BEFORE:

AFTER:

["After" photography by Randy Gross]

We started the design process by selecting wall-to-wall carpeting and wallpaper. I began by curating a number of options for my client. He was drawn to geometric patterns, so we decided on a wool carpet in blue with white geometric pattern (purchased at Landry & Arcari) and a wallpaper in white with blue geometric pattern from Thibaut. 

A comfortable, yet elegant sofa from Baker was upholstered in a solid blue fabric with chevron texture from Kravet. By accenting the sofa at the bottom of the skirt with a blue and white decorative tape from Zimmer + Rohde, we made the sofa a one-of-a-kind and tied it perfectly into the design theme. Throw pillows in various white and blue patterned fabrics finish the look. 

Because my client also uses this room to watch television, window treatments (to block out daylight during sunny days) were very important. We added two layers of window treatments. The first layer consists of a wide Roman shade created with embroidered silk from India; the fabric was designed by Oscar de La Renta exclusively for Lee Jofa. This silk fabric comes with layered pleats sewn in. My workroom's task was to figure out how to use this delicate fabric to create a luxurious Roman shade that would hold up to the weight of the fabric (without the pleats expanding). This took some experimentation, but my workroom found a solution. To add another layer of luxury, and to help heat retention on such a large expanse of glass, my workroom added interlining (an additional layer of fabric between the outer silk fabric and the lining) to the Roman shade. Behind the Roman shade, we added a roller shade that blocks out the light completely. By layering the window treatments, we achieved two objectives: hide the roller shade with a much prettier silk Roman shade, and provide two levels of light blocking: medium blocking with the Roman shade and complete blocking with the blackout roller shade. When designing these window treatments, I discussed with my client the convenience of motorized window treatments. At first he wasn't convinced he needed that extra feature. Now that he has it, he is thrilled. He can operate his shades from the comfort of his sofa by simply clicking a button on his remote control. [You will find more information about motorized window shades in the article below].

For the media components, I brought in a media company to develope a media plan with my client. We worked together to ensure that technology and furniture would be well integrated. To house his media equipment, we chose a cabinet from the Thomas Pheasant Collection at Baker. Its four sliding doors, which are upholstered in white leather and accented with antique bronze hardware, provide easy access to the media components, yet provide a clean, uncluttered look when closed.

In addition to designing the study, I managed the project implementation by scheduling and overseeing the tradespeople. My client moved into the Four Seasons hotel on a Monday morning and returned home four days later to a completely redone study. During those four days, I was praying that the New England winter weather would cooperate. Luckily, we were spared a snow storm that week, allowing everything to be completed like clockwork. My client is thrilled with his blue study.