Interior Design Blogs NYC
Find out more about ALine Studio. Check out our blog posts for project details and photos.
Condo Lobby and Corridor Redesign in Williamsburg
Condo Lobby and Corridor Redesign in Williamsburg We are currently in the design development phase of a lobby and corridor redesign project on Kent Avenue. The 14-story condominium is located on the waterfront in the trendy Williamsburg district of Brooklyn. The area has been on the rise for quite some time with countless hotels, restaurants, and residential buildings popping up all over the neighborhood. Due to this extreme growth, the competition between condos and co-ops has become quite fierce. Across Williamsburg, Boards and building owners are now looking to redesign their common areas much sooner than they normally would in order to keep their building relevant as well as to attract prospective buyers. Considering the competitive nature of the area and our expertise, the Board elected to give us complete freedom to design their common spaces. Since being engaged on this project, our designers have been hard at work creating interior designs that are appealing and enticing to the hip crowd of Williamsburg. For the lobby, we opted to create a focal point using bookmatched beige onyx stone slabs. The stone will be installed behind the front desk and it will resemble a piece of abstract art. Alongside this gorgeous slab of gemstone, there will be a hidden package closet. This closet will help manage the flow and volume of packages from all the Amazon enthusiasts and online shoppers. We selected a geometric counter for the front desk and pendant lighting to delicately hang above the modern work-space. To the side of the front desk, a lush green wall will extend towards the resident lounge. The vertical garden will bring in natural elements of the outside surroundings and create a refreshing atmosphere. Lastly, we designed a custom three-dimensional pattern of carved stone for the elevator landing wall. This accent [...]
Interior Design Inspiration – ROCK N ROLL
Our Design Inspiration... ROCK N ROLL From a young age I was memorized by rocks. My grandmother sparked that initial curiosity. She had a rock tumbler. We would scour Texas beaches or fields to find stones that we thought had potential. We would put them in the tumbler and wait…. I was always impatient wanting to see if mine were going to be the most beautiful. It was so exciting to open the tumbler after days of them rolling around together. Each one polishing the other to reveal their true beauty. The smooth hard surface, the colors, the wonder of nature revealed. It was in this a lesson was taught. What may be rough and unrefined on the outside held beauty inside. Each one unique and special in it’s own way. That wonder still lies within me and I love to see rocks incorporated into design. They have been the inspiration for lamps, hardware, wallpaper, and of course jewelry. Below are examples of such applications. I will always remember those special times with my grandmother and I am reminded of those fond memories each time I see such lovely uses of a simple thing I hold dear. geode lamp | bracelet | bar Cart| rock wallpaper | crystal chandelier
Gramercy Park Hallway Remodel
Hallway Remodeling Project Gramercy Park We are excited to reveal details about a design we completed for a condominium in Gramercy Park. The seven-story building was home to a brewery for over sixty years before it was converted into a residential condominium building. The units in this one-of-a-kind structure retain many of the brewery’s original details including wood beam ceilings, exposed brick walls, and massive north and east facing windows. The building’s lobby was upgraded in recent years to have a modern feel. The corridors, on the other hand, were not renovated along with the lobby and they continued to retain their traditional style. The owners contacted us looking for a typical hallway remodel with a little edge. Initial Hallway Design Inspiration Our team was retained to perform a complete ceiling and hallway redesign with all new finishes and fixtures. The biggest concern of the client and the main design challenge for this project was the marriage of the mismatched ceilings of the east and west wings. Because the condo was composed of two different buildings, the ceilings were dissimilar in each wing. The owners wanted as much unification as possible with the inconsistent ceilings. Initially, we showed the client inspiration images of Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn. The owners reacted very positively to that style. Based on the owner’s input and feedback, we decided to go with a soft, industrial, and modern feel in the hallways to enhance the existing character of the building. Once we discovered the amazing features of the apartments, we immediately knew that we wanted to build on and play off these amazing elements. We thought it would be a great idea to bring some of the flavor of the individual units into the hallways. [...]
Flatiron Co-op Lounge & Breezeway Design
Remodel of Co op Building Flatiron District, NY Existing Breezeway vs. Breezeway Design Concept (Rendering) We are delighted to announce that our firm was recently awarded a project to redesign the lobby/first floor, breezeway, hallways, elevators cabs, basement, and basement corridor at a cooperative building in the Flatiron district. The diverse and bustling Flatiron neighborhood includes some of the city’s most popular restaurants, a trendy retail environment, and an array of beautiful architecture including the famous triangular-shaped Flatiron building along with an abundance of Beaux-Arts and cast-iron buildings. The Flatiron district is also home to Madison Square Park which has become the go to spot for public art installations and free concerts. As property values rise and competition increases in this prominent neighborhood, buildings must constantly stay focused on providing competitive services, amenities, and high-end interior design to retain current occupants and attract new buyers. Lounge Design Concept (Rendering) We were awarded this great project after competing in an interior design contest arranged by the Board. We were asked to redesign a section of the existing public spaces within the co-op as well as create three-dimensional renderings of the designs. The board asked for a creative and efficient use of their existing spaces. Aside from that request, the Board gave us complete independence to express our creativity and showcase our unique design personality. Our team decided that we would address the lobby/first floor and breezeway areas for the design competition because of the Board’s concern for these spaces. Additionally, we felt that that the current first floor layout was not maximizing the space appropriately. Thus, we thought it would be a fantastic idea to transform the underutilized space in the lobby sitting area, management office, and conference room into a multipurpose lounge. For [...]
Birchwood Towers Lobby & Hallway Interior Design
Redesign of Lobby & Hallway Birchwood Towers Our team has been busy working on a lobby and corridor redesign project at the Birchwood Towers cooperative in Forest Hills, Queens. The quaint neighborhood of Forest Hills is primarily known for its role as the host of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships as well as its plethora of Tudor style architecture. The scope of this project includes two different buildings within the Birchwood Towers complex, Toledo and Kyoto. Toledo Existing Lobby Versus ALine Lobby Design Concept (Rendering) The buildings’ existing conditions are heavily themed. Toledo has a Spanish medieval theme which includes faux torch light fixtures while Kyoto has an Asian theme complete with a bridge and koi pond. The Board of Toledo and Kyoto reached out to us with an interest in overhauling the interiors of their existing lobbies and hallways. The Board told us that they were tired of the themed look and that they wanted something warmer with a residential feel. They also mentioned that they wanted a cohesive and timeless design with featured elements. One of the major challenges of this project was incorporating ADA ramps into the design. The codes required for the ramps dictated much of the space planning in the lobbies. Once the renovation begins, the lobbies of both buildings will be taken down to the studs. The new spaces that we have designed are very modern and the schemes of each building relate to each other. Currently, the buildings’ common areas are vastly disconnected with no correlation between the design schemes. Kyoto Existing Lobby Versus ALine Lobby Design Concept (Rendering) Once construction is completed, the two lobbies will have the same flooring, wallcovering, custom lighting, and identical feature walls. The floor-to-ceiling Kinon feature walls will be flanked with frosted glass [...]
Financial District Condominium Lobby Remodel
Interior Design for Condo Financial District We are pleased to reveal a design concept that we created for a mixed-use tower located off of the world famous Wall street in the Financial District of NYC. The building is comprised of 346 luxury condo residences along with high-end hotel space. The Board reached out to us with a desire to redesign their modern but impractical lobby. They asked for a design that would help to differentiate the condo tower from the hotel next door. Additionally, the Board expressed concerns about an exposed backroom that revealed an unattractive electrical panel to all guests. They also requested additional package space, which is a prevalent pain point for nearly all condominiums and cooperatives across NYC. Condo Lobby Design Concept Rendering Front Desk View Our design process started with analyzing how we could separate the condo lobby from the hotel lobby both visually and aesthetically. The existing residential lobby is separated only by a transparent glass partition with a built-in seating area mirrored on both sides. Since the Board requested more privacy in their lobby, we envisioned a custom marble wall partition that contains a water vapor fireplace flanked with a custom, abstract wood/brass wall partition. A seating area is situated in front of the focal fireplace wall to define the area and create an inviting space to wait. Not uncommon, the Board wanted to minimize the seating available in the new design because their existing chairs are gratuitously comfortable. This leads to guests lingering for prolonged periods of time as opposed to using the space as a waiting area. Therefore our proposed furniture was carefully curated to be stylish and comfortable but not overly loungey. Condo Lobby Design Concept Rendering Front Entry View The front desk position and [...]
Upper West Side Cooperative Hallway Redesign
Interior Design for Co-op Upper West Side Our team recently completed a hallway redesign project at 60 Riverside Drive, a twenty-one story luxury cooperative building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Once a rolling countryside and farm land for tobacco production, the Upper West Side has since transformed into one of the most affluent and sought-after neighborhoods in the United States. Situated between Central Park and the Hudson River, the Upper West Side is known for its diverse residents and its myriad of cultural institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, and the Lincoln Center. Its mix of high-rise condos, historic buildings, and classic brownstones have made it a prime filming location for countless iconic films/TV shows including Ghostbusters, You’ve Got Mail, and Seinfeld. 60 Riverside Drive was built in 1964, and the existing hallways needed a renovation for style as well as accessibility. With our redesign, we aimed to modernize the interiors to a level befitting both the building and the neighborhood. The initial proposal addressed the need for a fresh color scheme, upgraded lighting to accent the hallways, and new hardware to bring the space up to code. Hallways Before vs. Hallways After The original beige walls and ceiling offered little contrast so we chose to add some variation along with a sleeker selection: white for the ceiling and two shades of gray for the walls—a lighter one for the main wallcovering, and a darker one to serve as an accent. By using new vinyl wallcovering with an emboss, we were able to hide imperfections and create a clean finish throughout the corridors. We painted the doors and trim with complementary shades like burnt ember and pewter to add further variation while still coordinating with the new color scheme. In [...]