While Elizabeth Gill’s dream client is a rock star where she could design a home for a “creative rebel,” ASPIRE HOUSE McLean also offers new and exciting opportunities for her firm, Elizabeth Gill Interiors: to design a laundry room, which she has never done before, along with an adjacent entry in her firm’s first show house. Read more about Gill’s color, wallpaper and cabinetry choices in the two rooms and what’s next for the designer who has offices in New York City and Washington, DC in an exclusive interview with Sherry Moeller.
Rendering of the ASPIRE HOUSE McLean 2020 Main Level Laundry designed by Elizabeth Gill. Rendering by Dariush Watercolors.
Sherry Moeller: Describe your room at the show house. How did you come up with the concept and what’s the backstory?
Elizabeth Gill: I am designing two spaces: the main level entry and the laundry room, which are connected. The entry space will emulate walking into the foyer of a pied-à-terre on Central Park West in New York. It is both elegant and contemporary, featuring a custom console from Ryan Jackson, deep charcoal grey upholstered walls, an oversized mirror in a white gesso finish with lapis blue details, accents from Promemoria, and a textured Larsen fabric on the window. This space will also feature a hand-painted ceiling that draws the eye up to the smoky grey glass light fixture.
The laundry room, which also serves as a mudroom, is designed with family in mind. The space is both practical and playful with a hand-printed blowfish paper in a dark grey colorway that ties into the greys used in the entry. It is a lighter space, with a much brighter color scheme to balance out the more serious adjacent entry space. The custom cabinetry is painted in Cadet Blue by Sherwin-Williams and the hardware is designed by LA’s Buster + Punch. An oversized built-in bench with storage, as well as the dedicated dog nook, which is sponsored by Serena & Lily and Harry Barker, make this space functional and fun.
Rendering of the ASPIRE HOUSE McLean 2020 Main Level Entry designed by Gill. Rendering by Dariush Watercolors.
SM: What’s a favorite element you plan to incorporate into your space at the ASPIRE HOUSE McLean?
EG: I adore the wallcoverings! Abnormals Anonymous designed the paper for the laundry room and Maya Romanoff designed the wallcovering for the entry space. They are both very special and were the starting points for my design schemes.
This New York City living room designed by Gill is an example of the types of tones, textures and scale she typically designs. Photo by Marco Ricca.
SM: What projects have you done in the past that most resemble or relate in some way to what you plan to design at the ASPIRE HOUSE McLean? Or is this a completely different concept?
EG: I mostly design contemporary or modern spaces that incorporate a variety of high-end products in neutral colorways and different textures. My point of view is very clear: let the quality and harmony between the pieces speak for themselves. I use color very intentionally by letting art and accessories bring color into a space.
With respect to past projects that resemble my ASPIRE HOUSE McLean design plan, I recently completed a project in Greenwich Village that utilized the same Maya Romanoff wallcovering found in the entry space, although in a different colorway. Seeing that wallcovering installed and how well it photographs confirmed my decision to use it in the show house. I have never had the opportunity to design a laundry room so this is a fun experience. While I have designed custom cabinetry before, being able to add flourishes that enhance the laundry room experience is a bonus. Incorporating a dedicated dog nook allowed me to be creative with color and to try something new.
Gill designed this Greenwich Village, New York master bedroom, which features the inspiration wallpaper for the ASPIRE HOUSE McLean entry space. Photo by Marco Ricca.
SM: Have you participated in other show houses and why?
EG: This is the first show house for my firm and I am honored to be included with such a talented group of designers. I have worked on two previous show houses for another design firm so I am familiar both with the process and how rewarding it is.
This breakfast nook on Central Park South designed by Gill showcases Knoll chairs, a rug from the Kennedy White House, and a Miró lithograph. Photo by Marco Ricca.
SM: What’s next for you design-wise — are there some projects you’re particularly excited about? Are there any projects you’d love to tackle, sort of a design bucket list?
EG: Right now I’m focusing on growing my company and broadening my creative bandwidth. Traveling is one way that I can bring unique items to the spaces that I design. It is so important to never stop learning and I look forward to attending my first Paris Design Week / Maison et Object in September. In regards to a dream project, I’d like to design a vacation home for a rock star. I’ve already designed two homes for an international fashion executive, but I really want to work with a “creative rebel.” Another goal, as we continue to grow, is to open a third studio in Paris at some point.
An etagere that Gill styled on Central Park South features a private collection of objects and art – another project that inspired her design at ASPIRE HOUSE McLean. Photo by Marco Ricca.
About the Designer | Elizabeth Gill Interiors, Inc. is a full-service interior decorating firm with offices in in New York City and Washington, DC. She specializes in modern spaces with classic elements. Gill’s mission is to collaborate with clients to create spaces that fully represent their individual styles and are joyful places that inspire them to live their best lives. Gill earned her BBA in International Business from The George Washington University (GWU) and went back to GWU to study Interior Design & Architecture in their MFA program. Additionally, Gill earned a Graduate Certificate in Visual Arts from Harvard. After six years working in high-end residential interior design, most recently as a senior designer at a Top 100 firm on Madison Avenue, she decided to open her own studio. Elizabeth Gill Interiors serves clients in New York City, the Hamptons, and recently opened a studio in Georgetown to better serve clients in Washington, D.C.
Sherry Moeller is a contributing editor for ASPIRE DESIGN AND HOME magazine.
Proceeds for ASPIRE HOUSE: McLean will benefit First Responders of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to learn more, and purchase tickets for the event; open August 21 – September 7, 2020.
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