A TWIST & SHOUT
New loft condominiums with inspiring views of the Manhattan skyline acted as blank canvases for the seven designers of the 2015 Metro Designer Showhouse. Unique in its urban setting, the Showhouse broke traditional boundaries, allowing the designers to carry their design plans throughout entire apartments at the Pearl, a luxury waterfront property in Edgewater, NJ.
The c.1953 building, originally constructed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill and developed by National Resources, has its own story to tell, having first served a life as Unilever’s World Research Headquarters.
It was the vision across the river, however, that served as the designers’ guiding light and muse. The completed apartment designs reflected the city in three ways: the city in daylight, with its rich brick tones, historic architectural lines and water views; the city at night, a sparkling jewel box of glamour and sophistication; and the city as a global hub, with residents, visitors, art and history stemming from every corner of the globe.
Conceived and organized by ASPIRE Metro magazine, the Showhouse brought exceptional design talent to New Jersey’s Gold Coast and raised funds to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter.
SAMUEL ROBERT SIGNATURE SPACES 911 SQ.FT. INTERIOR DESIGNER | Sam Ciardi INSPIRATION | The View Looking straight across to Manhattan’s Upper West Side was especially inspirational for selecting the color palette. I chose to work the interior design in shades of brown, red, orange and yellow to complement the collage of brick, prewar buildings just across the Hudson. PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT | The Wallcoverings I used a variety of wallpaper textures to give the space a warm and industrial feeling – most notably the faux exposed-brick wallpaper, which created a sense of history and immediately changed the architectural mood of the space. FAVORITE DESIGN DECISION | Table with a View My favorite design decision for the space was the placement of a very simple glass-top console table and two Lucite chairs directly in front of the glass window. This allows for every meal to be enhanced by taking full advantage of the magnificent Manhattan skyline just across the river. PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL RYAN SOUTHFIELD MEDIA
ALAN TANKSLEY, INC. 1,467 SQ. FT. INTERIOR DESIGNER | Alan Tanksley INSPIRATION | The Gentle River Breeze and Wide-open Skies I wanted to create a light, open, calming sanctuary within this very unique location. PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT | The Use of Mirrors We placed a large mirror perpendicular to the windows that really brightened the space, and the mirror that passes behind the sofa creates depth and serves to extend the height of the room. It’s a very different effect than simply hanging a framed mirror above a sofa. DESIGN DIRECTIVE | Design a Destination Think of furnishings and spaces in terms of destinations. Consider people’s thoughts when they enter a room. What chair or seating arrangement will appeal to them and why? Intuitively, you can design a space based on the destination of mind and eye. PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL RYAN SOUTHFIELD MEDIA