This small foyer sitting room in one of the apartments at the American Fashion: Designers at The Aldyn showhouse was designed by Felicia Zwebner of Art de Triomphe. Her inspiration was American fashion designer Bill Blass and I think the orange room is perfect for the first day of Autumn. The designer took “a playful interpretation of Bill Blass’s classic design” and incorporated the materials Blass used in fashion for the room.  The leather cording on the sofa suggests black leather riding boots while the fox fur pillows are reminiscent of his fox fur stoles.  The grey wool sateen fabric on the sofa was chosen as a nod to the fabric he used for his ladylike shift dresses. 

I also want to applaud the designer for successfully hiding the HVAC unit in the corner of this room.  I don’t know what man designed this monstrosity but I want to strangle him.  It is now found in every new building and I just had to deal with in one of my projects in Chelsea.  I am very surprised that people who purchase multi-million dollar apartments put up with this eyesore.  Here the designer painted out the metal parts to match the wallpaper color and then papered the center panel. Because the unit is metal, it has to be sent out to be specially sprayed which is annoying as well.  I would like to challenge developers, architects and design students to come up with a better and less obtrusive version of this HVAC unit.  There has to be a better option!

Felicia Zwebner said that both she and Bill Blass have “similar approaches to design, one which embodies an understated contemporary elegance” and that’s evident in her room.