A Year in Design

Check out some of Decorati’s favorite moments in design from 2010…Happy New Year!

Icon The Buzz on Bunny Williams by Buzz Kaplan

Buzz: What do you do then when an existing client approaches you to completely redecorate the home you did together and wants to get rid of everything for a totally new look?

BW: That really never happens to me. If I’ve done my job, then the pieces purchased in my first design of their home are pieces they want to keep. So my clients don’t hire me to completely redecorate. Frankly, that concept makes no sense to me.

But don’t get me wrong; many of my clients come back to me again and again to freshen a room. Updating a home is what should happen as you learn and grow. As your tastes evolve, so should your home. But this happens over time and is part of the joy of creating a home that is a sanctuary and someplace very special to you.

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Modern Classic: Mary McDonald

What do you feel are lasting, timeless palettes that still feel fresh and up-to-the-minute?

All shades of grey greige and whites together. They have been working since Karl the twelfth. Also layers of chocolate brown anything. Always a classic from decades gone by and still today. I never tire of black and camel either. Never will.

What makes a particular design last…what ensures longevity?

I find that designs based in classics such as the Louis seize period or early classical Greek and Roman periods still prevail. Look at the Starck ghost chair in acrylic or the multiple versions of the klismos chair from Robsjohn Gibbings to current outdoor pieces from Dedon. How many years have they been going now since their inception?

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Bold Opulence: The Buzz on George Constant by Buzz Kaplan

Buzz: Your portfolio demonstrates that your interiors stand up over time. What’s your secret to creating timeless interiors?

Constant: My interiors never look dated for different reasons and none of them are really secrets. I’ve never do what might be considered “trendy” styles or what you might call “styles du jour”.  I gravitate more towards classically well-designed furniture, objects and details. This is true of the 18th century French, Continental and English antiques that I use.  Buzz aside to self: How come George never buys from me? Is it something I said? Review original questions to check for insults. This is also true of contemporary furniture and accessories. I like my modern pieces to be classic like Mies, Hoffman, Aalto, Breuer, etc. Well-designed and proportioned pieces are always in style. And my preference for the classic extends to my choice of color palettes as well. Although I use non-diluted colors, I never go with any that’ll look dated in 10 or 20 years.

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The New Glamour: Brendan Kwinter-Schwartz

What is your favorite Benjamin Moore paint color to use for walls, ceiling, and trim?

Favorite Benjamin Moore colors - Silver Satin and Simply White are both favorites for walls. I like flat finish for walls and semi gloss for trim. In one room I like to paint the ceiling a high gloss exciting color – like Lemon Meringue.

Why do you think a well chosen paint color is critical to the success of a room design? What are the top 3 factors you take into consideration when choosing a paint color?

The right color paint is key to the ultimate success of the design. Paint is the trickiest element – because it looks different in every room and every type of light. I choose the color based on the fabric scheme of the room, the light in the room and the art collection.

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Setting the Stage: Charles Pavarini III

How did you become interested in interior design? Who were your mentors in the early days?

I had a career in theater as a performer and set designer. I had just come-off a tour with Ann Miller across country and decided that I would prefer going into design, realizing it could be an extension of the family business. My grandfather was my first mentor, and his company, Pavarini Construction, built a lot of major buildings in NYC such as the United Nations Plaza, Lincoln Center, 5 wings on the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Seagram Tower, and 666 5th Avenue, to name a few. Mesmerized by the scale and significance of his work but even more enchanted by the possibility of designing interiors in such grand spaces, I enrolled in the New York School of Interior Design. From there, I developed a strong bond with the work of Ruben de Saavedra, ASID and was later hired as his assistant after receiving the Bronze Medal of Achievement following my thesis.

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Timeless Comfort: Kathleen Hay

What are some tips for making a larger space appear cozy?

I have had to work with this challenge a good deal in the recent building boom where we saw a proliferation of large-scale houses. The reality is that families still want to feel a sense of togetherness and warmth, even in rooms that can fit 100 people. It is not an easy task, but it can be accomplished. First, I customize the furniture so that the scale is slightly larger (sofas are longer and deeper; coffee tables are amped up). I incorporate architectural details that add dimension to the room: paneled walls, wainscoting, coffered ceilings, generously proportioned crown moldings and baseboards. I find that using grasscloth or textured wall treatments will also add a layer of warmth to the space and make it more inviting. Window treatments are really important. Adding fabric to the windows helps to close in the room and make it a cozier space.

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Photograph courtesy of Jeffrey Allen Photography

Click here to see all of our profiles from 2010.