A powerful testament to the range and depth of Elaine's interior design abilities is the recently renovated 3,500 square-foot Manhattan apartment pictured above, where Elaine has designed and overseen the implementation of
- An entirely new floor plan
- A sleek, elegant, and highly functional kitchen
- New and completely revamped closets and storage areas
- Multiple display cases and wall arrangements for a major art collection
- A 30-foot "art bench" (partly visible on the right above)
- Custom mountings for plates, artifacts, sculptures
- Home furnishings, including fabrics, a custom sofa, desk, table, bed, and rug
- A unique flooring concept to meet the client's needs for a beautiful, durable, seamless, and foot-friendly floor
- Custom lighting to highlight art works and enhance ambience
This tour de force, and other design accomplishments you can glimpse on this site, have been possible due to the astounding range of skills and sensibilities that Elaine has honed in the museum world, and now puts at the service of her private clients. These include:
- Museum-level display techniques, sensibilities, and artistic judgment
- Deep knowledge of fine art and antiques
- Practical skills such as mount-making and cabinetry design
- The ability to work with ease and expertise across a wide range of materials, including acrylic, wood, metals, and fabrics
- Experience in applying both artistic judgment and practical knowledge in special areas crucial to successful interior design, including lighting and storage
- Start-to-finish design and project management skills, including brainstorming, conceptualization, design, implementation, vendor selection and management, budgeting, and follow-up.
Elaine embarked on the project by first developing a detailed size-up of the existing space and understanding of her client's needs. She collaborated with an architect from the point of initial concept and schematics to the ultimate drawings and plans. She designed custom closets, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, art storage, art display areas, furniture, rug, and flooring. She worked closely with lighting engineers to implement effective lighting for art works and furnishings. No detail was too small, and no practical consideration too mundane to escape her devoted attention. Elaine oversaw the replacement of one-third of the apartment's ceiling, and the overhaul of the HVAC system, with the same attention to detail and quality that has always distinguished her design work for museum, university, corporate, and private clients.
Elaine's design philosophy emphasizes simplicity, balance, clarity, functionality, and environmental sensitivity. She utilizes high-quality, authentic materials and fine craftsmanship, and integrates new elements with existing ones where possible to conserve the good and minimize waste. For more on Elaine design influences, please click here>>>>