Project You recently got the opportunity to host a fabulous cocktail party with the help of WPIX anchor, best selling author and lifestyle expert, Tamsen Fadal. And it wasn’t just any old cocktail party. Oh no. When we throw a party, we do it in style. And so, on a crisp January night a group of our favorite parenting bloggers, a nationally renowned organization expert, a real estate maven, one finance guru, a branding expert, television producer and more joined us for a night of wine, cheese, conversation, luxury apartment tours, and incredible advice from Manhattan House interior designer Heather Zick. Take a look…
“Manhattan House’s model residence staging inventory consists of merchandise that has been accumulated over the years from previous designers and include a spectrum of different styles,” says Heather Zick who says she uses “creativity and imagination to find a way to turn chaos into clarity, while making sure each model residence has a fresh, new and inviting look each time.”
“I try to use the three R’s whenever I can Reuse/Resize/Rework,” says Zick. “If it’s absolutely necessary that I purchase something new, I will, but I truly enjoy the challenge and creativity it takes to find a way to make the old make sense and furthermore, find a way to make it actually feel like new.”
If you would love to re-create some of these amazing looks in your own home, then follow Heather’s amazing design tips.
HEATHER ZICK’S DESIGN IDEAS FOR OPTIMIZING SPACE AND MONEY:
Choose furniture styles and layout wisely:
Beds without footboards and chairs without arms are great for smaller spaces
* Modular furniture that can easily be separated and moved around
* Stools and ottomans that can double as tables or additional seating
* If you have limited wall space, try placing furniture at the end of your bed, behind your sofa or float it in the middle of the room
* Turn convector covers into additional seating by adding cushions and throw pillows
* See if you can eliminate your dresser from your bedroom by moving it into your closet or by having your closet outfitted with drawers
* Flex-spaces that can serve more than one purpose (Media Room/Play Room or Guest Bedroom/Office)
Finishes:
* If you find something you like, but don’t love the color of it, buy it anyway – strip and stain it a color you do like.
* Buy commercial-grade wallpaper that looks like a grass-cloth or some other natural material but is actually vinyl, which is less expensive and more durable.
* Paint moulding and trim the same color as the walls to make the room feel larger and more uniform.
* For furniture and frame touch-ups use Sharpie markers and White-out or find a paint color that matches and buy a sample pot.
Art, Accessories and Area Rugs:
* Take your own photographs and have them printed on photo paper or canvas
* If you see an expensive piece of art you like, commission a friend or local art student to create an interpretation of it
* Shop in the flower district for candle holders, trays, vases and silk flowers – create your own floral arrangements
* Shag and sisal rugs are generally inexpensive, versatile and durable – if you like wool and silk rugs, opt for wool and viscose instead which has a similar look and feel but is much less expensive
Lighting:
* Buy plain white paper lampshades which are the least expensive kind and sponge-paint them for a cool, textural finish and better ambience
* Buy antique bulbs for light fixtures where the bulbs are visible for a more interesting look – purchasing them online in bulk will be less expensive
Reupholstering/Recovering/Resizing:
* Shop for fabric in large fabric houses like Mood and B&J – they have some really unique materials, especially in the faux fur and men’s suiting departments
* Buy throw pillows with removable covers so they can easily be changed – or use an old bedspread or faux fur coat to fabricate your own covers
* Use a furniture surgeon to adjust a piece to fit in your space rather than buy a new one
* Have area rugs made from wall-to-wall carpet remnants
“Many people have a hard time visualizing in a blank space. They are unable to connect with the space and imagine it as their home without seeing elements in it that remind them of a home, like furniture and artwork. My job is to help them get to the place of being able to imagine it as their home. Since each individuals’ idea of a home is different, I make my goal to simply come up with the optimal look for each space, using what I have available to me. I know my job is done, when I walk into a model residence that I’ve just designed and have a sense that “I’m home.”
To find out more about Manhattan House and their incredible luxury apartments, visit their website.
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