Hospitality Design - June 2015 - 103

Photos by BJORN WALLANDER

1. A wall of glass at
Crown restaurant in New
York looks out onto a
garden.
2+3. The lobby corridor
at the Shelborne
Wyndham Grand South
Beach is lined with
vintage items that relate
to the Miami coastline
(from whale bones to
driftwood), while linen
drapes create a sense
of privacy for the hotel's
poolside cabanas.

2
15th-century Netherlandish art during the
Renaissance and how architecture was
depicted, so I felt like they were always
intertwined.
My first job was at Kelly Wearstler. I had
been an intern while at school and then was
hired after my thesis. It was simply luck I
got the internship and then I worked really
hard-I adored every second of it. It was
perfect, except it was in Los Angeles and I
really wanted to be in New York.
There, I learned most about the way I would
want to run my own business if I ever had
one-the camaraderie between people, the
laidback but hardworking sensibility, and
genuine passion about what one does. Those
are all things I aspire to instill in people.
After Kelly, I moved to New York and
worked in international store development
for Ralph Lauren. It was an incredible
experience getting to travel the world.
After that I worked for high-end residential

4

4. The entry staircase of
the Diamond Horseshoe
at the Paramount Hotel
in New York, home to
theatrical dinner show
Queen of the Night.

3

designer Mark Cunningham. Mark is a close
confidant still and gave me the strength to go
out on my own. I wanted to try everything
(hospitality, retail, and residential) before
figuring out what I wanted to do.
I'm typically quiet, less outgoing, more of
a watcher, but as I watched Mark work his
magic in so many cases, I really began to
believe that I could [own my own company]
as well. And there was a little push to start
my own firm-I was getting some job offers
and thought, if I don't do this now, I may
never try.
Perhaps it's the leftovers from my days as
a performer but I love walking into a space
and hearing people laughing and glasses
clinking-there is something magical
about it.
Most recent challenging project: the
Shelborne [Wyndham Grand South Beach]
in Miami. My first hotel (in collaboration
with Richard Mishaan Design) was an
incredible experience, but it was hard to be
so far away from it. I like to be onsite and in
the trenches.

walked or driven by every day and never saw
anything. Now I can't stop thinking about
every little [building] detail.
The space I love but didn't design is La
Mamounia in Marrakesh. Also any Gothic
cathedral-the austere opulence always gets
me.
My design style is very eclectic and
masculine. I like mixing old and new and
I'm drawn to raw materials like concrete,
steel, and wood. Personally, I'm into neutrals
and basics; simple but strong and tailored
pieces. My fashion icon is everything I am
not-Elsa Schiaparelli, who is divine.
Guilty pleasures: red wine in the evenings
and 1stdibs always!
I admire Joseph Dirand, Axel Vervoordt,
Jacques Garcia, Jacques Grange, John
Pawson, and Isay Weinfeld.
I thrive on coffee.
Success is waking up every morning ready
to be inspired by whatever the day is going to
throw at you.

I was in Punta del Este, Uruguay and
London recently and love the way they do
hospitality in those two cities-the former
incredibly informal and warm, and the
latter very proper. On the docket for this
year: Istanbul, Cuba, Israel, and Cartagena,
Colombia.

Recently Completed Projects:
Crown, New York
The Lion, New York
Bill's Food & Drink, New York
Shelborne Wyndham Grand South Beach, Florida
(public spaces)
Diamond Horseshoe, Paramount Hotel, New York

Finding inspiration is just about keeping
your eyes open. I walked by a building
recently in New York that I have probably

Projects on the Boards:
Bedford & Co, New York
Material Good, New York

hospitalitydesign.com June 2015

103
http://www.hospitalitydesign.com
Hospitality Design - June 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - June 2015
