THINK DESIGN TIPS

No, I am not a germaphobe, let’s get that out of the way right now. Nor am I a creative director at a European Advertising firm that wears $3000 Jill Sander or Prada suits, but now that I write it, that would be nice.    

I am simply a person who loves high ceilings, miles of clean surfaces, ultra white walls and brushed gun metal grey concrete floors. Is that really so bad? I can’t tell you how often I get razzed by my friends for living like a monk. But with that said, their next words usually are, “I wish I can live here…” “In my monastery,” I say, as I pour them a glass of my favorite Cabernet with a great Cesaria Evora CD playing in the background. It’s not that my condo is barren, the kitchen has poured concrete counters, an island that is 6’ x 6’ in stainless steel and appliances that hide behind walls of lacquered cabinetry that shimmer in the sunlight. The brushed concrete floors that I mentioned, carry through the full 1500 square feet of living space. Large windows also add light and because I don’t have curtains or shutters, makes the space look even larger since the sight lines are not blocked.

As for the living room I have only four pieces of furniture, five if you count a large arc lamp that kind of just hangs out. I love it because more than anything else, it is a sculptural piece of functional art. A sofa and love seat are both very linear and low lying in white leather from Patrona Frau, the cushions are soft and virtually melt around you, so yes… they are extraordinarily comfortable The two other pieces were flea market finds. They date to about 1940 France. The simple yet masterfully designed chair would play well with others in art deco surroundings, a room of shabby chic or mix and match from Ikea. In other words, it is perfect for any situation. I reupholstered the chair in a very loud red Donghia fabric, just to shake things up a bit and to have something else for people to talk about. The cocktail table I think has been added too over the years, but its chrome legs, mirrored tray and the graceful figure eight shaped legs are just this side of weirdly beautiful that it works. Now mind you my living room isn’t overly large by any means, but it looks and feels loft like because of the lack of walls defining dining and living spaces and except for some art and a flat screen TV, which also looks like a contemporary painting when it is not on, it is a space that hopefully is contemplative, yet comfortable and a space where my friends and family can sit for hours on end and talk about everything or just enjoy the silence and each others company.

Why write about my rather spare aesthetic? Because the next time you walk into a room, I hope you can look around with an open mind and think about the personality of the person living in it and step out of whatever comfort zone you have lived with all your life and decide how you could make it your own. Now, excuse me while I turn on my highly polished Nespresso, Cappuccino and Espresso machine and make myself a tropio. ONLY KIDDING… but hmmm, how much would that cost, it would fit so nicely on my counter-top. Well, let me rethink that… I can’t have clutter. Enjoy your day and smile.