Combine unique individuals from the television space with creative and funky interior design professionals, place them in identical bare apartments in New York City, add furniture and fittings, photographers and a film crew, and sit back and wait… for spectacular results.
Welcome to the third annual Moves Magazine “Design Perspective” Challenge, in which two news anchors and two designers team-up and square-off for the apartment makeover of the year in support of charity.
For an extra touch a class to this year’s Challenge, Moves brought in SIX key creative visionaries from within the industry, and asked for a signature design accent piece that was special to them. From celebrity interior designers to an HGTV executive to a real estate writer to a real estate developer, we meshed a Grade A panel of some of the city’s savvy stars to lend their voice and view to the entertainment.
We tapped into their expertise with questions to discover the latest and greatest influences on Design in the 21st Century. Looking for answers relating to the city with the most fascinating Design, the biggest influence on Design, how synthetic materials match the design capabilities of old natural materials, and – with everyone living in New York – how has the NYC built-environment changed since the bad old days of the 1970s? (Hey, we’re Moves and need to reflect on the gritty real world).
Everyone has their opinion on what makes for good Design. It’s all personal choice. Read on to see what the experts have to say.
Want to see more? Go to newyorkmoves.com for extra pics and video from the shoot! Don’t forget to check next issue for the results!
LAURA DAY, DESIGNER, LAURA DAY LIVING
“David Hicks’ patterns have become iconic and everyone has been “inspired” by them. It’s hard to pick up a design magazine or go into a design store without being faced with one of his classic patterns.”
“It’s one of those pieces that I loved the moment that I saw it. It’s come with me to every single place I’ve lived. It’s useful with a nice silhouette.
AMY LAU, DESIGNER, AMY LAU DESIGN
“I am really interested in the Nature-inspired whiplash curves of the Art Nouveau right now, and Barcelona has so many gorgeous historical examples.”
“Synthetics may wear like iron, but nothing connects to the human history of design like the timeless natural materials we have used since the stone age.”
BRIAN BALTHAZAR, Director of Programming, HGTV
“Paint on a brush is the catalyst for creativity! Whether you’re a millionaire or a penny pincher – what can be more empowering than changing your whole environment with color?”
“If you were to time travel from the 70s to today, you’d be in awe of all the changes and what the city has become. Consider that in the 70s, 42nd Street was still the center of Grindhouse Theaters. There were no Manolos strolling through the Meat Packing District – it was for packing meat! … It’s hard to fathom just how dramatic the changes have been when you step back and think about it. You could certainly argue back and forth about the political and social commentary that accompanies each of the changes, but above all, this city is a spectacular place. And it’s never been safer.”
VICENTE WOLF, DESIGNER, VICENTE WOLF ASSOCIATES, INC.
“It [New York] has become less creative friendly, more bottom line, less experimental and much much ruled by Wall Street.”
“I think with synthetics we lose the humanity and the organic imperfections that natural materials bring to the table.”
Khashy Eyn, CEO, Platinum Properties
“My signature piece is an antique lion. To me lions represent strength, wisdom, royalty and beauty. As a child I was always fascinated with the lion and the way that it interacts and carries itself as the King of Beasts.”
“New synthetic materials have matched the design of old natural materials. Again, you can compare the materials of New York by [Frank] Gehry to some old buildings of Manhattan. That being said, I think the construction quality in pre-war buildings does tend to be more solid as there was more brick and concrete used. The trend in today’s developments is maximizing the livable space with sleek, minimalist designs, featuring glass curtain walls.”
JASON SHEFTELL, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
REAL ESTATE COLUMNIST
“People, materials, wars, and the financial crisis have had the greatest impact on design since the beginning of man and they will until the end of man. Then of course, it will be mother nature again, who probably does it best anyway.”
“It’s raw, strong, and ancient. It’s gothic, medieval, and religious. It symbolizes simplicity and necessity then, and order and decoration now. It’s not a happy piece, but it’s alive and at one time, many times, it lit someone’s dinner table… It helped someone make it through the night.”
Team A
Heather Brown,
FOX 5 New York
&
Matt Wendorff,
RPI Design Build
HEATHER BROWN
“I love light – natural, sun, subtle. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always lived in well-lit spots with lots of windows. In fact, it’s the first thing I look for whenever I’m scouting out a new place to live. I do my best to avoid overhead lighting so I’m always on the search for unique, interesting lamps.”
“I’ve been to the U.S. Capitol so many times, but it still takes my breath away each time I see it. Some of the emotion I attach to these buildings – the Supreme Court, the
monuments, Union Station… I still think they are some of the most beautiful pieces of architecture around.”
MATT WENDORFF
“The combination of worldly design is now and forever more directly at our fingertips, giving us the ability to marry cultures and combine modern design with ancient philosophies. The world has truly become a design palate.”
“Frankly, in achieving great design we often must tear down the walls and start over again, and the reciprocating saw symbolizes just that… its use generally is the start of new beginnings, new friendships, new energy, new design in any project.”
Team B
George Oliphant, NBC & LXTV
&
Jill Vegas,
Interior Designer
GEORGE OLIPHANT
“My Red Wing work boots are the foundation of my outfit. They protect my feet on the
job site which allows me to accomplish the work at hand with strength & vigor. They
are comfortable, rugged and stylish… what else do you want?”
“There is so much that new synthetic materials can do and with ease that old natural materials cannot or at least not without investing serious time and expense. I say begrudgingly, because to those who can tell the difference between natural and synthetic, know the two are worlds apart in quality and class.”
JILL VEGAS
“I love bringing nature inside. An easy way to bring nature inside is to have a vase of fresh flowers to brighten up the room. I love keeping it simple with a monochromatic color scheme such as all white to bring in texture.
“The biggest influence in design has been the democratization of design movement. It’s about less fussy, more get it done mentality. There’s a shift away from 12 week lead times and more about how can I make it work right now?”