T H E R O O M :
BLAIRSDEN LOUNGE
In order to reinvent what once was a very traditional dining room, Greenbaum lead
designers Charles Dobbs and Steven Fioravanti separated the space into different
zones. "We imagined a large cocktail area, something that was not as formal as
the original house," Greenbaum explained. "While the room is still formal, it's
broken down into different sections so that there are more intimate seating areas."
However, the true essence of the updated entertainment lounge lies not only in
the layout, but in Greenbaum's ability to introduce today's elements into the room's
furniture and structure. For instance, the staff restored several classic chairs by
coating them in cream lacquer and then using a bright fabric for a fresh, updated
look. Processes such as this and the use of vibrant colors were instrumental in the
room's overall design. While Greenbaum added a painted finish to several parts of
the room's original construction, they remained faithful to the historical architecture
of the estate. "It's a classic room and you don't want to take out all of the fantastic
original details," Greenbaum said. The firm sourced much of the contemporary
artwork and furniture (some which date back to the 1800's) from countries including
Italy, France, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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