All posts by Mark Moffa

45 Years of Luxury

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‘Everything Money Can’t Buy’

 

Lifestyle per square foot is becoming the new way to measure luxury resort real estate.
By Camilla McLaughlin

Not too long ago, there was only one “must have” for a new resort — golf. Now, the number of features and amenities almost considered mandatory continues to grow, while qualities such as authenticity, heritage and ties to local culture are emerging as important characteristics. Golf still ranks near the top in desirable resort attributes, but it’s not the only game in town. Shooting, equestrian, paddle boarding, fishing and the arts are only a few options finding their way into the experience, along with a very different slant on food and wine.
Value continues to be an overriding concern for consumers, but a growing number see true value as something not necessarily computed in dollars and cents. Longtime developer David Southworth, principal of Southworth Development, expressed it most accurately when he summed up what makes The Abaco Club in the Bahamas so compelling: “It has everything money can’t buy.”
“I often say instead of price per square foot, it’s lifestyle per square foot and that’s what people are looking for, and that’s their value,” observes Tina Necrason, vice president of residential for Montage Hotels and Resorts. “Just being nice and well-appointed isn’t luxury anymore.”
Lifestyle per square foot often begins with a well-thought-out vision where the local culture is subtly integrated into the resort experience. The end result is a place where owners become part of the story and the heritage of the region winds through every aspect of the resort.
At Hualalai Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island, a group called Alaka’i Nalu, named to honor the spirt of Polynesian voyagers, acts as ambassadors of the waves. “You can go out and paddle with them. People love it, because you get the fitness components and being out on some incredibly beautiful water, but there is also the cultural experience,” says Pat Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of Hualalai Resort, recalling one excursion in which his guide talked about how his family had paddled the same waters for generations. “You then get the sense this is deeper than just let’s go out and paddle and have fun. It’s not overdone, but it gives you a better connection to what you are experiencing.”
“You can’t fake those authentic experiences, especially in places with substance and history,” observes Tyler Niess, vice president and chief marketing officer for Crescent Communities, the developer of Palmetto Bluff, a new resort in Bluffton, South Carolina. Here the Lowcountry’s iconic lifestyle is woven into the everyday through architecture, cuisine, history and pursuits such as shooting, fishing and horseback riding. For many at Palmetto Bluff, this heritage is personal. For example, Sara Sanford, program director at the Palmetto Bluff Shooting Club, grew up on a nearby plantation. She describes the sporting clays course as “golf with guns.” For Jay Walea, director of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, attachment to the land goes back to childhood. The commitment is real; Palmetto Bluff even employs a full-time archeologist.

At Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina, the Wilson Landing Boat Club and adjacent Canoe Club restaurant grounds offer a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Lowcountry aesthetic in the region’s rich architectural heritage. Boating, fishing, shooting, hiking and equestrian pursuits all celebrate the sporting life.
Photo courtesy Crescent Communities

A trip on the water at Hualalai in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, becomes more than just a nice paddle under the guidance of the Alaka’i Nalu, the resort’s ambassadors of the ocean, comprising some of the state’s best watermen and women.
Photo courtesy Hualalai Resort

Outdoor living is a hallmark at Calistoga Ranch in Calistoga, California, where living and dining in the trees becomes an everyday pastime along with the ultimate — an outdoor shower.
Photo courtesy SB Architects

The award-winning, 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Palmetto Bluff’s May River Golf Club celebrates the natural setting as much as the nuances of the game. Tee boxes and fairways feature eco-friendly turf, while Nicklaus selected sand from Ohio to withstand the coastal climate.
Photo courtesy Crescent Communities

At the Montage Kapalua Bay on Maui, much is made of the aloha spirit and it’s not just marketing jargon. Rather, the spirit seems embodied in the attitude of the staff beginning with the welcome from the valet. It’s not unusual for staff members such as Silla Kaina, the resort’s cultural ambassador, to mention growing up nearby. Owners sometimes call upon her to give their new residence a traditional Hawaiian blessing or for help with another tradition — naming the home. “I think her passion and her story — because of who she is, and her family has been there for so long — helps you live like a local. And that’s what people are really looking for,” explains Necrason.
A focus on the guest experience is traditionally a hallmark of excellence, but it has been elevated to seem effortless and it also pervades every aspect from neighborhood development to the way food is sourced. It also raises the bar for existing resorts. For example, Southworth now has a person in his company whose sole responsibility is enhancing the brand experience. It might be something as simple as finding a better way to do fresh-squeezed orange juice, or as complicated as a memorable way to enhance their reciprocity program.
Another area often revisited is security. “It’s important,” says Southworth, “because we are selling that comfort and peace of mind.” Security is also part of another overriding value today — family, which affects everything from residence design to programming.

Photo courtesy SB Architects

Photo courtesy SB Architects


“What’s important to families is this togetherness,” says Necrason. For many families, a resort home is the one place where they can let their kids go out and play. When Necrason visits resorts such as Palmetto Bluff, she says she will often look out and “see kids riding their bikes on the brick roads. It’s like a step back in time.”
Children’s dining rooms might be a thing of the past, but activities for families and children are flourishing. In the Caymans, Dart Realty, the developer of a new Kimpton resort, Seafire, on Seven Mile Beach, announced plans for an adjacent children’s resort. In addition to some amazing venues, the goal, according to Jackie Doak, Dart Realty’s chief operating officer, is to provide ways for parents and grandparents to interact with children. Doak also sees this focus on families as part of wellness. “What you do to reconnect with your family is as much part of the equation as healthcare per se. Spending time with people important to you is critical to your wellbeing,” she says.
Spas continue to gain in importance, often assuming the status of a resort within a resort. “Spas are getting bigger; they are getting more elaborate, more differentiated and more connected to the place,” says Scott Lee, president and principal of SB Architects, using the example of the spa at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico. Set on 3 acres, the 20,000-square-foot facility is a place where guests can stay for the entire day. “It’s a full-blown adventure, and it’s different from the resort. It’s not just the resort extended to the spa,” explains Lee.

Photo courtesy Hualalai Resort

Photo courtesy Hualalai Resort

Image courtesy Crescent Communities

Image courtesy Crescent Communities

One the biggest changes in the last decade, according to Fitzgerald, is the emphasis on food and beverage as an experience. Hualalai has six restaurants, a number of which have been revamped in the last few years to meet preferences for more casual dining.
Huge dining areas are also being replaced with a number of options in different-sized restaurants, including some very small specialty venues for sushi, or maybe tequila bar, observes Lee.
Also significant is the emphasis on local sourcing, which aligns with ties to local culture as well as wellness. “We now source our food from 160 to 200 different vendors right within Hawaii, and most on our island, so it’s a true farm-to-table experience,” says Fitzgerald.
Craft spirits, craft beers, premium wines, and farm-to-table food in a very casual setting are all trends, according to Lee. “People don’t want to be too fussy, certainly when on vacation. They don’t want seven courses. They want somebody to bring out a giant platter of fish they just caught. Or maybe you caught the fish.” Like many resorts, Hualalai has a local farmers’ market once a week on the property. Also in demand at some locations is space at the resort for residents to have their own garden or participate in a garden.
“People love how things are made. If you combine that desire to understand how things are made and their desire to consume super-high-quality stuff like food and wine … that’s like Nirvana,” says Lee.
For some, Nirvana is 18 holes of golf on an idyllic course. Resorts might not be designed around a golf course, but developers say it’s still important. Chances are resorts without a golf component have an excellent course nearby. Southworth says “as much as golf has changed, I think it’s still the same. Courses are long, but they are coming back to being more fair. There was a time in golf where harder was better, but that’s gone by the wayside.” And when it comes to golf, some resorts are upping their game. For example, Hualalai introduced some dynamic spaces to refresh with special ice cream and other options along their course.
All of which only increase the lifestyle per square foot quotient.

The Residences At Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico.
Image courtesy SB Architects

The Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Caroline Bay, Bermuda.
Photo courtesy SB Architects

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NYC Interior Designer Lili Hart Boasts A Classic Contemporary Style

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LILI HART’S MIX OF OLD AND NEW CREATES MODERN SPACES WITH AN AUTHENTIC FEEL

By Samantha Myers

Clients come to New York-based interior designer Lili Hart for a multitude of reasons. Perhaps it’s her fresh approach to a classic style; her cozy, comfortable interiors; her utilization of fine art; or maybe it’s her expertise in mixing contemporary with a style of the past. While the face of Hart’s interiors may read as contemporary, it’s the classic details that stand as the backbone to her designs — the antique features, the glimmer of history — and it is this knowledge and appreciation for the past that began her interest in interior design in the first place.

“My parents’ idea of a great afternoon was antiquing,” says Hart, who grew up in a classic American home. “I spent a lot of time around antique furniture — they had a great collection and that’s what initially got me interested.” When Hart finished college, she talked her parents into buying her a 1905 Victorian fixer-upper, which she proceeded to work on for several years. “That exposed me to so much. I did most of it myself, so I learned a lot. Then I went back east and enrolled in the New York School of Interior Design.”

Hart’s interior design experience flourished when she began working for renowned designer Jeffrey Bilhuber right out of school, with whom she worked for five years before starting her own firm in 2007 — Liliane Hart Interiors. From Bilhuber, Hart learned how to manage large-scale projects scattered across the country, and how to mix the high with the low. “Clients don’t necessarily want to spend millions of dollars on things. Jeffrey is a master of having beautiful pieces in the room and mixing really simple things that aren’t expensive. He embraced all the furniture or items that clients wanted to use; he worked well with the things that they brought, whether it was a wonderful piece or not.”

Whatever Hart’s clients’ reasons may be for coming to her, she aims to give them all positive design experiences and beautiful interiors that express their personalities and styles. “For me, the clients’ needs come first. Whatever their requirements are in a project, that is the jumping off point for us. Because if they’re not happy, we’re not happy. And that’s where we get our initial inspiration, and when we begin to infuse our own taste, style and design around them.”

In addition to finding inspiration from her clients, she and her team also study the past. “We look at historic houses. We look at different wood trim techniques such as wainscoting. There’s a nice quality of things that look older, or authentic, that my clients really respond to.”

In a recent side project, Hart worked with an architect to build and design a classic Victorian Shingle-style home in Martha’s Vineyard, from start to finish. “The original house was there,” says Hart. “We knocked it down and built it from scratch. But no one assumes that from entering the home.” Like Hart’s style, the home stayed true to the past, with a fresh, contemporary facelift. Meeting her client’s admiration of vintage bathroom pieces, Hart embarked on a labor of love to find, source and install bathroom components from the 1900s — a difficult, if not impossible task. “All the bathrooms, including the fixtures and sconces, were from the early 1900s. We amazingly found this artist, a master plumber, who put them all together and installed them.”

Hart’s favorite room in a home to design is the den, library, or an evening room. “I find that those rooms are usually very cozy or intimate.
Clients use them more privately. I like to create a little jewel box — dark and relaxing, with mood lighting and a little shimmer. Something really special.”

This year, Hart participated in the Traditional Home 2016 Hampton Designer Showhouse in Bridgehampton, Long Island. Given just several weeks, Hart was asked to design the master bath, which she covered in a “watercolor, large gingham-patterned”
Eskayel wallpaper and featured a soaking tub and terry cloth chair, intending to create a “sanctuary of ethereal colors.”

“What I’m told most about my style is that I have a good sense of color and an ability to layer color and a pattern in a soft, but subtle way — I think that’s what people like most about my designs,” says Hart. Although continuously looking into the past for inspiration, Hart is not afraid to look forward. “Collaborating with clients and working with different styles is exciting for me. I definitely see growth in our future.”

Lili Hart's Classic Contemporary Style

On 5th Avenue in New York City, Hart’s design of this apartment exudes Southern living in Manhattan, with an emphasis on soft color and subtle patterns. Photo courtesy Chuck Baker (room) and Annie Watt (Lili).

Hart crafted this bright master bath for the Traditional Home 2016 Hampton Designer Showhouse. Photo Courtesy Marco Ricca.

In New York City’s Tribeca, Hart designed a fashionable loft for a downtown family who loves color. Photo courtesy Chuck Baker.

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Active Lifestyles Are Driving Developers to Rethink Transportation

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Active lifestyles are driving consumer demand for walking and biking trails, causing developers and urban planners to rethink transportation.

By Camilla McLaughlin

Photo courtesy Visit Denver; ©Stevie Crecelius

What will shape cities of the future? Infrastructure, say experts at the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

ULI and a number of urban planners expect new modes of transportation such as shared cars and self-driving vehicles to change everything in cities, from the number of parking spaces to traffic. But these options are only a small part of transportation’s new paradigm, which takes into account multiple modes of navigation, especially in urban centers. Already a number of cities are committed to this vision, and are developing infrastructure to diversify transportation. Fourteen cities have heavy rail; 28 have light rail, which is growing fastest in the Southwest; and rapid bus transit is a reality in 36 cities.

Now planners and developers are also looking closely at bicycling and walking, which they consider active transportation. Not only are cities building trails and safer roadways for bikes, but a new generation of offices, mixed-use communities, and even resorts, incorporate biking and walking into the lifestyle they offer. And developers and homeowners are discovering these amenities have a big payoff. According to ULI, studies show that direct access to trail, bike-sharing systems, and bike lanes positively impact property values. As an example, they point to homes within a quarter mile of the Radnor Trail, part of Philadelphia’s Circuit regional trail network, where values on average were $69,000 higher than other area properties.

“Bicycling has recently undergone a renaissance in locations across the world, with an increasing number of people taking to the streets by bike,” observed the authors of a new report on active transportation published by ULI.

Worldwide, two-wheeled vehicles have traditionally been an accepted means of transportation, but usage has skyrocketed in recent years. Transport London found cycling in the city recently reached its highest rate since it began keeping a record. Bicycles outnumber cars on the road in Amsterdam, with the number of local trips increasing by more than 40 percent since the 1990s. In Copenhagen, the first two phases of a 311-mile network of cycle superhighways have been completed. Right now these two completed routes connecting the city with suburbs have between 3,500 and 4,000 users per weekday.

In the U.S., bicycling and walking were not historically considered part of the transportation continuum, but infrastructure improvements and the addition of bikeways and walking trails such as the High Line in New York or the BeltLine in Atlanta are boosting interest and moving walking and biking into the transportation conversation. “Cities that are investing in bike infrastructure are seeing big increases in bike use,” said Ed McMahon, coauthor of “Active Transportation and Real Estate, The Next Frontier,” speaking at a panel on trail-oriented development at ULI’s spring conference.

There is good reason that walkable has become real estate’s newest mantra. According to ULI, 50 percent of U.S. residents say walkability is a top priority or a high priority when considering where to live. 

Build It and They Will Come

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that the number of people who traveled to work by bike increased by roughly 62 percent between 2000 and 2014. But ULI found that rates generally exceed the national average when cities invest in bicycle infrastructure, including new configurations for bike lanes, an increased number of protected bike lanes, and trail systems.

It’s no accident that Portland, Oregon, has the highest bicycle commuting rate among large U.S. cities — 7.2 percent compared to the less than 1 percent on the national average. That is a 400-percent hike since 1990. Transit in that period only increased by 18 percent, while driving declined 4 percent. The catalyst was a 300-mile network of bike trails, bike lanes and bike boulevards. The cost in 2008 was approximately $60 million, about the same as a single mile of a four-lane urban freeway.   

Minneapolis, where 4.7 percent of the residents commute by bike (the second highest rate in the U.S.), has a long-term goal of having 15 percent of citywide transportation be by bike, and ULI’s experts say that’s not an unrealistic goal. Copenhagen and Amsterdam have bicycle commuting rates exceeding 40 percent.

Portland and Minneapolis may be setting the pace, but a number of other cities including San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Chicago report growing interest in biking, not just as a sport, but as a viable mode of urban transportation.

Banking on Biking

In recent years, the focus for planners has been transit-oriented development — mixed-use communities clustered around transit hubs. Some new communities are taking this a step further and adding active transportation, walking and biking, to their lifestyle focus. Hassalo on Eighth, a mixed-use project in Portland, Oregon, combines transit-oriented and trail-oriented development. Located near major bike routes and also with access to transit and light rail, it is the largest residential development in the city. With parking for 1,200 bikes, it also houses the largest bicycle parking facility in North America, open to both residents and area employees.

Bike amenities at Hassalo on Eighth are similar to those offered in a number of new communities across the country, and include on-site bike valet service, with bike tune-ups an option. Vending machines make parts for simple repairs readily available. And shower and locker room facilities will enable local bicyclists to change and shower after commuting.

In Atlanta, along the award-winning Atlanta BeltLine, a burgeoning 22-mile network of public parks, multiuse trails and transit facilities, new developments promoting a car-free lifestyle are springing up. Post recession, Ponce City Market, a mixed-use development in a historic warehouse adjacent to the Atlanta BeltLine, is the city’s largest redevelopment project. A walkway connects a new public plaza, the development and the trail, promoting access for both bikes and pedestrians. Jamestown Companies, the project’s developers, observed: “Ponce City Market’s direct connection to the BeltLine is one of the best amenities we have to offer our communities. It is not only an easy way to access the market’s amenities, it also provides our tenants with a great green space that connects them directly to growing neighborhoods.”

Many of the bike amenities at the Ponce City Market are shared by other new, trail-oriented communities. Five hundred spaces allow ample parking for residents and visitors in a secure facility. The development includes retail space and a large central food hall with venders and restaurants, which also makes it a destination on the BeltLine. A free service enables visitors to ride up to the building and leave their bikes with the entrance valet. Hallways and elevators are extra wide to accommodate bikes, so residents can maneuver bikes around the properties. And a bike workroom makes it easy for residents to repair bikes.

In Minneapolis, MoZaic, a mixed-use office building, was developed facing the Midtown Greenway, a 5.5-mile commuter trail that connects to the Uptown Transit Center. To ensure access, the developer, the Ackerberg Group, worked with a nearby development and local officials to construct a bicycle and pedestrian bridge to the Midtown Greenway.

The Flats at Bethesda Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland, a mixed-use development on the site of a former parking lot, is located along an 11-mile Capital Crescent Trail, with runs between Washington, D.C., Bethesda and Silver Spring, Maryland, and is one of the busiest trails in the U.S. with roughly a million users per year. Residents have the option of commuting to work via bike. Additionally, on-site retail establishments attract bicyclists and pedestrians, and the building includes bike parking for the public. An on-site public garage offers a bicycle drop off so commuters can drive to The Flats at Bethesda Avenue, drop off a bike, park in the underground garage and then complete their commute on their bike.

Resorting to Bikes

When Charles Fraser built Sea Pines, bike paths were part of the plan, and it was a bit revolutionary at the time. Today, thanks to a groundswell from residents, those original 15 miles have expended to 112 miles all over Hilton Head, South Carolina. Savvy resort developers understand the value bike amenities and trails can bring, and new resorts often are making walking, hiking and biking as important an amenity as golf.

The number of bike-share stations in a given area is depicted here. A total of 46 bike-share systems operate the 2,655 stations in the U.S. For a fee, users can grab a bike at any docking station and then return the bike to another station in the system. Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Intermodal Passenger Connectivity Database (as of Feb. 2, 2016)

The number of bike-share stations in a given area is depicted here. A total of 46 bike-share systems operate the 2,655 stations in the U.S. For a fee, users can grab a bike at any docking station and then return the bike to another station in the system.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Intermodal Passenger Connectivity Database (as of Feb. 2, 2016)

No Bike, No Problem

Another catalyst for bike infrastructure and trail-oriented development comes from bike-share programs. Anyone who has walked by bike-sharing stations in New York or Washington, D.C., might think this is just another way for tourists to get around the city. But the data and anecdotes tell a different story. Not only are shared bikes a catalyst boosting the number of riders in a city, but they also fill an important gap in the transportation continuum — that last mile between train, subway or parked car to a planned destination. And indications are that bike sharing also pays off with heightened home values. For example, according to ULI, homes in Montreal saw an average increase of $6,123 (U.S.) after the installation of local bike-share stations.

Boulder, Colorado, is not a place where one would expect to see bicycles as an alternative to cars, especially when you take the weather and the terrain into consideration. Yet, Boulder B-cycle, which launched five years ago, is one of the densest bike-sharing programs in the country when measured in terms of stations per capita. “We saw nearly 85,000 trips in 2015, which was close to a 100-percent increase over the previous year’s trips,” says Kevin Bell, marketing and communications director for the program. One-way trips especially have increased, and Bell says people typically use them in concert with commuting, where they will park their car and then use the bikes for quick errands around town during the day. The biggest challenge, Bell says, has been to have people understand that bike share is different than bike ownership.

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If These Floors Could Talk

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“If these walls could talk.” It’s a phrase frequently used to describe places of historical significance, from seats of government to opulent palaces. One unique restoration company believes floors can tell stories just as intriguing as walls.

By Sarah Binder

PHOTO COURTESY ANTIQUE PARQUET

PHOTO COURTESY ANTIQUE PARQUET. Restoration of the Palais Larisch-Mönnich, the Iraqi Embassy in Vienna, Austria.


Antique Parquet, based in Austria, rescues, collects and expertly restores historic parquet, plank and geometric parquet flooring across Europe. Clients from around the world can welcome the 18th and 19th centuries into their homes by working with the company to carefully select rare antique flooring in a variety of stunning patterns.
“Our founder Thomas Reiner began his career as a furniture restorer, soon expanding his workshop and restoring whole museums, which were often left in a most neglected state (their exhibit pieces as well as the buildings themselves),” explains Roland Hemedinger, head of international sales. “He soon saw that many antique parquets were not preserved, but rather demolished and discarded. He sensed a unique chance and started Antique Parquet to specialize in the restoration, preservation and trade of antique floors.”
Antique Parquet prides itself on possessing the largest variety of patterns and stock available for purchase. For clients of the most discerning nature, the company has a portfolio of floors with a particularly prominent provenance, which are presented to special clients upon request only. “Our clients acquire an artifact that was carefully restored and preserved. Incorporating this into modern architecture poses a unique chance to stand out,” says Hemedinger.
The company not only rescues and restores flooring, it also performs meticulously skilled installations after a thorough, personalized assessment with each client, which begins by determining the preferred pattern, square footage needed, and availability of the product. “We also communicate the historical background, forgotten technical details, and, if available, the provenance, to our clients,” explains Hemedinger.
The historical significance of Antique Parquet’s inventory and portfolio of work is astounding. Early this year, the team completed the restoration of one of the largest and best-preserved castles in Europe, Austria’s medieval Hohensalzburg Castle. It is currently working on the ongoing restoration of the parquets of a private apartment at the Place des Vosges in Paris, the oldest planned city square in the city, built from 1605 to 1612.
PHOTO COURTESY ANTIQUE PARQUET

PHOTO COURTESY ANTIQUE PARQUET


Antique Parquet salvages flooring from equally impressive locales, such as an ornamental inlay centerpiece made of mahogany, maple, rosewood and nut from the late baroque residence of Empress Maria Theresia, the Hetzendorf Palace. The material is highlighted by rich ornaments and a thick veneer.
Despite these prestigious landmarks, Hemedinger’s favorite project was for a private client. “The project I liked most was the flooring in a penthouse we did in one of the fashionable residential skyscrapers in an international metropolis,” he reflects. “The interior was done in kind of a Brutalist style, and our 18th century parquet gained more attention as an artifact, rather than serving as a simple floor.”
Upon installation, clients should expect the need for minor adjustments and restorations. Hemedinger recommends that such precious parquets be serviced by specialist restoration companies rather than flooring companies.
In addition, Antique Parquet uses wax as a final treatment on its products, the historical surface treatment of choice for preservation. Modern lacquers may cause damage and also eliminate natural reflections occurring as sunlight strikes the patterns. “The unique patina that was gained over the years is carefully preserved and can’t be replaced or replicated,” notes Hemedinger. “It’s also the visual proof that our floors witness the centuries pass.”
Antique flooring presents homeowners and interior designers with the versatility to recreate a classic interior or to integrate a historic element into a contemporary setting. “By using truly antique materials, the former option leads to a truly authentic atmosphere,” he says. “The latter usage blends elements of history in a most eclectic way, highlighting craftsmanship and quality, much like an artifact in a museum.”
Moving forward, the company hopes to publish a book in the next few years containing insights into its large, varied collection; restoration expertise; and selected notable projects. In recent years, Hemedinger has observed a shift in clients’ thinking to embrace modern uses for these historic materials.
“We certainly see a raised international attention in our unique parquets compared to a few years ago, and we’re always keen to communicate and realize other applications for our parquets, such as wall paneling,” he says. “We’re starting to see a change of taste and a whole new awareness of the quality that historical floors hold within.”
PHOTO COURTESY ANTIQUE PARQUET. Thomas Reiner, owner and chief restorer of Antique Parquet, at work.

PHOTO COURTESY ANTIQUE PARQUET. Thomas Reiner, owner and chief
restorer of Antique Parquet, at work.


PHOTO COURTESY ANTIQUE PARQUET. Antique Parquet’s warehouse is in a 17th century alpine chalet near Kitzbühel, Austria.

PHOTO COURTESY ANTIQUE PARQUET. Antique Parquet’s warehouse is in a 17th century alpine chalet near Kitzbühel, Austria.

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Q&A with Interior Designer Drew McGukin

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‘I Could Live Here’

Drawing much of his inspiration from meeting new people and traveling to off-the-beaten-path locations, Drew McGukin designs interiors that incorporate a touch of the unexpected while evoking a sense of comfort and ease.
By Sarah Binder

Drew_McGukin
Drew McGukin, of Drew McGukin Interiors, graduated from The New York School of Interior Design in May 2010 and promptly launched his own firm in October of that year. Known for tackling his projects with a unique level of energy, great pace, and high integrity, his Manhattan-based firm currently has projects in Manhattan, the Hamptons, North Carolina, and the West Coast. He cites his continued relationship with the American Society of Interior Designers at the national level as a notable achievement of his already-storied design pedigree, which is poised to achieve new heights.
How did you realize that you were destined for a career in interior design?
I sold real estate for 10 years in Atlanta. I bought, renovated, and helped conceptualize a lot of properties with clients over that time. It was really through that process that I became interested in design and realized that it seemed like a good match for me.
How do you balance a client’s needs with your unique design style?
We start with the client’s needs and try to tailor each project to exactly what the client is hoping for. We try to get into their heads to understand what they see when they close their eyes and envision their space. Often, there’s a bit of figuring out what the client truly wants. Our own personal approach is combining functionality with comfort. We want our clients to enjoy being in their homes; we try to guide what they want in order to achieve something that is both comfortable and functional.
Do you have a favorite room in the home to work within? What is it about this space that motivates you?
It’s always hard to have to choose a favorite. I don’t think that I have an exact favorite, but I do really enjoy spaces where people are actually going to live, such as a small den or a living room. I like places where you’re going to curl up and cuddle up with people. I do feel like I have a knack for bedrooms, as well. I’m always surprised by how much I enjoy bedroom redesigns. They’re clean and serene. I’m always drawn to the master bedroom. I think, ‘you know, I could live here.’ Bedrooms need layers of texture and light, as well as different variations of fabrics and textiles.
 
Can you tell us about your favorite project thus far in your career?
I would have to say the Chelsea High Rise. The client was young; she was 26 years old. She just got design; she didn’t hold back and she let us do our thing. She loved that and loved the process. The elegant use of bold colors is the highlight of that project.
Give us an example of an “aha!” moment on a project.
I think budget is always an example of that; I think you always come up against the client wanting more than they can genuinely afford, especially on big renovation projects. But in the end, you always hit a point where you think, ‘Wow. We pulled it off. We found the compromise.’
What is your favorite element of your own home?
One of the aspects that I really love about my own space is that we designed a lot of custom furnishings for it. Every once in a while, when I create a piece for a client that I think is really great, I create a second one for my own home. If I were able to design a dream home for myself, it would be in an exotic, warm place that is very remote and quiet. One of the things that I would really love is a general openness of both indoor and outdoor space.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I travel a great bit, and I’m a wine collector. I’m a huge fan of aged Bordeaux wines; that’s my number one wine choice. I love exotic places. My next trip is to the Galapagos Islands. I love going to places that I haven’t been before; I don’t know that I have a specific favorite, but I prefer places that can teach me something. I’ve been to Paris a million times, and I love it, but I’m probably going to chase something more interesting on most trips.
With a relatively young career in interior design, what’s next?
We’ve completed a variety of different styles of homes and a variety of different styles of work. I do like that part of our business. One thing that has been a surprise to me is the amount of furniture design that has grown out of what we have done for our clients. I didn’t realize I had that kind of knack in me. We’re looking to just continue to get ‘bigger, better, and more’ in terms of the scale of our projects. Also, stay tuned for some furniture line opportunities that are in the works and brewing.
An East Hampton living room redesign features a custom coffered ceiling, millwork detailing, and a fireplace surround. In addition to the interior finishes, McGukin designed the central daybed as a custom furniture piece to complement the client’s existing collection of Mid-Century antiques.
This East Village townhouse renovation married existing historic plaster ceiling details with a fresh “California Modern” design direction from the client. McGukin created a fresh spin on traditional New York by contrasting clean-lined walnut and blackened steel interior finishes with traditional molding throughout the space.
McGukin warmed up this Industrial SoHo loft by adding softer, artful layers. He weaved together sculptural lighting and one-off furnishings in a way that feels approachable and sophisticated, without losing a sense of true loft living.
The loose back pillows and refined proportions of this custom McGukin “LT sofa” create a perfect mix of comfort and beauty.
**All photographs used in this blog post courtesy of Brett Beyer**
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Style: One Designer's Unique Sense of Style

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Jenny’s Journey

Throughout life’s journey, Jenny Wolf has picked up and inherited a distinct sense of style, which continues to influence her aesthetic.
By Kirsten Niper
 

 
Jenny Jones Updated Headshot
Jenny Wolf grew up both in New Orleans, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in a family that was in the furniture business. “I was constantly going to furniture markets, and at a young age I was interested in design,” she shares. “The best birthday present for me was to redesign my bedroom. Sometimes my mom would come home and I had rearranged the living room furniture.”
The look of New Orleans homes and the city’s love of antiques fed Wolf’s appreciation for antique pieces, which today she blends with contemporary furniture and abstract art. Spending time on the coast of South Carolina, Wolf picked up uses of textures such as sea grass, driftwood, coral and relaxed linens. “Everything has an organic feel to it,” Wolf says.
Upon moving to New York City, Wolf worked in retail development and then visual merchandising at Ralph Lauren before attending Parsons School of Design to graduate with a degree in interior design and a concentration in architecture, lighting, furniture color and interior layouts.
Photo Courtesy Emily Gilbert

Photo Courtesy Emily Gilbert


Today, Wolf is based in New York City and is a traditionalist at heart. “Maybe eclectic leaning towards a traditional aesthetic,” Wolf says. When working with clients, she strives to weave personalities with possessions to create interiors that suit their lifestyles and needs.
When meeting with a new client, Wolf starts two dimensional and begins with the floor plan to see what pieces are already in place and what she would like to inject. Then, she asks her clients to pull imagery of pieces they like or of what they’d like to see in the space, and she does the same. “I like to talk through images, because everyone’s definitions of a certain style are different. They also might say what they like in the image and also what they don’t like. It’s about honing in on the style and having inspiration meetings to get a good read on the client.”
“I tend to keep things light and airy, especially in New York City interiors, which sometimes lack natural light and windows. Keeping walls and ceilings light makes the room feel larger,” explains Wolf. Although with smaller rooms, like bathrooms or rooms without windows, Wolf plays with darker colors. “Its counterintuitive, but painting the walls and ceilings darker, or with a dark wallpaper, it creates a depth that goes on forever.”
 

NoHo Loft photos courtesy of Francesco Lagnese

Wolf incorporates lessons or styles from each project she completes moving forward. A lot of the projects Wolf has worked on in the city have been lofts, and one project in NoHo was in an old warehouse with details like galvanized air ducts and exposed wood joists, which she highlighted in her design, but are usually concealed in homes. “Shortly after, I did the Hamptons project and incorporated exposed wood beams on the ceilings to add texture. I love seeing the nuts and bolts and drawing attention to the architecture.” She even incorporated metal chairs in a more traditional dining room design to add an extra layer of interest. “The general architecture of New York City spaces has impacted the direction I’ve gone in,” she shares.
One of Wolf’s most challenging projects was the NoHo loft: “I loved it, but it was a total gut renovation.” The loft was in a deep building that lacked natural light, so Wolf replaced the windows on the back of the loft to bring in as much natural light as possible and spent time trying to figure out the best floor plan to enhance the lighting. It was a labor-intensive job, “but the end result was really beautiful,” shares Wolf.
When faced with a design dilemma, Wolf looks to her favorite designers to see how they would incorporate, or rework, a certain element. “I’ve never worked under an interior designer, but through traveling and work, you have to study a lot of details. It helps to look at people’s work you admire, especially on the construction side. Like, how would Steven Gambrel [architect, interior designer] treat this detail in the millwork?” Wolf is also a huge fan of interior designers Albert Hadly and Bunny Williams.
“I like a healthy mix of old and new,” says Wolf, and that mix guides her designs from New York City lofts to Hamptons estates.
 
HAMPTONS COTTAGE Photo Courtesy Emily Gilbert

HAMPTONS COTTAGE
Photo Courtesy Emily Gilbert

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Asian Fusion: The Asian Antique Business Rising

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Asian Fusion

The Asian antique business in the United States is being shaped by an increase in Chinese homebuyers.
By Kimberly Quevedo


 
In recent years, the relationship between China and the United States has grown, especially in luxury real estate purchases — according to a National Association of Realtors, for the first time buyers from China exceeded all other countries in terms of units purchased and dollar volume in 2015, purchasing an estimated $28.6 billion worth of property. Adding an Asian antique touch to luxury homes isn’t new, but the Asian antique business has changed in the last decade because of this growing relationship, including a change in who the buyers are.
“There certainly has been a transformation by the purchaser and I find that the wholesale business is non-existent,” says Randolph Rose, president of FEA Home (a company specializing in antiques from the Far East and South East Asia) about the last 10 years. “A lot of the retail stores that used to carry antiques no longer carry antiques.”
 
RANDOLPH ROSE SHOWING A SAMPLE OF ANCIENT TERRA COTTA OBJECTS OF ART. Photo courtesy of FEA Home

RANDOLPH ROSE SHOWING A SAMPLE OF ANCIENT TERRA COTTA OBJECTS OF ART.
Photo courtesy of FEA Home


 
Asian antique buyers shifted from department and retails stores to luxury homeowners and interior designers who can purchase these items online. Additionally, these buyers are often in the top 1 percent of the population. “It used to be the middle class would buy antiques for their homes,” said Rose who has been in the antique business since 1972. “More recently, the market for antiques is for more sophisticated, older people that have the dollars to buy it.”
Asian antique buyers are looking for accent pieces, according to Rose. Chinese works of art draw the most interest of all the Asian antiques. “When Chinese buyers come to America from China they also want to have a piece of their history, so besides buying contemporary furniture they want to buy Chinese antiques or accessories to complement their house,” said Rose.
Purchases include simplistic, accent pieces. “A lot of people who have apartments in Manhattan need a place to keep their clothes and place to have a liquor cabinet,” said Rose. “So we have taken a lot of armoires we have found in Japan and China and converted them into bars and clothing chests. We also have hundreds of door panels we purchased that came from temples in India, China and Thailand. Buyers will take different door frames and put them on the fronts of homes or put them in an entryway of someone’s den or dining room.”
In addition to buyers with strong ties to China, Rose has observed an interest from people in South America. “There has been a major influx of wealthy people from South America who are buying these huge apartments in Manhattan,” said Rose. “A client of mine had an apartment that she spent over $30 million for, and she was collecting a lot of my terra cotta pieces that were 2,000 years old. She was one of many people buying these huge apartments in Manhattan who seem to want expensive, collectable accessories.”
 

 
Asian antiques are also expanding internationally. “We just had a whole container shipped to Peru,” said Rose. “We have orders going to Ukraine, Russia, Australia and all over the world. The demand for quality is all over the world.”
All photos courtesy FEA Home.
For more than 50 years, the FEA Home team has traveled throughout the world, curating an eclectic collection of the finest antiques, art and home furnishings. These assorted antique Chinese side and coffee tables, and altar tables, were found in Hong Kong.
A handcarved Chinese armoire with original wood carvings (originally used as a clothing cabinet).
An antique Burmese reclining seated Buddha with ivory eyes, which was found in Bangkok, Thailand.
A hand-painted antique Chinese cabinet, which was found in Mongolia.
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Aerospace Company Embraer Release New Private Planes

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$53 Million Private Jet Reaches New Heights

By Stacey Staum

Photo courtesy Embraer

Photo courtesy Embraer


 
Renowned aerospace company Embraer exceeded expectations recently with the release of its $53 million Lineage private planes. The appeal of the Lineage lies in its unique dimensions, brilliant structural design and limitless customization options.
While the Lineage offers a whopping 4,100 cubic feet of total space, the lightweight and athletic frame allows it to access the coveted Aspen, Teterboro and London City airports, a must for any private jet.
Jay Beever, vice president of interior design for Embraer, explains, “Up until this year, we have been most popular in Europe and the Middle East, but as of this year, North American business jet buyers have been given permission, psychologically, to defect from the private jet and cross over to this new lightweight contender.”
The Lineage recently broke a record for flying from Singapore to Dubai, a 10 hour and 40 minute flight, setting a new
precedent in the industry. Long flights like these have inspired many of the unique amenities and features of the Lineage, allowing owners the ultimate in convenience and practicality while on board.
Open space is a fundamental aspect of the Lineage’s appeal. Beever explains, “In most private jets, when you come off the airstair into the lobby or vestibule, you’re greeted with a wooden wall. With the lineage, you step into an open space, which is a massive, liberated environment. The Lineage allows multiple people to be in one space socially without being on top of each other.”
In fact, one of the challenges the design team faces is not making the plane feel too big. Deciding how to break up the space and figuring out where to place each element is the most daunting aspect because these decisions cannot be changed later, as the metal and plumbing are part of the plane’s super structure.
 
Photo courtesy Embraer

Photo courtesy Embraer


 
The layout on the Lineage is unlike any other private plane, as it is divided into five unique zones. These zones can be customized to the taste of the owner, with a focus on both function and comfort in each space. Each zone can be designed as an office, business suite, dining area or even a bedroom.
Embraer offers the largest television monitor in the industry, a 42-inch display atop a custom credenza, which does not have to be stowed during takeoff and landing. The bedroom can fit a queen-sized bed, and can be designed with a walk-in closet to store luggage.
The Lineage even features a large shower with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the passing clouds. “The Lineage is an overachiever, but it’s ambidextrous at the same time. Because of its airframe and its lightweight engineered nature, we have the ability to put different sized windows on the aircraft. What that concept provided was that we were able to engineer tall vertical windows in between frames,” Beever says.
To Beever, the technology and amenities of the aircraft should provide a subtle, almost invisible, touch of elegance and convenience. “Luxury is the ability to have the digital butler without having to look at him. What that does is it allows you to be more involved with people, space and nature. This means larger windows, not larger LCD screens. Using technology to create stronger airplane structures allows you to bring bigger windows in, bring back the elegance of the journey and enjoy it more, rather than being bombarded with technology. We want to provide people with the opportunity to connect with nature more, rather than synthesize nature with technology.”
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The Ultimate Tree House

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Tree houses are growing in sophistication, detail and size, making them perfect for the young, and the young at heart.

By Lauren Varga King

FAIRYTALE CASTLE TREE HOUSE Photo courtesy Blue Forest

FAIRYTALE CASTLE TREE HOUSE
Photo courtesy Blue Forest


Think back to your childhood. A time when your imagination ran wild with excitement and curiosity. Perhaps you dreamed of tea with Alice in Wonderland. Or you were more of a James Bond on a secret mission. Then again, you may have been the quiet type looking for a hideaway filled with your favorite things. That wanderlust and adventure are no longer loves lost. That’s because luxury tree house designers, like Blue Forest, are building fantasies in the sky for the young, and young at heart.
Blue Forest, an England-based tree house design and construction firm, is making childhood dreams a reality with bespoke luxury tree houses that take advantage of their natural settings.
FIBONACCI TREE HOUSE IMAGINE THIS. Welcome to Fibonacci, where 130 feet of adventurous rope bridges cascade through pine woods, every step suspenseful, yet exciting. You reach the tree deck and take a deep breath before racing down a 75-foot-long stainless steel slide that curves its way through a dense treescape. What a thrill. According to Payne, the thrill-seeker in you will also be pleased with four spacious tree decks, luxury appointments like an outdoor cinema and bar, and a light and airy interior that blurs the lines between indoors and out. Photo courtesy of Blue Forest

FIBONACCI TREE HOUSE
Imagine This.
Welcome to Fibonacci, where 130 feet of adventurous rope bridges cascade through pine woods, every step suspenseful, yet exciting. You reach the tree deck and take a deep breath before racing down a 75-foot-long stainless steel slide that curves its way through a dense treescape. What a thrill.
According to Payne, the thrill-seeker in you will also be pleased with four spacious tree decks, luxury appointments like an outdoor cinema and bar, and a light and airy interior that blurs the lines between indoors and out.
Photo courtesy of Blue Forest


“My brother Andy and I built tree houses as kids,” says Blue Forest Director Simon Payne. “I remember connecting a zip wire to one and spending all our time on it. I remember building a big jungle swing. We were constantly building and expanding.”
Like imaginations, Blue Forests’ luxury tree houses have grown bigger and more detailed over time — in fact the tallest residential tree house climbs about 45 feet into the treetops.
DEER PARK TREE HOUSE DESIGN Photo courtesy Blue Forest

DEER PARK TREE HOUSE DESIGN
Photo courtesy Blue Forest


Payne describes one project, named The Clubhouse, as a “boundless opportunity for adventure.” For starters, it affords a secret tunnel, hidden beneath its deck. Then there’s a concealed room, only accessible through a secret door, hidden within a bookcase. Filling out its under-cover-mission-inspired elements are a wireless CCTV (closed-circuit television) security camera system and two Nerf gun armories. Of course, it also offers a zipline, similar to the one Payne and his brother were so fond of years ago.
“We really believe in the excitement, adventure and the imagination you have as a child,” says Payne. “I think that’s why families come to us. They want a space they can all go and escape the normality of life and give space for imagination and adventure.”
CHEWTON GLEN TREE HOUSE LOUNGE Photo courtesy Chewton Glen

CHEWTON GLEN TREE HOUSE LOUNGE
Photo courtesy Chewton Glen


Turns out, luxury resorts are turning to tree house architecture as well. Take Chewton Glen for instance. The luxury resort offers six tree houses in a wooded valley just beyond the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, England.
“We were looking to develop family friendly lodges on the estate for those who wanted all the luxuries of the Chewton Glen hotel, without feeling confined to the hotel itself,” says Chewton Glen Managing Director Andrew Stembridge. “We had two design schemes on the table — one more traditional scheme and the tree house scheme. Everyone fell in love with the tree houses.”
TREE HOUSES. FAIRYTALE CASTLES IN THE AIR; AUTHORED BY PHILIP JODIDIO Find Inspiration. Simon Payne of Blue Forest tells us his clients are coming to him with Pinterest boards designated for their perfect tree house hideaways. A quick Pinterest search reveals hundreds of tree house designs and ideas to get your imagination running wild. Of course, you may also put your nose in a book. Philip Jodidio authors “Tree houses. Fairytale Castles in the Air,” under publisher Taschen, showcasing 50 tree houses from around the globe. Photo courtesy Taschen

TREE HOUSES. FAIRYTALE CASTLES IN THE AIR; AUTHORED BY PHILIP JODIDIO
Find Inspiration.
Simon Payne of Blue Forest tells us his clients are coming to him with Pinterest boards designated for their perfect tree house hideaways. A quick Pinterest search reveals hundreds of tree house designs and ideas to get your imagination running wild.
Of course, you may also put your nose in a book. Philip Jodidio authors “Tree houses. Fairytale Castles in the Air,” under publisher Taschen, showcasing 50 tree houses from around the globe.
Photo courtesy Taschen


The New Forest was set aside in 1076 as William the Conqueror’s private hunting grounds. And, when the tree houses were built, the marching orders were that no tree be disrupted. So, the tree houses are built on stilts, around the trees.
“We allowed the environment to influence the project,” says Stembridge. “For example, each of the tree houses has a really wide hardwood deck with a half roof above it, that means even on a rainy UK day, you can still sit outdoors and enjoy the wildlife and trees.”
The design also called for large picture windows that completely slide back, under-floor heating, wood-burning stoves and hot tubs.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND TREE HOUSE Explore Details. Part of the magic of tree house living is its harmonious intertwining with nature. Designers like Blue Forest are subscribing to sustainable principles and ethics by using eco-friendly practices and products. Take, for instance, the Alice in Wonderland tree house. It was made of kebony, a sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood. The whimsical design is guided by attention to detail. The roof is shaped in jaunty angles, handmade windows are cut into uneven shapes and cedar lining resembles melted chocolate. Payne describes the structure perfectly as “elegantly chaotic.” Photo courtesy Blue Forest

ALICE IN WONDERLAND TREE HOUSE
Explore Details.
Part of the magic of tree house living is its harmonious intertwining with nature. Designers like Blue Forest are subscribing to sustainable principles and ethics by using eco-friendly practices and products.
Take, for instance, the Alice in Wonderland tree house. It was made of kebony, a sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood. The whimsical design is guided by attention to detail. The roof is shaped in jaunty angles, handmade windows are cut into uneven shapes and cedar lining resembles melted chocolate. Payne describes the structure perfectly as “elegantly chaotic.”
Photo courtesy Blue Forest


Payne, whose company helped design the tree houses, adds that they’re a good demonstration of how tree houses are a commercially viable and exciting route to take.
“Whether for residential or commercial purposes, the tree house experience is completely unique,” says Payne. “It’s a price of a small extension on your house, but a bit more fun.”
AT THE WATER'S EDGE TREE HOUSE Photo courtesy Blue Forest

AT THE WATER’S EDGE TREE HOUSE
Photo courtesy Blue Forest

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Design Duo Makes Dream Homes A Reality

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Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller of New York-based id 810 design group strive to give their clients not just beautiful spaces, but homes that reflect their character and fulfill their dreams.

By Christine Aebischer

JESSICA (LEFT) & VIRGINIA (RIGHT) PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY

JESSICA (LEFT) & VIRGINIA (RIGHT)
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY


As many homeowners have discovered, even the finest décor and most beautiful finishes just can’t make a poorly laid out house feel like home. That’s where Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller come in.
The principals behind id 810 design group also have a background in construction, allowing them to truly transform spaces to fit their clients’ visions and lifestyles. “If an apartment or house is lacking in architecture, there aren’t that many wallpaper options and furniture to make it look good,” shares Toledo. “[Our background] is super helpful for clients. They can really entrust in us to make some big architectural or construction decisions for them.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY


The pair also is often the liaison between client and contractor, helping clients understand what work is necessary, what they can do without and what they can realistically expect within their budget. “To give someone the ability to put their own stamp on their home is so rewarding,” adds Geller.
For two people who are so in sync, from their design visions to their outfits (they admit they often show up to meetings in nearly identical outfits, unplanned) it’s hard to believe they were complete strangers 10 years ago. In 2006 Toledo founded id 810 design group after working for a high-end residential design build firm. “I saw the need for a designer that had aesthetic experience and a strong construction background, so I took a leap of faith,” she says. To keep up with the nearly immediate demand for her specialized services, Toledo realized she needed to bring someone else on board, so she put an ad on Craigslist and the rest, as they say, is history.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY


“We tend to agree a lot,” says Geller. “Clients will challenge us and speak to each of us separately to get our individual opinions because they think we’re pushing some kind of agenda, but our opinions are the same. We have the same vision.” However, their personal styles vary enough that they each bring something unique to their designs. Geller describes her own home as “very livable and comfortable” with mainly neutrals, while Toledo’s home has “a lot of color, in a tamed way.”
“I can be a little more restrained and rigid,” shares Toledo. “I go back to wanting everything to be perfect, and Jess complements that. She likes things to be a little off. She throws in that weird thing that makes sense at the very end.” Geller also finds Toledo to be the perfect balance, saying, “I hate when something feels so perfectly done that it feels forced. I like something that at the end of the day is a little bit of a curveball. Virginia keeps me focused.”
To marry this Manhattan apartment's pre-war aesthetic with the owner's modern taste, Toledo and Geller took inspiration from European flats: old architecture paired with minimalistic furniture. They stained the floor in a dark, rich color but left the finish matte, and chose a dynamic and varied arabescato marble for the supersize mantel. PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY

To marry this Manhattan apartment’s pre-war aesthetic with the owner’s modern taste, Toledo and Geller took inspiration from European flats: old architecture paired with minimalistic furniture. They stained the floor in a dark, rich color but left the finish matte, and chose a dynamic and varied arabescato marble for the supersize mantel.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY


They both agree that a home should never feel too new, and rooms where every piece of furniture can be recognized from a particular store don’t interest them. They often spend their weekends thrifting or antiquing to find one-of-a-kind pieces they can reinvent or update for use in a future project. “When we look for things that speak to clients, something they have a passion for, it personalizes the space a bit more,” they explain. “We want the space to have soul.”
For their newly empty-nester clients' New York City home, Toledo and Geller opted for light colors in various textures, including wool, velvet, leather, silk and mohair. To balance the bold area rug, the pair chose a weighty, acrylic cocktail table. PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY

For their newly empty-nester clients’ New York City home, Toledo and Geller opted for light colors in various textures, including wool, velvet, leather, silk and mohair. To balance the bold area rug, the pair chose a weighty, acrylic cocktail table.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY


Finding these unexpected items also gives them inspiration and helps them keep their designs fresh. They try to never repeat the same design element twice, even if specifically asked by a client. Some hallmarks of their brand include a neutral palette, which they find their clients prefer to color, and lots of texture to balance the neutrals. They often juxtapose textures or materials, such as chunky linen mixed with mohair and silk, or heavily textured wood mixed with marble, and they love to mix metals. When starting a new project, the pair spends time getting to know the clients and how they go about their day-to-day life so they can create a space that perfectly complements them, as well as the architecture and proportions of the house itself.
This residence near Lincoln Center combines a neutral palette with the clients' warmer California tones. PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY

This residence near Lincoln Center combines a neutral palette with the clients’ warmer California tones.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY


The pair acknowledges that they have come a long way since 2006, and by learning how to do things the hard way, they now have the experience and know-how to tackle any project. “Neither of us had worked for a large design house,” explains Geller. “We really immersed ourselves and it had its challenges, but we have a lot of tools in our belt because of it.” Their projects continue to grow in size and scale, such as an entire building they designed in Dallas, Texas, and the complete renovation of a three-bedroom apartment once owned by Helen Hunt.
Textured gray-limed oak and Diana Royale marble combine with glitzier finishes, like the gemstone chandelier, for "Bedford Post meets Manhattan." PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY

Textured gray-limed oak and Diana Royale marble combine with glitzier finishes, like the gemstone chandelier, for “Bedford Post meets Manhattan.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY


Another project that especially stands out for the designers is a New York City apartment they renovated about four years ago for a family who, prior to the renovation, hardly spent any time in the apartment because they didn’t feel at home. Instead, they would escape to their weekend house at every possible chance. However, after Toledo and Geller revealed their new apartment, the family sold their weekend home. “We recently saw her and she reminded us that we changed the way they lived. That’s what keeps us motivated. We have the ability to improve people’s lives,” says Toledo.
The designers merged Mid-century and glamour in this Brooklyn apartment with a custom-designed dresser and vanity, brass and fur stool and an iron and wood chandelier. PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY

The designers merged Mid-century and glamour in this Brooklyn apartment with a custom-designed dresser and vanity, brass and fur stool and an iron and wood chandelier.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB SNAVELY


As id 810 design group enters its 10th year, Toledo and Geller are excited to expand their brand and take on new adventures. They were recently awarded the International Furnishings and Design Association’s Rising Star award for 2015, and they also created their own furniture collection in collaboration with The New Traditionalists’ private-label program, The Syndicate. They are now looking to establish a brick-and-mortar studio/retail space where they can showcase their collection, in addition to their other custom designs, refurbished antiques and pieces that aren’t typically found in stores from vendors they regularly work with. “We want to do everything: a boutique jewelry store, restaurant, lounge, hotel,” they share. “Every time we’ve said we wanted to do something, we’ve been able to make it happen, so keep an eye out for our hotel.”
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