| Take me through the process of trying to please dozens
of people with conflicting tastes.
First we meet with the board or design committee to find out
what they like, what they don’t like, what they want to keep.
We interview the staff. For example, is the current design
convenient for the doorman to open the door?
We come back to them with two or three design proposals.
Invariably what happens is they will say they like design B,
then we lend some elements from design A or C.
At a third meeting, we have a finely tuned design,
furnishings, lighting, wallpaper, window treatment, the
doorman’s place, all with drawings and renderings. It goes to
the board for approval.
Then we send it out to at least three bids. We meet with the
board and analyze the bids. Then we always meet every week with
someone from the design committee, with the super, with the
contractor and with whatever trade is appropriate.
How do you decorate by committee without war breaking out?
Sometimes you don’t manage. We just did a presentation to
the general shareholders. There were some people who really had
an ax to grind. They’re the same five people in every building.
We call them the Gang of Five. They’re not going to like it if
you do it, or if you don’t do it. Other people in the building
know who the kvetchers are.
I’m assuming, given the personality clashes that can
erupt, failures do occur.
We’ve always moved it forward on some level. It may be a
very watered down anemic version, but the project always gets
done. It may not be the design I like.
We did one a couple of years ago. Everybody had an opinion.
It was designed by committee. Anybody could have gone to
Janovic’s and gotten and wall covering. It had no imagination.
But it still looks better than before we started.
What are the special challenges of renovating an
apartment’s public spaces?
[Lobby and corridor design] is an entirely different breed of
cat than individual residences. A whole litany of things can
happen. You have to take care of pets. You have to make sure
the corridor is cleaned up every night so people don’t have to
walk thru sawdust. You have to know where to locate emergency
lights. Then there’s pregnant women. We make sure anything our
contractors use is green and non-toxic. You have to give plenty
of notice. You can’t just show up that morning and say there’s
going to be noxious fumes.
What are some pitfalls to avoid when a building is
considering remodeling its lobby and corridors?
Using delicate fabrics for upholstery is one. One committee
wanted a snow-white rug. It would have been perfectly stunning
for about six hours. Materials have to be of residential
sensibility but commercial durability. We finally talked them
out of the snow-white carpet.
I assume that many of the pre-wars in particular have
spaces that just don’t work in today’s world.
Package rooms and delivery are important. When most of these
buildings were built, people were not shopping on the Internet
and Fresh Direct. To have good cameras and good monitors is
always an issue.
You also do design work in Oklahoma City. Are those clients
easier to work than New Yorkers? Would a strong dose Southern
charm be in order here?
There’s certainly a directness about people from New York
that’s very refreshing. Life is faster here. Decisions are
made more quickly.
Any final words of advice for a building thinking about
renovating its lobby?
Coming to your designer is like going to your accountant at
tax time. If you have everything lined up, it’s easy. If you
go with a Gristedes bag with your receipts, it can be a problem.
Laura B. Weiss is a NYC a journalist who blogs at
www.foodandthings.com
and is the author of a book on ice cream coming out June 2011. |
