Les Bluestone has been developing affordable housing in the New York Metro area since 1999 when he and his partner formed Blue Sea Development Company. Blue Sea was ahead of its time, not only in its chosen niche but also in its desire to build sustainable apartments for those who can’t afford market rate. Blue...
I have a confession to make. I’ve been redesigning people’s virtual offices—or what I can see of them—in my mind’s eye since last year. I was already spending a few hours a month on Zoom before the COVID-19 lockdown began. If you’re one of the lucky ones who has kept their job and it can...
In many apartments, finding a wall to hang a flat screen TV can be an enormous challenge. Homes with floor-to-ceiling windows have gorgeous light and views—but not many surfaces for hanging TVs or art. The same thing is often true in pre-war buildings where molding limits where art can be placed. Besides addressing functional and...
Everyone loves to see a great map hanging on the wall when they walk into a restaurant, hotel or apartment lobby. Maps are highly functional and beautiful too. That’s why they’re frequently displayed as wall art. World maps appeal to frequent travelers and also inspire those who wish they did not have to stay so...
Interior designers love to visit Paris. French interiors are so chic. But the next time you’re in Paris, look beyond the furnishings. If you do, you’ll notice an important element of French design is the intensely matte finish found on many walls. Now high-end French matte options are readily available to designers in the U.S....
There was so much to see and do in Las Vegas at the Kitchen & Bath Business Show 2020 (KBIS) in January. Putting together our take-aways for our colleagues at American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) NY Metro Chapter was a great way to drill down on the major trends and highlights of KBIS. Here’s...
Real estate investors always enjoy perusing the aisles of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). The products that appeal now to the luxury homeowner will influence how multifamily clubhouses and other amenity spaces at investment properties are designed in the future (or right away depending on the price point). At this year’s KBIS, which...
Real estate investors love seeing what’s new at hotels in major cities and off the beaten track. The apartment and hospitality sectors have much in common, and there are many take-aways to be observed in the areas of customer service, technology, amenities and of course design. Some, like Gidi Cohen founder and CEO of Cohen...
Sustainability has many supporters and almost as many definitions. When it comes to the built environment, the Environmental Protection Agency describes sustainable construction as “the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction.” It’s a tall...
You know what they say about first impressions. You only get one chance to make a good one. Hotel operators are very aware of this reality and apartment investors have been noticing what works in the hotel business may also perform well in multifamily properties. Flooring choices in the lobby are seen right away when...