journal

A-List 2017 Winner

We are honored to be a winner for our Greenwich Entry project and a finalist for our Upper East Side Guest Bedroom.  Thank you Moffly Media and Amy Vischio.

 

What a fun evening with judges James Aman and John Meeks, and Emma Jane Pilkington. Loved finally meeting designer Lisa Hilderbrand a fellow A-List winner! Congratulations to all of the designers involved in the event!

Thrilled and honored to be a receipient of an A-List award.

Amazing friends with fellow designer Jennifer Orr, photographer Deann Arce and Chilton & Chadwick VP of Real Estate Christine Finch Oleynick


 

Roughan Nominated for Two Categories AtHome Alist 2017 Awards

Roughan is thrilled and honored to be nominated in two categories in this years AtHome AList 2017 Awards.  All the projects are amazing and the event will be phenomenal.  Please click link below for tickets.  

Cheers!
xoxoxo

Master Bedroom

Entry

Photography by Jane Beiles


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Designer on Designers: 2Michaels Design

Twin Sisters Create Simplicity Inspired by Glamor and Intelligence

I had the pleasure of meeting Jayne and Joan Michaels, founders and principals of New York City-based interior design firm 2Michaels, LLC, when my home office was also based there in the early 2000’s. We met at an industry party in Soho, a book signing for Shane Reilly’s first book, “Inspired High End Interior Design,” in which we were both included. It was soon after we had both also been published in Quest Magazine. Their statuesque elegance and warm appreciation of people were immediate and highly-inviting attractions.

After chatting with them, I noticed that those gifts translated throughout their featured project in Shane’s book. The space was beautiful yet thoughtfully simple, a simplicity that appeared effortless. I know now that anything in design that appears simple most of the time is not. In fact, the more simplistic something appears to be is often the result of a most arduous journey. Knowing this, made it particularly enjoyable to speak again with Jayne and Joan and to tell their story.

Photo courtesy of Trevor Tondro

It’s quite clear that the 2Michaels’ past has greatly influenced their present design aesthetic. They are truly unique and the familial aspect of being identical twins is just the tip of the iceberg. Their journey has been glamorous, intelligent and meaningful guided by their passions for travel, architecture and design.

It began as children living in Utah with a beautiful, bohemian mother who was an artist and father who was, literally, a rocket scientist and engineer for NASA. Their influences taught the girls to tune in, listen to their own voices and take a stand when needed. When they were very young, the inspiring Utah landscape provided a wholesome environment, however the culture was a bit homogenous and the family moved on.

Their mother was a Palm Springs, California native and was excited to relocate the family to her home town. Palm Springs in the 1970’s was filled with Rolls Royces and second homes for Hollywood celebrities and execs.

Photo courtesy of Trevor Tondro

A predominant architectural style in the area was known as “Desert Modernism,” a movement that started in the 1940’s and continued into the 70’s, with California architects adapting Bauhaus inspiration to the desert. Such well known architects as Richard Neutra, John Lautner and Donald Wexler, among many others, were responsible for beautiful homes the girls either lived in or near – including that of their next-door neighbor, Bob Hope.

Jayne recalls walking by these buildings every day thinking, in disbelief, that they were from another planet. The clean, crisp lines and textural elements the architects applied to building and landscape were unknowingly influencing both girls throughout their high school days in Palm Springs.

Photos courtesy of Eric Laignel

The girls went on to college at UCLA. During that time, a scout approached the tall and striking young women to model fashion in Italy. It was an interesting invitation — so they accepted.

While in Italy, they found themselves surrounded by, studying and conversing with architects and interior designers. Their discussions were always about a piece of furniture made or a structure completed by famed Italian architects and design influencers like Franco Albini and Carlo Scarpa.

The women soon realized that fashion modeling was not their calling — and that interior design and architecture was!  After being in Italy for a number of years, Joan and Jayne landed in New York to study interior design at Parsons and FIT, respectively. After graduation, Jayne worked for Simone Feldman and Victoria Hagen designing interiors and Joan worked for Ronald Boris Architect in Soho. In 2001, they started 2Michaels LLC and the company has been gaining press and attention ever since.

Photo courtesy of Eric Laignel

The 2Michaels style can be described as Italian cinematic classic modernism. It’s infused with midcentury American and European furnishings along with textural objects, wall coverings and lighting. They are all about the exploration — from how a piece looks in one direction vs another, while keeping the functionality and comfort of a room intact.

To them, each room is special and represents their client while softly infusing their own style. Their work spans the globe from New York City to LA, Michigan and Italy. In addition to residential work, they’ve participated in commercial design and architecture ventures, including law offices. When designing commercial spaces, they bring in elements of home to create a warm, familiar feeling in these places where people often spend more time than they do at home. Each space is carefully curated.

Photo courtesy of Trevor Tondro

Recently, they’ve begun working with real estate developers on high end, ground-up projects. New York developer Richard Pandiscio approached 2Michaels to work with his firm on three projects with Flank Architects, also based in New York. There were other designers in the running so his request was to have the selected designers create a presentation from which he would choose the designer that would fit best.

Photo courtesy of Eric Laignel

At the end of a laborious, competitive interview process, the 2Michaels were selected. It became obvious that 2Michaels was the right choice when the luxury ventures in New York City and Miami sold out within nine months.

What’s on the horizon for these design ‘Wonder Women’? They have a wonderful project in Sutton Place in Manhattan and a dream come true working with model-turned-architect Robin Osler on a project at 83rd Street and 5th Avenue. I am so looking forward to seeing these projects when completed. Love these ladies!

Photo courtesy of Douglas Friedman


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“The Art of a Completed Interior ” featured in the Isabella Garrucho Fine Art Gallery, The ART of Magazine

A Finished Room

 

Photography by Jane Beiles

A finished room is art to the soul and should reflect the individual or family who resides there. Whether you’re a novice or a professional in the world of interior design, everybody loves a fully completed space. It’s the impression you get upon entering a room that is styled well, it leaves you thinking about the design and wanting to recreate something of your own. As a designer, there is nothing more bothersome then entering a beautiful room and it not being finished. It exudes the feeling of “I’m not yet there, please help” or “I’m naked”. The success of a room is all in the details as they create the final stage. When I speak with Clients I describe our process and let them know how critical accessories and art are as they reflect the lifestyle they lead. Curated art and selections of accessories need to be placed on visible surfaces and areas of a room to give it life. Some are family heirlooms such as sculptures, crystal or silver, others more modern pieces that are not as old yet work together to complete the area. The completed room is what an olive is to a martini, the filling to a macaroon and the right accessory to the little black dress. Most people overlook these details until they are brought to their attention by the eye of a designer.

Photography by Willie Cole

To create a completed room having one of a kind sources is key. Finding the right piece in an obscure place is a story in itself. However while sourcing is fun it is also very times consuming so it must be completed in a very organized fashion. My team sources online through antique websites as well as on foot to antique dealers on the east/west coast. We also attend shows in Milan, Miami, NYC and Paris to gather the “right” accessories for each project. We then have a rooster of places to look, some are antiques others not. Selected accessories can range from an antique bistro chair from the Paris Flea to a lucite bowl from the eponymous Alexandra Von Furstenberg shop in LA.The job dictates the accessory and each job is curated differently. We like to mix old and new to create a lifestyle that fits each project. Some may have more modern, some more traditional but all work together effortlessly. The last decorative piece that we choose is the palm, whether a kentia or a fiddleleaf fig, the height and size makes all the difference as it’s all about scale and proportion. Along with the plant you must source the right pot as well. They range from new Asian fishbowls, modern containers or antiques with colors that enhance the interior.

Photography by Jane Beiles

Once the architect and contractor have completed their work to make a home beautiful and structurally sound is when the decorative layering begins. When the designer orders all merchandise and the furniture has been placed, throw pillows delivered, sconces & hardware installed, drapery up, touch-ups completed and blue tape off the walls is the time we bring art and decorative accessories in to create design moments. Each area has to look as if it was always there, nothing should look to new. All spatial aspects of the interior should flow naturally into the other yet each area a very distinguishable design. Some room may have more of a wow factor and others a feeling of ease. Each design has a purpose and function which dictates everything. What is luxury without function ? It doesn’t exist.

Photography by Jane Beiles

The art of a completed interior is through professional styling which bring a room to life. The tiers of curated art and accessories make each space special and tell a story. Some may be minimal like a Donald Judd sculpture on a wall or some may be layers and layers of curiosities. Completed Interiors create memories that are filled with love, passion, happiness and a deep vision of the past and a peek into the future. Winston Churchill said it best, “We shape our homes, and then our homes shape us.”

Photography by CS Roughan


 

Roughan Interiors in Interior Design Magazine
Roughan Interiors in House Beautiful
Roughan Interiors in Elle Decor
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