After getting her start in the fashion world as a junior sportswear designer, Evelyn Benatar is now celebrating her 25th year in business as a decorator. She still relies on her roots in fashion, as evidenced in the colorful Tribeca apartment featured here.
NYC&G: How did this project come your way?
Evelyn Benatar: My clients had just married off both their children and were starting a new chapter in their lives. As it happens, their kids decided to settle in Tribeca right next to their pied-à-terre, so they could all be within walking distance from one another. The story I wanted to tell was about a close-knit family celebrating happiness and success, amplified by bright color, sophisticated furnishings, and a light and airy ambiance.
Dining chairs from Artistic Frame are upholstered in Osborne & Little’s Tides Reef in Peacock.
In the living room, seating pieces from Dennis Miller New York play off the marine blue in a wool and silk rug from Joseph Carini Carpets. The cocktail tables are from Lepere.
Pendants from A Rudin and curtains made from a Jab Anstoetz fabric punctuate the tidy kitchen.
A painting by Masha Ryskin hangs above the bed in the primary bedroom.
The primary bedroom features a wing chair from Lepere.
Furnishings in the office include a sofa from Milano Smart Living, a rug from Lepere, and a Brett Design wallpaper from Profiles; the canvas is by Michele D’Ermo.
What jump-started your design scheme?
The Tibetan rug in the living room, which is from Joseph Carini Carpets. I’m a big fan of bold color, and my clients fell in love with the carpet’s incredible hues, from which I pulled out blues and pinks to use throughout the project. Not all clients get into saturated colors, so I was like, Okay, we’re on the right track!
The apartment tower is extremely modern, with enormous support columns within each unit. How did you deal with this structural challenge?
I wanted the columns to disappear and came up with a solution I’ve never tried before, covering them completely in the same Phillip Jeffries grass-cloth wall covering that I used in the entryway and living room. I think they make the space feel even cozier and warmer, as opposed to being in your face.
Where did you get your inspiration for the office?
The office is for the wife, whose favorite colors are pink, purple, and orange. I wanted to turn it into a very happy and feminine space, with a layer of sophistication to it. The ombré draperies are a gorgeous alpaca wool from Rosemary Hallgarten and the wallpaper is from Profiles. Both lend a nice sense of dimension to the room.
You started out in fashion. How did you segue into interiors?
The fashion and interior design fields are closely related in so many ways. After ending my fashion career, I decided to study at the New York School of Interior Design. My first real job after that was at F. Schumacher & Co., where I worked as a sales rep on the floor and learned the business inside out. I then worked for Susan Morrow Interiors for eight years before opening my own firm.
What was your favorite part about this project?
Working with the clients, who are an amazing and fun-loving couple. On the first day, we went out shopping together and found that gorgeous rug. Sometimes, things just click!