. Then she turned on her computer with the See It Your Way design tool, and I was blown away. The scenes that greeted me were real-life, not some artificial-looking computer-generated images. I was able to mix and match kitchen cabinet styles and colors, knobs, countertops, hardwood and tiled flooring, backsplashes, grout color, appliances, lighting fixtures, window treatments, faucets, barstools, countertop accents, and virtually any item in the kitchen, all with the click of a mouse. I was able to rotate the floors and backsplash tiles, change the tile pattern, change the countertop shape, and close the window shades. Cheryl then showed me some of the designs she had created using the system. She then allowed me to tweak the kitchen she created to my exact liking. The result was the kitchen of my DREAMS! The only problem was that I left Jerry at home. What if “the kitchen of my dreams” would be “the kitchen of his nightmares”? Cheryl said, “no problem – send it to him! Email the room using the system’s email button and he’ll get a highquality picture of the room you designed in a flash”.
that so greatly decreases the dreaded guesswork associated with home design, sellers now have a way of focusing their
I was amazed at the simplicity and convenience of it all. I sent two versions I was considering to Jerry, my sister-in-law, and my two best friends, and they all loved them. We finalized on one, printed it in high-quality, and can’t wait for the project to materialize. After this amazing experience, I decided to do some research on SeeItYourWay. This is what I found: SeeItYourWay was created by software manufacturer Maytex Global. They have developed the web’s first system allowing users to choose and preview every part of a room’s décor and furnishings simultaneously, in an impressive and photo-realistic room setting. Intended to compliment CAD layout systems, their patent-pending technology is primarily a style and color coordinator, that also provides retailers and manufacturers with a smooth and targeted marketing system that is both costefficient and extremely effective. Besides giving sellers a competitive edge by allowing their customers to get beyond the fear of “how will it look?”, SeeItYourWay is also being used to showcase items they want to push. By providing consumers with a tool FEBRUARY 2010 I INTERIOR NEW YORK
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customers’ attention on the items they want them focused on. SeeItYourWay presently allows users to choose from virtually anything a consumer is looking for in a kitchen, and plans on expanding soon to other rooms and exteriors. Customers can design to their heart’s content at home, and save their room combinations, which can then be accessed at a participating vendor’s showroom computer. This way, the customer can actually feel and touch the selections they chose at home. Rooms can also be viewed, emailed, and printed in high-resolution. The much-talkedabout “Enlarge” button allows users to view selections in stunning, high quality. Nationwide kitchen refacing franchises, like Kitchen Tune up, saw the design tool as a great way of making sure that their customers get exactly what they want, with no surprises, giving them a great competitive edge. They had Maytex Global create a private-labeled site for their website, and have been thrilled with the results. Their consumers are taking full advantage of a free tool that allows them to interactively combine cabinets, counters, flooring and accessories without leaving home or spending money on materials that would be wasted. To take it even further, Kitchen Tune-Up formed a partnership with Budget Blinds through the SeeItYourWay system, who now advertises their blinds on Kitchen Tune-Up’s design tool. When clicking on the “Buy” button of any particular window covering on their site, the customer is redirected to Budget 26 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
Blinds’landing page. This is a win–win situation for both. Kitchen Tune-Up has happier customers, and Budget Blinds has expanded their customer base. You can expect to be seeing a lot more of the SeeItYourWay tool, as there are plans in the works to have this model expanded to physical stores in certain neighborhoods, with specific non-competing local retailers teaming up to benefit from each other’s customer base. By offering customers this wide range of foresight, users will have an unprecedented ability to actually see how their selections will co-ordinate with each other, the result being a more confident and comfortable consumer placing orders for the items they design. Maytex is now forming “Guilds” in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, and Teaneck, composed of local retailers selling cabinets, counters, appliances, faucets, lighting fixtures, window treatments, tiles, hardwood flooring, and barstools. By having one retailer of each category part of the team, each would benefit from the technology, crossadvertising, crossreferral, and shared advertising inherent in the SeeItYourWay system. Everybody, including the customerespecially the customerwins. Manufacturers are also utilizing the benefits of SeeItYourWay’s technology by private labeling various versions of the software as a tool on their own site, and by placing their products in SeeItYourWay’s library so that retailers can show their items. New layouts, rooms, exteriors, and a host of exciting and creative ideas are currently in the pipeline at Maytex Global.
To learn more, visit www.maytexglobal.com To sign up your store, contact Maytex Global at sales@maytexglobal.com or call toll free, (800) SEE-0155. Cheryl Kamenetsky can be contacted for a design consultation at 732 567-7777.
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Paper, Paper Everywhere But How to Choose the Right One?
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inding the right wallpaper can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before. There are literally thousands (if not tens of thousands) of styles available. Simply going to the store and seeing the shelves stacked to the ceiling with books of patterns might be enough to make most people walk away in disgust. On top of that, you have to decide if you want fabric backed vinyl coated paper or paper backed solid sheet vinyl. And really, who even has the foggiest idea what either of those things mean? Rest assured that there are some ways to simplify the process. The trick is to have a plan or some idea about what you want before you go shopping. The following guide will help to make you an educated consumer, and provide you with some useful tips on how, where, and why to use wallpaper. Why Wallpaper? If finding the perfect wallpaper is such a pain (not to mention actually putting it up), why bother using it at all? Why not stick with paint? The primary reason people use wallpaper is because there are things that you can do with wallpaper, patterns and looks that you can achieve, that would simply be impossible with paint. Paint is great if you like the monochromatic or bi-colored look, but if you want something with real visual interest, intricate patterns, or would like to create a mural landscape, wallpaper is the way to go. Unless you are a professional artist, painting an intricate floral pattern on your walls is probably outside the realm of your capabilities. That is where the wallpaper comes in. Wallpaper can be used in a variety of creative ways. You can do a whole room with the same paper, create a focal point by using wallpaper on a single wall, or do all four walls in different paper. You can also split the difference by using wallpaper on the bottom half of a room and painting the top half. In the case of the latter option, it’s a good idea to separate the bottom half from the top using either border paper or a molding that compliments and integrates the two looks. In addition, wallpaper can be used in locations where paint may be a less ideal or less practical way to achieve the desired result. If, for example, the walls in your home are in really bad shape, it may be easier to put up wallpaper then it would be to try to plaster and sand every little imperfection before you can paint. Wallpaper is also decidedly easier to clean than flat paint, so it’s ideal for places like kitchens, or even kid’s bedrooms, where the walls have a tendency to get dirty. And wallpaper is also not just for walls! It can also be used on furniture, cabinets, and shelves. These items can simply be wrapped in paper like a present, requiring far less work than multiple coats of paint or refinishing would. Where to Find Wallpaper Wallpaper can be found in most home improvement stores, online, or in smaller stores that specialize in selling wallpaper. The last option is probably your best bet because stores that specialize in wallpaper tend to have the best selection. Buying wallpaper online is generally not the best idea because colors, textures, and patterns may appear different in photos than they do in real life. Also, buying wallpaper online does not afford you the opportunity to see how it will work in your home before you buy it. If you go to a store, chances are that you can get samples to bring home. You can then test these samples against your furniture and other décor to see how they work. Also, lighting tends to be different in every home, FEBRUARY 2010 I INTERIOR NEW YORK
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Finding the right wallpaper can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before. and varies from day to night, so it’s important to see how the wallpaper looks in various lights. How to Find the Perfect Paper Because of the staggeringly wide variety of wallpaper available, it is important to give some thought to what you want before you go to the store. Although buying wallpaper online may not be the best idea, it might be a good idea to view some websites and get inspired. Who knows, you may even find something you absolutely love and have to have, thereby saving yourself a trip to the store. Short of that, it is a good way to get started. Another good starting point is to consider the overall decorating scheme of your home, the existing color palette, furniture, and flooring. If your home has a distinct decorating style, think about patterns and colors that will compliment that style and not clash with it. A sleek and simple ultra-modern apartment could easily be ruined with the addition of gaudy floral-print wallpaper. Thinking about your existing furniture, decorative items, carpeting and/or other flooring is also a good idea. If you have a forest green sofa in your living room, for example, it wouldn’t be advisable to get wallpaper that is heavy on the neon pink. You should try to coordinate or match your wallpaper with the items that exist in your home. If at all possible, bring paint samples (or chips of paint) and swatches of upholstery or carpeting with you when you go shopping. Keep these next to the books as you flip through them. And speaking of the books, going through these can be an overwhelming task. The key here is to get some help from the guys at the store. If you have something specific in mind, say a 32 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
particular color or pattern (stripes, ivy, or a geometric shape), the salesperson can look that up for you in their index and direct you to the appropriate books. If you don’t have anything in particular in mind, ask the salesperson to explain how the books are organized. Most books are organized either by room or style. They fall into categories like: “Kitchen & Bath,” “Country,” “Traditional,” or “Kids.” Once you have received some guidance, start flipping through the books. Do this quickly at first, looking only at the color palette which is generally located in the upper right hand corner of the book. Place your paint samples or upholstery swatches near this upper right hand corner to speed up the process. If the books color tones, also known as colorways, don’t appeal to you, put that book back on the shelf. If you come across anything you really like, place a bookmark on the page so you can quickly find it again. If the color tones in the book are what you are looking for, proceed through the book more slowly, book-marking anything you like. Once you have found some papers that interest you, it’s time to narrow down your choices. Pick your top three and ask for samples to take home. Live with these samples for a few days and test them out before making your final decision. Wallpaper Pricing Wallpaper pricing can be a somewhat confusing subject. Wallpaper books generally list the price of the wallpaper by the single roll, but wallpaper is almost always manufactured and sold in double rolls. Some papers are even sold in triple rolls, adding to the confusion. There are several reasons for this discrepancy, but it
does serve a purpose. Selling wallpaper in double and triple rolls provides longer continuous lengths of paper than you would get with a single roll. A single roll would only be 13.5 feet long, while a double roll is 27 feet. So, if your walls are nine feet long, you could only cut one full length strip from a single roll, whereas a double roll would allow you to cut three full-length strips. Wallpaper also comes in two different widths. One is known as European or Metric, and measures 20.5 inches. The other is American, which measures 27 inches wide. So, obviously, you can cover more wall with less paper using the American style. Another factor that affects the cost of your wallpaper is the pattern that you choose. There are two basic types of patterns: straight match and drop match. Straight match papers are things like vertical stripes that don’t require matching at the seams. Drop match papers usually include things like floral patterns and geometric shapes. These papers do have to be matched at the seams, meaning you will have to waste some paper to match up the pattern. The longer the distance between the repeat of the pattern, the more paper will end up going to waste. If you are buying a paper with a drop match, have the salesperson help you determine how much paper you will need. In either case, you have to take measurements of your room before you order your paper. Take measurements of the walls, but also measure the size of things like doors and windows which will not need to be covered. If possible, draw a sketch of the room with the measurements and take it to the store when ordering your paper. Also, it’s a good idea to order one more double roll than you think you will need. It’s good to have in case you make a mistake or to repair sections that may become damaged at some point in the future.
MORE IN YOUR CLOSET less from your wallet
Types of Paper Last, but not least, it’s a good idea to have some knowledge of the basic types of paper available. They can vary wildly in terms of quality and price. Basically, the most important thing to know here is that anything coated with vinyl will be more durable, cleanable, and waterproof than an untreated paper. Wallpaper that is simply paper is pretty flimsy, and should only be used in low traffic areas. In terms of vinyl coated paper, there are two basic types: vinyl coated and solid sheet vinyl. Vinyl coated papers can either have a paper or fabric backing and have been treated with acrylic vinyl or polyvinyl chloride to make them more durable. Solid sheet vinyl can also be backed with either fabric or paper. The main difference between the two types is that, as the name implies, solid sheet vinyl has a layer of paper or pulp in the back and a solid sheet of decorative vinyl in the front. As a result, solid sheet vinyl papers are considered the most durable, cleanable, and waterproof papers. They are also the easiest papers to remove, so they make a good choice if you like to redecorate often. 34 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
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By Julia Lisanti
Sports in New York The Brooklyn Dodgers
O
ver the next several issues, we will dedicate a section of this magazine to the contributions of the various sports teams and players of note that have made New York such a legendary locale in the history of sports. And that is where our tale really should begin- with the history of a team so legendary and so long defunct that it is now all but relegated to the realm of myth and legend- The Brooklyn Dodgers. Part I: The Brooklyn Dodgers The history of baseball in New York is, in itself, riddled with myth and legend. Debates rage to this day about the origins of the sport, who actually invented it, whether the Brooklyn Dodgers were the great team the legends would have us 36 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
believe they were, what actually motivated the decision to integrate the team, and whether Walter O’Malley really was the greatest villain in the history of baseball. The Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1957, and all of these contentious issues remain. For my part, I will do my best to navigate this complicated web of history and myth and present you with the facts as I find them. I will leave the debates to those more educated in the subject than myself, and leave you to draw your own conclusions. Early Baseball Although baseball, as we know it, undoubtedly got it start on the streets of our great city, the origins of baseball can be traced back to the Old World and the various stick and
The mythical “Next Year� finally came in 1955 when the long suffering Dodgers beat the Yankees in game seven of the World Series. ball games (known as rounders) played therein. Early versions of baseball were played in England by the middle of the 18th century, and it is widely accepted that British and Irish immigrants first brought their early versions of the sport across the pond with them, where they morphed and congealed into the national pastime that we know and love today. This is, more or less, where the consensus ends. Officially, modern baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York in 1839. Unofficially, this origin myth has been completely debunked. Apparently FEBRUARY 2010 I INTERIOR NEW YORK
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Doubleday, a Union general in the Civil War, never claimed to invent the sport attributed to him. The numerous papers Doubleday left upon his death gave not a mention of the sport, and he did not even live in Cooperstown in 1839, having moved the previous year. Through the machinations of Major League Baseball and the Hall of Fame, which resides in Cooperstown, the myth persists to this day, although most sports historians disregard it as fantasy. In either case, modern baseball really was invented in New York. It began with immigrants on the streets of our city who formed the first amateur teams which developed into the first professional teams with codified rules. In particular, Brooklyn 38 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
was the breeding ground for the various stickball games that became modern baseball. By the 1850’s, Brooklyn had a serious case of baseball fever. When baseball’s “first convention” convened, eight of the sixteen teams were from Brooklyn. The Borough, which was then a separate city, helped turn the sport professional with the first enclosed ballparks and the first paid admission games. Despite the dominance of Brooklyn in the early amateur leagues, by the time the first professional league, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, was formed in 1871, Brooklyn teams routinely put in weak performances. Many of these early Brooklyn teams dominated the game in
The Dodgers name actually started out as a derogatory term for people from Brooklyn.
the 1850’s and 60’s, only to lose their best players and disband shortly thereafter. When the National League formed in 1876, replacing the National Association, they granted exclusive territorial rights to each of their eight teams. Subsequently, Brooklyn had only one team at a time, although these teams routinely formed, failed, disbanded, and reformed. In fact, the history of these early Brooklyn teams, with their various names and nicknames, is so convoluted that I won’t even attempt to describe it here. Suffice it to say that the team that would officially be called the Dodgers was legally called the Brooklyn Base Ball Club for several decades around the turn of the century. They had various names and nicknames throughout the period, including: the Wonders, the Grays, the Fillies, the Superbas, the Robins, and the Bridegrooms. The Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers The various nicknames used by the team from Brooklyn during the late 19th and early 20th century make the exact moment they became known as the “Dodgers” hard to pin down. In fact, for several decades after the Dodgers name was used, the other nicknames were also still in use. This was true even within the context of a single article about the team, which probably made reading the sports page a bit confusing. For example, a New York Times article from 1916 states that, “Jimmy Callahan, pilot of the Pirates, did his best to wreck the hopes the Dodgers have of gaining the National League pennant,” but later refers to the same team as the Superbas, saying they were saved by a win in one of two games. The Dodgers name actually started out as a derogatory term for people from Brooklyn. Brooklyn, being too poor to afford a subway system, was crisscrossed by trolleys which
people had to routinely dodge to play baseball in the street, or on their way to view their local team. As a result, people from outside the borough began referring to anyone from Brooklyn as a trolley dodger. With true Brooklyn gusto, the team took the name and ran with it, using it as a badge of honor instead of a slur. They also laid claim to the even more offensive moniker, “Dem Bums,” which they went so far as to make their mascot in the yearbooks of the time. The first usage of the name “Dodgers” in any official capacity came in 1932, when the name first appeared on team jerseys. By the following year, the name became truly official as it appeared on both home and road jerseys for the team. Dem Bums After languishing in the wilderness for decades, the team from Brooklyn became contenders again in the mid 1910’s and remained a solid team for the next decade. This was due, in large part, to the efforts of manager Wilbert Robinson, from whom the nickname “Robins” derived. Under his management, the team reached both the 12916 and 1920 World Series, but sadly lost both championships. When a quick series of deaths caused Robinson to be named the team’s president, while still acting as its manager, the strain proved to be too much. With Robinson unable to focus all his attention on the field, the team acquired another nickname, the “Daffiness Boys.” Their apparent distraction on FEBRUARY 2010 I INTERIOR NEW YORK
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the field and the seemingly constant errors they made gave them a reputation for goofiness. During a famous double-play from the era, three players- Chick Fewster, Dazzy Vance and the infamous Babe Herman, all reached third base at the same time. When Robinson was removed as president and could once again focus on managing the team, their performance made a slight rebound. Unfortunately, their reputation did not. By 1934, the Giants manager Bill Terry famously asked, “Is Brooklyn still in the league?” when asked about the team’s prospects for the coming season. The Daffiness Boys era of the 1930’s also saw the invention of the Brooklyn Bum, a team mascot invented by sports cartoonist Willard Mullin. The story goes that Mullin invented the character after a cab driver asked him, “So how did those bums do today?” The cartoonist also gave the team yet another nickname, “Dem Bums.” The cartoon (not to mention the nickname) became so popular that it was regularly featured in the team’s yearbooks during the 1950’s, which is a shame because, by then, the team was actually good again. Desegregating Baseball
The real turnaround in the team’s fortunes came when the team’s general manager, Branch Rickey, successfully lobbied to have Jackie Robinson put on the team. At the time, so called “gentlemen’s agreements” prevented African Americans from playing in the major leagues, and they were relegated to “Negro” leagues. Branch Rickey was a devout member of The Methodist Church, which advocated for desegregation. His motives for putting Robinson on the team appear to be mainly moral, although the same can not be said of other people associated with the team. Leo Durocher, the team’s field manager, told the players, “I don’t care if the guy is yellow or black or has stripes like a …zebra, I’m the manager of this team and I say he plays. What’s more I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you can’t use the money, I’ll see that you are all traded.” The apparent reluctance of certain members of the team to play with an African American teammate represented only a small part of prejudice that Robinson would face. In fact, Rickey choose Robinson for the team partly due to his outstanding personal character and strength, qualities he knew would be 40 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
imperative if Robinson were to withstand the constant barrage of jeers, catcalls, and poor sportsmanship likely to come his way. Other considerations aside, Robinson certainly was a great asset to the team, as were the other African American players who joined the team in subsequent years. Robinson, a speedy runner and all around consistently good player, became the first recipient of the Rookie of the Year Award. The team’s decision to integrate gave them a distinct advantage, leading to the inclusion of a number of exceptional players. Among them were three time MVP Roy Campanella, Cy Young Award winner Don Newcombe, as well as Jim Gilliam and Joe Black. The inclusion of these players helped the team win six pennants between 1947 and 1956. Next Year Despite the team’s new found ability to secure the National League pennant, baseball’s grand prize remained out of reach. The Dodgers won National League pennants in 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, and 1953, only to loose to the Yankees in each of the subsequent World Series. The ritual of getting their hopes up only to see them dashed in the end led to the Dodgers unofficial slogan, “Wait ‘til next year!” The team’s relative success during this period was further dampened by their greatest loss. In 1951, they suffered one of the greatest collapses in baseball’s history. Squandering a 13 1/2 game lead, they ended up tied with the Giants at the end of the season. With the two teams tied at one game a piece in the pennant race, it came down to the final game, which the Dodgers lost with the infamous “Shot Heard Round the World,” a three run walk-off home run hit by Giants outfielder Bobby Thompson. The mythical “Next Year” finally came in 1955 when the long suffering Dodgers beat the Yankees in game seven of the World Series. A spectacular double play made by Sandy Amoros and shortstop Pee Wee Reese clinched the Dodgers lead. They won the game 2-0. The Dodgers lost the World Series to the Yankees again the following year, but no one seemed to care. Dodgers’ fans had their long-awaited victory, the memory of which would have
to sustain them a lot longer than any of them could have possibly imagined. The very next year, the team moved to Los Angeles and Brooklyn lost the only major league sports team it would ever have. Baseball’s Greatest Villain There is a saying among oldtimers in Brooklyn that more or less sums up their feelings about Walter O’Malley. It goes like this: If you were to find yourself in a room with Stalin, Mussolini, and O’Malley, armed with a gun that only had two bullets- you would have to shoot O’Malley twice. So why is Walter O’Malley so reviled? Because for the longest time (to this day, in fact, in certain quarters) he was considered solely responsible for the Dodgers move to Los Angeles. Time and further digging by sports historians have absolved him of some of the responsibility for this tragedy. Some, but not all. The fact of the matter is that it was his decision to move the team. The various sports historians who wish to absolve Walter O’Malley of guilt point to another villain in the story on whom to lay blame. This is a man by the name of Robert Moses,
the New York City Construction Coordinator who refused to condemn the land along the Atlantic Rail Yards that O’Malley wanted to buy to build a new stadium. Condemning the land under Title I authority would have allowed O’Malley to buy it at below market value. He would have been able to buy the land and build the stadium himself, thus keeping all the profit made by the new stadium. It was also the only way the team would have stayed in Brooklyn. Instead, Moses offered O’Malley land in Queens, on the site that would later become Shea Stadium. The Queens site came with strings attached. O’Malley wanted to own the stadium outright, but the land offered in Queens was to be for a city-built, cityowned stadium. O’Malley refused the offer and instead moved the team to Los Angeles, where he could get the kind of land deal he wanted. The Dodgers played their last game at Ebbets Field on Sept. 24, 1957, beating the Pirates 2-0. On April 18, 1958, they played their first game as the Los Angeles Dodgers. They beat their old rivals, the Giants (who had also moved to California), 6-5.
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2010
PuraVida™: Hansgrohe’s Newest Venture with Phoenix Design
Flowing Lines and a Stunning White-Chrome Finish
Making its American debut in New York this fall, the new PuraVida™ line of faucets, showers and accessories is the result of another intensive, creative and highly successful collaboration between Hansgrohe and its design partner of more than two decades, Phoenix Design of Stuttgart. Three products in the new series, introduced in Europe in early 2009, have already merited recognition by the iF Design Award jury, while the PuraVida 150 AIR 3-Jet Handshower recently won a 2009 Design Plus Award. Marked by a compelling duet of lacquered white surfaces and highgloss chrome, Hansgrohe PuraVida introduces a strikingly different, dualfinish look to the bathroom. Thanks to an equally new manufacturing process, the gently 44 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
rounded undersides of the faucets in bright white merge seamlessly w i t h flat, glistening chrome surfaces above, creating vivid contrasts and the impression of floating lightness. The entire collection radiates a natural softness and purity that is both compelling to the eye and inviting to the touch. The dual-finish look is a far more complex process than merely combining, say, white plastic elements with metallic components or even two metal segments with different finishes. “The dual-finish products are initially finished entirely in chrome,” explains Nicolas Grohe, Director of Marketing and Product Planning for Hansgrohe North America. “We then apply a white coating to selected areas of the chrome finish. This innovative, two-step process is what gives PuraVida its unique and distinctive appearance — a seamless fit of chrome against white.” To complement this comprehensive line of bathroom fittings and matching accessories (towel bars, soap dishes, robe hooks, etc.), Phoenix Design also created a broad assortment of ceramic bathroom fixtures and furnishings made by another plumbing partner from Germany’s Black Forest region, Duravit. By combining fittings and accessories with sinks, tubs, mirrors
Designed to convey “more form, more emotion,” the new “poetic” PuraVida™ collection of bathroom faucets, showers and accessories strives to transform the modern bathroom into an oasis of comfort and calm for the senses.
and cabinets, the three partners sought nothing less than a transformation of the bathroom beyond its traditional hygienic and functional roles. Tom Schönherr of Phoenix Design characterizes the PuraVida project as “a wonderful challenge for achieving a perfect symbiosis of form and space.” Faucets – no sharp corners: With PuraVida, Phoenix Design deliberately turned away from purely geometric forms to embrace gently rounded lines and flowing shapes that convey a “freer, richer, more joyful and livelier feel,” Schönherr notes. “That is why there are no sharp corners or hard edges. We wanted shapes that encourage you to touch them. Everything about PuraVida is extremely subtle; nothing is excessive or pretentious. The entire series embodies a highly contemporary, evolved and elegant form of luxury.” For example, the smooth and slender white form of the PuraVida Single-Hole Lav Faucet, made from a single piece of metal, seems to grow organically out of the Duravit white ceramic wash basin — “like a tree rising from the earth,” says Schönherr.
Water flows through a concealed aerator into the basin as a clear laminar jet whose flow angle is easily adjustable at the spout. A tall (13 inches) version of the lav faucet is also available, as well as a three-hole Widespread Faucet and a Single-Hole Bidet Faucet. All four models offer durable ceramic cartridge technology, adjustable aerator sprays, and a water-saving flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute — 30% less than the current federal standard. In addition, all of these faucets, as well as the Freestanding Tub Filler, employ a “joystick” lever handle for fingertip control of water flow and temperature, making them compliant with the requirements of t h e American with Disabilities Act. “The faucets are every bit as user-friendly as they are beautiful,” says Nicolas Grohe. State-of-the-art showers: Characterized by the same sensual contours and dual-finish look as the faucets, PuraVida showers also blend elegant design with stateof-the-art Hansgrohe technology. Showerhead: The PuraVida FEBRUARY 2010 I INTERIOR NEW YORK
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400 AIR Showerhead features a flat and rounded-rectangular shape, formed by sandwiching two identical die-cast plates, made of high-quality zinc and finished either entirely in chrome or with a dual white and chrome look. The spray from the showerhead’s generously dimensioned 15-inch x 10-inch face is designed to perfectly cover the frame of the bather below. With its ultra-slender profile and precise chrome edges, the PuraVida 400 AIR appears to float delicately above the rest of the shower despite its size. Wall- and ceiling-mount versions are available. Handshowers: The new PuraVida collection includes two very differently styled handshowers: The slim, bar-shaped form of the PuraVida 120 culminates in a six-inch-long spray face that emerges smoothly from the softly rounded handle. This model is offered separately or as part of the Freestanding Tub Filler. The award-winning PuraVida 150 features a five-inchsquare head with rounded corners — like the showerhead — reminiscent of a hand mirror. The device’s intuitive EasyClick™ spray selector is positioned at the nexus of the head with the handle. This allows the user to comfortably alternate among the three different spray modes simply by pushing a concealed button. The spray modes include a comparatively soft jet called Rain AIR; a five-jet whirl-massage spray called Caresse AIR; and an invigorating combination of the two. Both handshowers and the four-inch PuraVida Bodyspray incorporate Hansgrohe’s proprietary AIR technology that blends air bubbles with the water stream in a three-to-one ratio to create a softer and more relaxing shower. Poetic design: Schönherr acknowledges that opting for gently rounded lines over pure geometry has its professional hazards. “Freer and more feminine forms often run the risk of drifting into short-lived fashion trends,” he says. But Phoenix Design and its two partners had no interest in a “whims-of-style” approach. “That strategy simply will not work in the bathroom,
even in its modern form, because the need for functionality and durability as well as enjoyment over many years remains as important as ever,” he says. “This is why we worked to create a design language that would not only meet the new need for emotional strength in our living spaces, but also project a sense of timeless clarity,” Schönherr continues. “As a result, the design process for PuraVida became a search for a natural form, one that was both soft and clear. The goal was to create something that we can experience and understand with our senses: a poetic design full of feeling and joie de vivre.” About Hansgrohe: Founded in 1901, Hansgrohe is the premium brand for bathroom and kitchen fixtures, and a market leader in showers and shower systems, as well as thermostat, pressure balance and ceramic cartridge technology. A winner of numerous awards throughout the world, Hansgrohe is regarded as one of the leading innovators in technology and design, with inventions such as the adjustable showerbar, multiplespray handshowers and showerheads, the Quiclean® function, AIR and water-saving EcoRight™ technology. These and other original products have helped reinvent the modern bath as a more functional, more comfortable and more beautiful living space. Based in Schiltach in the Black Forest region of Germany, Hansgrohe has a global workforce of more than 3,200 and serves customers in over 80 countries through 28 subsidiaries. Known for taking tough action against product piracy and intellectual property theft, the company currently operates 10 manufacturing facilities, including six in Germany, as well as single plants in France, the Netherlands and China. In addition, the company manufactures and assembles most of its Hansgrohe-branded products for North America at its modern manufacturing facility in Alpharetta, Ga., in the U.S.A.
Get Organized Decorating a Child’s Bedroom Decorating a child’s bedroom should be fun, and relatively easy. If it’s not, you are doing something wrong. To begin with, it’s the one area of your home that you can decorate without having to make all of the decisions yourself. Unless your child is extremely young, chances are they know what they like, and so do you. All kids develop interests in particular things. Some like bugs, some like trains, some like particular animals like cats or owls, some like Disney movies, some like Harry Potter, and the list goes on and on. For me, it was dinosaurs, followed by Star Wars, followed by baseball, followed by outer space and NASA (I was a geek even then), which was followed by vampires and on into heavy metal during my teenage years. And herein lays the rub: children’s interests do change, but their room has to stay the same, at least for a little while. If your child is the type who is likely to be obsessed with something one week, only to care less about it the next, then picking a theme for their bedroom may not be the best idea. You are better off going with a color palette and changing some of the minor details, like posters, bed sheets, or border paper, as their interests change. If, on the other hand, your child has shown a prolonged interest in something particular, then that is a great place to develop a theme for their room. The important point is that no matter what your child’s age or how fickle their interests, you should get their input before decorating their room. The operative word in that sentence being: their. It is their bedroom and they are going to have to live in it. Don’t take it upon yourself to decide what their room should look like. You probably couldn’t tell it from the list of interests described above, but I am a girl. I was always a bit of a tomboy, and I’m pretty sure that had my mother decided to paint my room pink, I would have cried my eyes out. Even if your child is very young, you should try to should include them in the process of decorating their room in some way. At the very least, you could bring home some paint samples from the store and let them pick the one they like best. The trick would be to pre-select some colors that you like, and let them narrow it down. That way, they won’t pick something you think 48 INTERIOR NEW YORK I FEBRUARY 2010
is hideous. The main difficulty in decorating a child’s room will come if you have more than one child and they have to share the same room. This is especially true if they are a girl and a boy, or if they are of very different ages. They may have completely different tastes and you may not be able to reconcile the two. In this case, I would recommend picking a color palette for your decorating scheme that is not gender specific. Whatever you do, don’t pick baby pink or lavender for a room that a boy and a girl must share. Choose bright, primary colors like yellows, blues, reds, or all three. In addition, try to create a separate space in the room for each child where they can display their own artwork, hobbies, or toy collections. This may not be possible if space is limited, but it has been my experience that there comes a time in every child’s life when they want their own space. As I mentioned earlier, there are two basic ways to decorate a child’s room: by color palette or by theme. If you are decorating by color, you can pick a single color (like purple), several shades of the same color (like purple and lavender), or several coordinated colors (like lavender, pink, and purple). You can also go with bright, contrasting colors like yellow, red, and blue. If you go with this last option, you have to decide if you want to paint the walls a single color or paint each wall a different color (this looks cool but will be more expensive). If you decide to paint the walls a single color but still want contrast, get accents like artwork, pillows and bedding that will
Decorating a child’s bedroom should be fun achieve the desired result. If you are going to go with a theme, the first thing that you, or preferably your child, will have to decide is what that theme will be. There are nearly infinite possibilities in terms of bedroom themes, and these possibilities are really only limited by your imagination. Some popular children’s bedroom themes include: outer space, flowers, moon and stars, trains, race cars, sports, flowers, fairies, butterflies, cowboys, forest, jungle, pirates, dinosaurs, bugs, animals, castles, knights, princesses, favorite books, characters, musicians and movies. After you choose a theme, the next thing you have to decide is how to paint the room. You can either do this simple by picking a color, or colors, to match this theme, or you can go the decidedly more time consuming and expensive route of using the walls to create an immersive environment for your child. In case I’ve confused you, let me simplify. Let’s say you FEBRUARY 2010 I INTERIOR NEW YORK
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are going with the first option of painting the room a single color and your child wants a NY Jets themed room. You can paint the room the green with white woodwork (the team’s colors) and then get some decorative touches, like boarder paper, posters and sports memorabilia, to reinforce the theme. If your child likes the Jets but you want to do something more elaborate, you can paint a mural on the wall of a football field complete with little players. Wall murals are a great idea for a wide variety of themes, provided you have some artistic ability or the money to hire someone who does. Even people with limited artistic ability can do some simple themed painting on the walls. For example, you could paint the ceiling midnight blue paint some white dots for stars. You could then improve the look by getting some glow in the dark stars or “wall clings” of planets or space ships. If you are artistically inclined, or money is no object, the sky is the limit. Murals can be painted on a single wall or in a single corner of the room, or they can take up all four walls. You could paint rolling hills of green on the walls, with a sunrise coming up over them which fades into a sky blue ceiling complete with clouds. You could paint a dense forest of jungle with trees, vines, monkeys, birds, etc., poking out from around every corner. For a pirate theme, you could paint an ocean around the bottom half of the room complete with pirate ships which fade into a sunset sky. If you like the idea of a mural, but you can’t paint or funds are limited, there literally hundreds of types of wallpaper murals that widely available and relatively inexpensive. Take a look around the internet and see what’s available. Just be sure to measure the room so you get the right size. Once you have the walls finished, it’s time to think about the furniture and decorative touches. As far as furniture is concerned: the simpler, the better. The furniture is not really an appropriate place to buy something themed. Don’t get your child an expensive race car bed that they will grow out of and be embarrassed by when they become an adolescent. Simple, light colored wood grained furniture works best; it is timeless and will be appropriate no matter how many times you decide to redecorate or repaint. If you want to get painted furniture, go with something neutral like white with a wood grain top. If you absolutely have to have brightly colored furniture, just keep in mind that if you decide to repaint the room, you will either have to pick a color scheme that goes with the furniture color, or you will have to paint the furniture to match the new color scheme. As far as what furniture you will need is concerned: a bed, a dresser, and a toy chest are probably the absolute basic necessities. In addition, you will need some kind of flat workspace, either a desk or a table, and a chair. A book case or some shelving where your child can store their books is
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also a good idea. If your child’s room does not have a closet, or you think you will need additional storage for clothes or toys, you can also get a wardrobe. Another option would be to get colorful, stackable storage bins to store toys or out of season clothes. Just make sure not to stack them too high so your child can get at them without toppling the whole mess down on themselves. Which brings me to another point: keep in mind that you are decorating this room for a child, not an adult. Try to keep things low to the ground. There is no point in putting a clothes hook on the back of the door if your child won’t be able to reach it. Use storage containers and shelving that is at a low enough level that your child can easily reach their belongings. Accidents can happen when children start climbing on the furniture to reach what they want. Also, try to avoid getting furniture with sharp corners. Pointed edges on furniture are usually inconveniently located around a child’s eye level. Look for furniture with smooth or curved edges to avoid accidents. Also, in terms of safety, keep electrical cords hidden and out of sight and put socket covers on unused electrical outlets. Enough with the lecture- now for the fun stuff! Once you’ve got the walls painted, the furniture in place, and removed any hazards, it’s time for the decorative touches. Posters, framed art, sculpture, fabrics, bedding, curtains, area rugs, lighting, border paper wall clings, toy collections, and your children’s own
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artwork and projects can all be used to add personality to the room or to reinforce a theme. If your decorating scheme is a simple color palette, get decorative and functional items that compliment this palette without making it redundant. If the walls are painted purple with white woodwork, don’t get purple sheets and a purple comforter. Get white sheets with purple polka dots or stripes. Get some solid color pillow cases and some with polka dots, stripes, or a color coordinated animal print. Include framed art that goes with your color scheme but adds some contrast. If it is a themed bedroom, use your imagination. For example, if the theme is tennis, try using a net as the backboard behind the bed and add some crisscrossed tennis rackets to the wall. Get some tennis related border paper to go around the room or make a stencil and paint it yourself. Make a sculpture out of tennis balls or strategically nail tennis balls to the wall to spell out your child’s name. Finish the look off with posters of your child’s favorite tennis star or an enlarged portrait of your child playing tennis. If you don’t think you are that creative, but are desperate to give your child their dream room, take a look and see what other people have done. Look through magazines (like this one), books, and the internet to see what’s out there. Get inspired, and most importantly, include your child! Like I said earlier, chances are that they know what they like, and they won’t be afraid to tell you.
INTERIOR NEW YORK DIRECTORY AIR QUAILTY Rabbit Air 1 888 866 8862 ARCHITECTURE Avalon Designs 5922 18th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11204 718 236-8600 Maviz 718 305-5990 APPLIANCES Drimmers Home Appliance 1608 Coney Island Ave Brooklyn, NY 11230 718 338-3500 www.drimmers.com See ad page 1
BATH B & H Home Expressions 728 kings Highway Brooklyn, NY 11223 718 513-3700 www.bhhomeexpressions.com Home & Stone 1663 Coney Island Ave Brooklyn, NY 11230 718-787-1000 See ad inside front cover BLINDS Monmouth Beach Plantainn Shutters 866 215 4265 732 229 3630 www.mbshutters.com See ad page 23 Bella Window Treatments
S&W Appliance 162 Wallabout St Brooklyn NY 11206 718 387-8660
Serving the 5 Boros, New Jersey, Long Island and Westchester Appointments 7 Days a Week
www.BellaWindowTreatments.com CARPET Boro Rug & Carpet 1141 37th St Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 853-3600 www.bororug.com See ad page 21 Quality Carpet 214 Ditmas Ave Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 941-4200 www.qualitycarpet.com KEA Carpets And Kilims 477 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn, NY 11217 718-222-8087 718-222-8487 www.keacarpetsandkilims.com CLOSETS Closet Maven 63 Flushing Ave Unit 318 Brooklyn, NY 11205 718 855-0028 www.cmclosets.com Organize It All 718 812-9916
800 970 8454 Free Shop at Home Service
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Closets by Portwoordwork 718 832-1714 European Closet & Cabinet 214 49th St Brooklyn, NY 11220 800 640-2567 www.europeancloset.com See ad page 34 DOORS Exclusive Doors 376 Flushing Ave Brooklyn, NY 11205 718 246-2200 www.exclusivedoor.com See ad page 2 Grand Doors 1373 39th St. Brooklyn, NY 11219 718-871-2200 www.GrandDoors.com See ad page 5 FABRICS Zarin Fabrics 314 Grand Street New York NY 10002 212-925-6112 www.zarinfabrics.com FOOD Sushi K Bar 718 871-KBAR (5227) www.sushikbar.com
FURNITURE Bay Decorators 216 Ave. U Brooklyn NY 11219 718-769-7772 718-769-8338 See ad page 15
Joseph A Berkowitz
Renaissance Custom Interiors 4305 New Utrecht Ave Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 851-3977 See ad page 28-29
IRON WORK HMH Iron Design 1211 50 St. Brooklyn, NY 11219 718-851-5870 See ad back cover
Expert Furniture Finishing & Repair 718- 851-0927
JEWLERY Simpson 4922 13th avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 871-0120
Designers Corner 2085 Boston Post Road Larchmont 914 834 9170 www.designerscorneronline.com See ad page 27 Cashmore Furniture Corp. 718-491-5577 www.cashmorefurniture.com Michelangelo Designs 2 Main Avenue Passaic NJ 07055 973-779-3200 By Appointment Only www.michelangelodesigns.com See ad page 35
Interiors Inc. 1620 Gerson Dr. Penn Valley, PA 19072 610-949-0487 www.jabinteriors.com
Uniquely Yours Boro Park 11310 48th St Brooklyn NY 718-871.7540 Monsey 44 Main St Monsey NY 845.352.5353
STONE - TILE
Lighting by Design 189 Round Swamp Rd Huntington, NY 11743 631-367-3895 631-367-1015 www.lightbydesign.com
Stone & Bath Gallery 856 - 39 St Brooklyn NY 11232 718 438 4500 See ad page 7
Weiss & Biheller 440 Nepperhan Ave. Yonkers, NY 10701 www.weissandbiheller.com LOCKSMITHS TKO LOCKS & DOORS INC. 1 888 TKO KEYS Neiman Locksmith 917-577-7796 MOULDINGS Moulding Classics Plus 6913 New Utrecht Ave Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 236-3566
PLUMBING SUPPLY Solco Plumbing Supply, inc. 6916 New Utrecht Ave Brooklyn, NY 11228
Monsey Glass 301-309 Roosevelt Avenue Sprint Valley, NY 10977 854-352-2200 See ad page 3
Brookville Cabinet & Design 119 Spruce St Cedarhurst, NY 11516 516 374-4675 www.brookvillecabinet.com
931 Zerega Ave Bronx, NY 10473
Leo Kaplan Ltd 114 East 57th St New York, NY 10022 212-249-6766 212-861-2674
Grand Kitchen & Stone 920 3rd Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11232 718 788-8301
HOME IMPROVMENT Lazarus Home Improvement 718-698-1886 See ad page 42 INTERIOR DESIGNER Wall Art www.bfvi.us Shomer Shabbos
LIGHTING Aura 1355 60th St Brooklyn, NY 11219 718 972-5400 Sunshine Lighting 744 Clinton St Brooklyn, NY 11231 718 768-7000
30 S. Bridge St. Staten Island, NY 10309 718 967-5700 www.classictileny.com See ad page 33 L & T Kitchen Depot 121 11th St Brooklyn, NY 11220 718 492-8282 See ad inside back cover Tile Decor 745 Bedford Ave Brooklyn, NY 11205 718 246-5900
Trim Worx 718 624-6900 See ad page 41
KITCHENS Artistic Kitchen Designs 206 Webster Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11230 800 521-2904 www.artistic-kitchen-designs.com See ad page 53
GLASS
Classic Tile, Inc. 1635 86th St Brooklyn, NY 11214 718 331-2615
413 Liberty Ave Brooklyn, NY 11207
Pedulla Ceramic Tile 4906 20th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11204 718 377-7746 Mosaic World 367 flushing ave Brooklyn NY 11205 718 246-9370 718 246-2298 See ad page 52
209 W. 18th St New York, NY 10011
Main 718-345-1900 See ad pages 56 REAL ESTATE Nord - East Realty Group 718-234-9617 www.nordeastrealtygroup SECURITY BSD Home and Personel 10 Pleasant Ridge Rd. New Hempstead, NY 10977 877 273-9114 See ad page 43
Upholstery L&T Upholstery 10624 Ave D Brooklyn, NY 11236 800 567-0831 718 745-8800 See ad page 42 WINDOWS Window Palace 660 McDonald Ave Brooklyn, NY 11218 718 854-3500
STAIRS All American Stairs 130-23 91st Ave Richmond Hill, NY 11418 718 441-8400
TO BE LISTED NEXT ISSUE CALL 718 854 3773 FEBRUARY 2010 I INTERIOR NEW YORK
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