aspire design and home proudly presents The Art of the Home, a transformational designer showhouse set within a breathtaking 13,000-square-foot estate in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. This curated exhibition of world-class design, architecture, and fine art will run from September 19 through October 19, with an Opening Night Event to benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation on September 17.
Each Tuesday and Thursday, we’re spotlighting a different designer whose creative vision is shaping this bold, curated home. From behind-the-scenes peeks to personal stories, you’ll get an inside look at the minds reimagining what a home can be. Today, we look at the 3 rooms that Dorka Standard is tackling, the kitchen, wellness bathroom and lower level bathroom.
A New York native of Dominican descent, Dorka Standard has always had a passion for the design/build environment. At a young age, she would often immerse herself in arts and crafts, but she always enjoyed rearranging furniture in her house to experience something new and fresh. After college, she worked in marketing for a short time before getting married and relocating to Westchester, New York. She and her husband purchased a very ugly house (affordable) in an upscale neighborhood in White Plains. She took charge of remodeling it, and after several years (many projects), she owned one of the most beautiful houses in the neighborhood. Neighbors, family members and friends took notice. They would ask her for advice and help with various projects in their homes, ranging from small furniture projects to larger bathroom and kitchen remodels. In 2015, she attended Pace University to earn her construction project management certification. She continued to work as a designer and project manager for other builders. It wasn’t until her friends asked her to help build their new house that her dream took off. DStandard Home was born: a design, build and construction project management firm.
Tell us about your concept for The Art of the Home — what inspired your approach to these rooms?
Dorka Standard: The inspiration for the kitchen started with the kitchen cabinets. Since it was a collaborative space, I wanted things to flow and not seem as though two people were developing two different spaces. The way the space was originally laid out, I felt like it was missing an opportunity, so we incorporated a banquette eating area that could bring in the kitchen cabinets’ structure and color to create that connection.
Even without seeing the final room yet, what detail or element are you most looking forward to bringing to life?
DS: I am excited to see all the rooms I designed, but the detail I am looking forward to is the wallpaper I chose for the cove in the kitchen ceiling. I am looking forward to seeing how that element looks lit up and finished. It will make the room.
What mood or feeling are you hoping to evoke with this space?
DS: For the kitchen, I aimed to create a sense of luxury while maintaining a welcoming and unpretentious atmosphere. A kitchen is where everyone ends up congregating, so I wanted it to feel like a space where people would feel at home, in a kitchen, where we can hang out and enjoy ourselves.
For the wellness bathroom, I wanted to invoke something sexy and moody, creating a sensuous feeling. I achieved this by using dark-colored materials and gold tones.
The lower level bathroom, due to its location (gym/Gallery), I wanted it to be bright and clean. A feeling that after working out, you could find yourself in an inviting space that had everything you needed to cool down and relax, as if you were in a luxurious gym or spa.
Designing for a showhouse comes with a unique kind of freedom. How has that influenced your process so far?
DS: Yes, it did. I prefer a minimalist style, and I steer clear of lots of patterns and colors. My approach to design is to create an experience that engages all your senses and evokes the natural elements. This leads me to a soft design, where you can hear the sounds of water and feel the warmth on your toes. The showhouse allowed me the freedom to challenge myself to do something I usually wouldn’t do. I went moody in the wellness bathroom. Although my design approach is still there, it allowed me to push out of my comfort zone and create something with a deeper, richer palette and feeling.
Are you collaborating with any artists, fabricators, or makers on this space?
DS: Yes, I am collaborating with numerous companies and artists. I am collaborating with Chelsea Art Group to feature Sonia Gomes’ artwork in the kitchen and bathroom. Visual Comfort lighting, Florense, Innovations Wallcoverings, Furniture Guild via Ferguson’s, Study M, Kohler, Complete Tile, Porcelanosa, Michelangelo Designs, Samad Fine Rugs, Dexelance, and Sherwin-Williams. I am very grateful and fortunate to have such excellent collaborators help make these spaces come to life.
If your room had a soundtrack, what would it sound like?
DS: Anything by Marc Anthony. He inspires me and speaks to me deeply. He brings me back to my roots and culture and makes me feel at home.
How do you think visitors will interact with or experience your room once it’s complete?
DS: They will love it, as it will evoke their senses. I would love for them to touch the wallpaper, sit at the table, and feel like they can fully interact with the space. Not just walk in and admire from a distance, but to immerse themselves in different sensations and interactions.
Purchase tickets to tour The Art of the Home here.
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