By Amy Statuto
One of the first things I always do with clients is sit them down and discuss what their dreams and aspirations are for their home—what type of activities they dream of doing in their space, what they are trying to call into their life, etc. I have always designed around the belief that your home should reflect and nurture the lifestyle that you are aspiring to live. In essence…if you design it, it will come. This upper east residence was no exception.
When I first met Jennifer a few years ago she and her family of five were living in a bright but typical Upper East Side white brick building with eight foot ceilings and smaller, compartmentalized rooms. Jennifer’s dream had always been to live in an open, loft-like space, similar to the ones found in downtown Manhattan; as well as to create a space where her family could spend quality time together. So when she and her husband hired me and my team to redesign their home that is exactly what we set out to create for her.
The first thing we did was open up the space by taking some walls down, creating a more open floor plan. Next we replaced the dark wood floor with ivory porcelain floor tiles complete with radiant heat for those chilly winter nights. We painted the walls in a slightly off white high-gloss lacquer finish to give it a more open loft feel and to showcase the family’s growing art collection. The ceilings were painted a pale gray in a semi-gloss finish. The slight tint of color helps to give the ceiling some definition while the reflective properties of the paint help to make the ceilings feel higher and the space feel more open.
The floor plan was carefully laid out to accommodate all that needed to happen in her home. As you enter the living room a large oversized sofa, comfortable for multiple loungers, welcomes you into the space. The living room was very long so to split it up, a chaise was placed in the middle of the room. It was designed to be wide enough to accommodate two people lying there together and, as I have been told, has become the most coveted seat in the house. The chaise also allows for people to sit on either side facing either direction, helping the flow of the space. In the far corner we designed a banquette with a vintage 1970s kitchen table, refinished in glass bead wallpaper and brass, as a place to eat or do homework or play a game.
The apartment now reflects the lifestyle that my client has always dreamed of living. As a result, her family now all hangs out in the same room together on a nightly basis. I love what I do, and nothing brings me more joy than to see how our design of a home directly effects the family living in it. I love the late night phones calls from clients telling me how much they love their new space. If you design it, it will come…..and it always does.
For more information:
ASI Design Studio, inc
250 5th Avenue, Suite 555
New York, NY 10001
T: 212.683.2852
F: 212.683.2853
C: 917.270.4115
info@asidesignstudio.com
