Interior Design by Maryann Syrek, M. Studio Gallery
For an interior designer, it's the ultimate compliment. Being asked, some 20 years following a client's first project, to once again work magic in an entirely new setting, under entirely new circumstances. "Time had passed," says Maryann Syrek of M. Studio Gallery. "Their style had changed and the kids were grown." Syrek seized the opportunity to sit down with her former clients to discuss "all the wonderful new products in today's design world." Before the interior design could begin on the 12,000-square-foot Saddle River estate, they collaborated on a structural redesign of the layout to meet the family's current needs, reworking the floor plan into more useful, intimate spaces by removing columns, adding walls and creating doorways to maximize the flow and privacy. "The exterior and interior had to be symbiotic, so we needed to simplify and define the style while staying true to the original intention of the architecture as much as possible," Syrek says of the Georgian, clapboard-style house.
"This house is all about the details," notes Syrek. "It's easy to create a sterile, 'show house' type of house," explaining the dramatic difference that's achieved when designers tap their clients' most-treasured personal possessions to add interest and depth. "Art, sculpture and all the beauty it brings draws a room to a conclusion," she says.
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(201) Magazine, March 2010
Great Room
Two distinct sitting areas and soaring picture windows give the home's great room a spacious, open-air feel. "Here, we aimed to create a space conducive to family gatherings," notes Syrek. The room is united by complementary shades of dark and pale gray, interspersed with cream. Near the marble-front fireplace, Syrek chose an ultra-suede sofa by Lewis Mittman and cut-velvet chairs by Donghia, accented by a pair of leather stools by Hickory and a Lucite table by Lewis Mittman. A custom Orley & Shabahang carpet anchors the first sitting area. The homeowner also chose a striking Emil Alzamora sculpture of mother and child for the mantel. "This piece really resonated with her," recalls Syrek. "It was the final object chosen for the room." A custom chrome-plated fireplace screen by William H. Jackson gives the fireplace a crisp, clean finish. A more-modern second sitting area, framed by drapes in an Italian cotton by Nobilis, features a William Haines reproduction cocktail table and slipper chairs by Hamilton Furniture designer Catherine Stewart.
Two distinct sitting areas and soaring picture windows give the home's great room a spacious, open-air feel. "Here, we aimed to create a space conducive to family gatherings," notes Syrek. The room is united by complementary shades of dark and pale gray, interspersed with cream. Near the marble-front fireplace, Syrek chose an ultra-suede sofa by Lewis Mittman and cut-velvet chairs by Donghia, accented by a pair of leather stools by Hickory and a Lucite table by Lewis Mittman. A custom Orley & Shabahang carpet anchors the first sitting area. The homeowner also chose a striking Emil Alzamora sculpture of mother and child for the mantel. "This piece really resonated with her," recalls Syrek. "It was the final object chosen for the room." A custom chrome-plated fireplace screen by William H. Jackson gives the fireplace a crisp, clean finish. A more-modern second sitting area, framed by drapes in an Italian cotton by Nobilis, features a William Haines reproduction cocktail table and slipper chairs by Hamilton Furniture designer Catherine Stewart.
Estates
Saddle River Showplace
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