When you ask interior designer Monique Gibson about her job, she quickly explains that she considers herself more than just someone who decorates homes. Gibson, who is based in New York but has projects across the country and whose clients include Meg Ryan and many other celebrities, often understands people before their clients know themselves. , we have perfected the art of predicting what our clients want. Utilizing this skill, she serves as a style guide, gracefully guiding homeowners through their projects and guiding them toward spaces that pay attention to the senses as well as the aesthetics.
“Most clients have an awareness of what they believe is beautiful,” says Gibson. You can look around at a house with lots of colors and patterns and think it's beautiful, but that's not necessarily what you'd choose if you want to feel at ease. If the purpose of the space is to find rest, you need to know what materials, colors and shapes evoke a feeling of rest. ”
For one of Gibson's recent clients, a couple building a weekend home on their family's land in New York, the ultimate goal of the project was to create a relaxing space. With two demanding jobs and his two children, they spend time together as a family, connecting over meals, games, and lazy afternoons of reading together. I was looking for a house.
The home, designed by architect Theo Siguenza, was already under construction when the client hired Gibson. The contemporary construction of the residence incorporates local farmhouse style through its materials, with reclaimed wood featured prominently throughout. Meanwhile, contemporary details of glass and darkened steel combine with simple angles and a neutral palette for a sleek, updated look. “When I first saw the house, it looked like a new glass and metal structure had been built around an old wooden house,” Gibson says. “The purity and simplicity of that order guided us.”
Gibson said her client found her after searching for photos of black kitchens online and clicking on a link. advertisement A story featuring the designer's home. “The great thing about this client was that she knew herself,” Gibson says. “She knew that dark spaces were very comfortable for her. The first thing she said she wanted was a black kitchen.” To keep the room from looking too harsh, Gibson We layered the materials, starting with distressed Belgian bluestone tiles with a dark tumbled finish on the floor. From there, she built with a striking custom steel island (made locally), burnt oak cabinetry (also made locally), and black Absolute Zimbabwean stone countertops. “One of her ways of creating depth and interest within a limited palette is through the use of texture,” Gibson explains. A set of handcrafted barstools by Ayala Israel and collection ceramics displayed on open shelves help break up the monochrome composition.
The rest of the ground floor of this two-story home includes a living room and dining room (both with beautiful views of the meandering river that runs through the property), a spacious entryway, and two powder rooms. room, and an additional public zone for cozy family use. Burrow. A favorite family gathering space, the living room has double-height ceilings and large sliding glass doors that open to a patio overlooking the river. A 14-foot sofa by Grant Trick provides plenty of space for guests. More intimate seating options are available, including a vintage banquette that once belonged to Yves Saint Laurent and was the client's husband's favorite reading spot.
