We collaborated closely with the architect from the inception of this project. Having worked with the client for years, we had insight into their love of Moorish design, appreciation of furniture styles of different periods and passion for collecting fine art of diverse genres. Moorish influences appear in details of ceilings, doors, the fireplace, garden elements and the landscaping that connects the house to the shore of Long Island Sound.
Our deceptively simple, pared-back design for these gracefully connected structures was informed by “place” — hillside topography, native plants and trees, and expansive views. Landscape inspired design and materials, natural shapes in corten steel, concrete, reclaimed redwood and limestone. Rock pathways link the multimodal retreat (guest bedroom, yoga/meditation studio, entertainment pavilion) to the client’s main house.
Engineered glass panels disappear into wall pockets, connecting the interior spaces to the ever-changing beauty of the wine country. Our client desired a subtlety in design detail, as well as in the palette of materials. Executed in white oak, softly polished Venetian plaster and Vetter limestone, together, underscore a visual calm punctuated by an eclectic contemporary art collection.
The brief for this project was to help create an elegant, yet casual gathering place for family holidays and vacations on the shore. We collaborated with the architects, tripling the size of this beach house, while helping create a seamless transition between the original structure & the additions, reflecting the owners’ elevated approach to relaxed living.
A long-time friend and seasoned patron of the arts, fond of the north-facing light in a mid-century high-rise building, supported the decision to strip the space back to its structure. The basic instruction to the design team for the new interior was to create a clean background allowing him to be comfortably surrounded by an edited selection of art from a lifetime of collecting.
G2 took great care in designing this desert home, paying homage to the local vernacular in a highly modern way. Our relationship with the client was established with two previous projects, paving the way for the clean, simple & spare approach for this remote site. We acknowledged the surrounding serenity set amidst dramatic beauty allowing the renowned New Mexico light to wash through the house.
“…Elsewhere the sky is the roof of the world; but here in New Mexico the earth is the floor of the sky…” Willa Cather
This classic brownstone had been split up into several apartments in the 1970’s. We took out interior walls and reconfigured spaces, returning it to a single-family residence for a clan of four. As a result, an abundance of natural light now fills an airy two-story living room and provides intimate views into the rear garden. Their casual lifestyle centers on the heart of the main level’s living, kitchen and dining areas.
It began in the late 1800s as a barn for farm equipment, hay and horses. A historically-significant structure, having sat largely un-used for decades, has undergone a transformation to accommodate a multitude of functions for our client’s ever-growing family of three generations. Now it houses an office, billiards, an additional dinner party spot, a guest suite and a new home for four horses. Overcoming local ordinances to allow habitation for ‘livestock’ and ‘humans’ created special challenges in the design process.
A resort area in the Colorado Rocky Mountains provides an elegant setting for a family who loves to ski. Collaborating closely on the design with Morter Architects, we worked with the scale of the classic lodge to make it cozy and comfortable. The finishes, furnishings and millwork with Craftsman detailing, along with the client's modern art collection, integrate gracefully with structural timbers and native stone.
A desert oasis is the setting for beautiful furnishings and objects from the Old World. For this project, the third with these clients, G2 directed the design of the Spanish style structure, carefully incorporating architectural fragments, fountains, fine art and a vast collection of newly acquired antique furniture. The result is a safe, secure & private environment, with all of the creature comforts, while providing a gracious environment for large charity events.
REMODEL
Views of San Francisco Bay and urban life provide a backdrop for this trusted client's new home. The majority of furnishings were repurposed from previous residences we designed for them: "edit and edit more" became the mantra. Beginning with a fairly unadorned space, we added architectural detailing and millwork, then painted everything varying shades of soothing Swedish greys along with Pompeiian red for the entry. The results are both a spectacular and comfortable.
This challenging commission started with the instruction to ‘give me something I haven’t seen before’…a very tall order! Our client (a modernist at heart) desired a contemporary / western ski lodge to be built on a remote Colorado mountaintop. Modern forms rendered in steel, glass, native stone, exotic woods, a variety of the earth’s marbles, granites, slates & onyx created a dramatic backdrop influencing the selection of all other materials in the warm, livable spaces that cultivate tranquility.
We designed the interior of this Gulfstream jet to satisfy two important parties: Our client and the FAA with their strict requirements regarding every finish material. The client was specific about the palette: no autumnal colors, no beige. The result: a beautiful & luxurious way to travel.
Our client desired a new look for this piano nobile apartment. Starting with a palette of gold, cream & champagne we transformed the spaces with decorative painting, Venetian plaster and finely produced textiles. The new design established an elegant foil for the clients’ notable art collection and urban entertaining.
This is the clients’ Madison Avenue pied-a-terre for frequent visits to the city. They love the urban bustle and energy, but wanted the penthouse to be a quiet haven. Our renovation created tranquil, contemporary spaces that were true to the clients’ appreciation of spare, clean lines and desire for solitude in the city.
The clients, a young couple, have a deep appreciation of the grand Newport cottages built by the industrial titans of the Gilded Age. Taking cues from history, we co-ventured the design of a fresh and vibrant interpretation of the sometimes older & darker aesthetic, executing the quality and elegance in a sunny, white-on-white palette with exquisite detailing. The pair of Jade chandeliers, in the dining room, were purchased before a line had been drawn and were the springboard for the overall feel of the room.
We closely collaborated on the re-make of an existing property perched above the water’s edge on Belvedere. The extensive use of cedar for all walls & ceilings, softened and burnished by sandblasting and finished with a gesso wash, creates a quiet backdrop, playing host to a blend of art and antiques. This cozy hideaway is filled with the spectacular views of the surrounding Bay Area.
This ski-in/ski-out lodge is our sixth collaboration for this client. Native stone and timber framing make the structure seem as though it is one with the surrounding landscape. The material selections and classic details inspired by "lodge architecture", appear throughout and are supported by floors milled from reclaimed trestle timbers.
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