Luxury in Fabric

As I have blogged before, Luxury design is all about the details.  One detail that signifies luxury for me is fabric.  Velvet, like this round emerald green pillow and Cashmere, like the beautiful peony hand-loomed throw by Anichini are top luxury fabrics.  The texture and the warmth of them envelopes the senses and allows you to feel the luxury at your fingertips.  As always, color plays a large role in luxury design and the pairing of green and pink as in this photo create an elegant yet comfortable space.

The Van Cortlandt Design Journey: Part 3 - Locker Rooms

What is most interesting about the Locker Room Restoration is just that - restoring the original beauty and elegance of the 19th century design.  We have to do some slight demo to help freshen the space up but our plan is to repurpose as much as we can.  There is such a rich history within these walls, it is only fitting to pay homage to it by restoring its elegance and charm.

Soon to be Snack Bar

The boards on these walls will be removed from the Locker Room area but will be restored and repurposed as part of the snack bar area in the main room of the club.

Admiring the Originals

When first looking at these worn locker doors, there is an overwhelming sense of history and intrigue.  It forces you to take a moment and admire the beautiful, original craftsmanship. 

First Steps

Carefully and methodically, the doors of the lockers were removed so that they may be sent out for proper restoration. They've lived a lifetime so far and we hope to restore them for another hundred plus years.

Designer's Best Pick: Wallpaper Wonders

Incorporating technology into luxury design has always been important to me.  Scouting out new ways to do that is also a passion.  I was so pleased to come across the wallpaper company Meystyle, They are creating custom wallpaper infused with LED lighting and Swarovski crystals.  I am looking forward to utilizing this product in an upcoming design.

 

Outdoor Spaces Turned Paradise

The first heat wave of the season may be breaking but it stuck around long enough to get us in the mood for some outdoor inspiration. Outdoor projects always come with their own unique challenges and perks.  Of course, you are dealing with nature and the elements as the project proceeds but you also get the opportunity to play off of Mother Nature's design as well.  Here are a few of our favorites.

The Never-ending Oasis 

The key to designing against such an amazing backdrop is knowing that you should not compete but merely compliment and accentuate the view every change you get.  

The Grand Cabana

On this property all eyes lead straight to the beautiful, grand cabana.  Adding pops of color with furniture and landscaping helped to indulge and delight the senses.  

The Park-like Paradise

This property was built to amaze and delight.  Walking along the pathways is like strolling through your own private park complete with ample entertaining areas and a spa like pool with soothing fountains and amazing lighting.

The Dream Kitchen

If you are going to spend a lot of time outdoors, it is only fitting to incorporate the conveniences of a luxury kitchen.  As with any kitchen, spacial planning is key.  Think about how you entertain and how you and your guests will use the space when working with a designer to lay it out.  Think through all of the possibilities including inclement or colder weather - the roll down shades will help protect this space against storms or winter weather.

The Van Cortlandt Design Journey: Part 2 - The Pro Shop

When designing for multiple spaces, we try to remain consistent with our overall property schematic while still trying to give each space its own unique characteristics and look.  We want the patrons of this renowned club to know exactly which space they have entered and we want each space to feel comfortable and inviting.  

The Pro Shop, as seen in the renderings below, has been moved to a new location within the original building to accommodate a better overall flow to the property.  We are re-purposing some of the original lockers to be used as shelving for merchandise display and storage as well as counter bases.

Renderings

The three-dimensional renderings that we provide our clients serve to really give a glimpse of the space layout.  We use this to showcase how we feel the space needs to be set up in order to create the best overall flow.  An added bonus are the flat drawings which give the client an idea of what the space will look like aesthetically.  All of these drawings are done prior to finalizing design elements like fabrics, wall color, etc.

Pro Shop Before

Being on the job site for every step of the project is important.  Designing a space starts from the studs and it is important to be involved from the beginning.  It is much easier to make sure the behind-the-scenes details are covered like wiring for lighting, plumbing or space for furnishings when you have a blank canvas to mark out.