Long Island Residence

Some relationships begin with just one note and become a symphony. And so, it began with this project. The clients, a married couple, had lived in Italy for 40 years. He was knowledgeable and had a deep affinity for Architecture, especially for the fusion of classic Architecture and Contemporary design. They already had an Architect of record who had provided the floor plan and elevation based on the client’s wish to emulate a French-style villa he had admired since childhood.

My firm, ORA Studio, and I were hired to envision and develop the Interior Architecture which consisted of 2 floors with a finished lower level that includes entertainment facilities, gym, spa, and kids’ playroom totaling 24K square feet.

The clients wanted a large area for gatherings and celebrations. We knew quite quickly that the space needed to be open and visualized as a modern/contemporary loft-like environment.

The entrance was located under the two large ramps of stairs. Because of that, the entry foyer had a less than – grand ceiling height. We suggested introducing an elegant glass door that would separate the entry foyer from the rest of the house, allowing us to reimagine the foyer as a jewel box, well designed and lit with a cozy ambiance, a transition that magnifies the space and has that “WOW” factor upon entering the main salon.

We suggested creating four areas – Dining Area, Gallery, Formal Living Area, and Media Area by realizing a core in the open space, characterized by a double-height ceiling, and delineated by four columns. First, the columns were revised in size and material to be in scale with the grandeur of the space. We then conceived a freestanding custom monumental marble fireplace, flanked by the remaining two columns that were enveloped in octagonal-shaped bronze finish. The fireplace constitutes a backdrop for the Formal Living Area, and on the other side, a demarcation of the Media Area.

The kitchen is a chef’s dream with high-end Boffi cabinetry and top-of-the-line appliances. It is comprised of two islands, one for prepping and cooking, and one perfect for entertaining, wine tasting, and espressos, a must-have for a client who loves gatherings and conversation.

In the transition from first to the second floor were double ramp staircases leading to the second-floor landing. We envisioned a quadrilateral gallery overlooking the salon, with custom-designed backlit shelving, displaying objets d’art from the client’s collection, providing the visual connection between first and second floors.

On the right, the Master Suite would include His/Her Master Bathroom and His/Her walk-in closets and Master Bedroom with a sitting area, using Boffi vanity and sanitary ware and marble. The client went to Italy to visit the stone quarry and selected his block of stone. It is always interesting to work with a client that can go to that extent to create a masterpiece.

On the other side of the gallery would be all the bedrooms and kid’s playroom, designed with the same approach and similar colors but with slightly different layouts and feel based on each son’s personality, with each space designed to be functional and elegant, even the laundry area.

The ground level is a 12,000 square foot amenity level with entertainment facilities, including a gym, spa, and kids’ play area. The Italian-style garden features a dreamy pool by Heaven Pool, Paola Lenti outdoor furniture, and a custom cabana.

Light is an essential element of this home. We designed the lighting in a way that would not only illuminate the space but also give a distinct character to each area. The dining room was lit by a custom-designed coffered ceiling that concealed light, so the entire ceiling was an expanded light fixture, creating light coves along the corridor and another coffered ceiling above the living area, also equipped with concealed light. For overall light, we used a specific product from Guzzini called laser blade which was small and unobtrusive and almost nonexistent but able to produce a powerful coned light able to reach great distance and not give any glare on the ceiling.

What made this project successful was the relationship between the Interior Architect and the Client, their deep understanding of each other, the client’s impeccable taste, and his willingness to invest valuable time in his dream home. A satisfied client and a truly grand residence, embodying the refined balance between classical Architecture and Contemporary interiors that the client had always desired, was the high note to this wonderful composition.