Name: Flan and Oisa
Location: Bizzi & Partners' New Setai Hotel/Condo on 36th and Fifth Avenue
Size: 2500 square feet — 3 bedroom condo & 58th floor
Years lived in: 3 months
Steven Gambrel designed this penthouse apartment for Flan and Oisa, stars of the 1993 drama, Six Degrees of Separation. Or at least, he imagined the wealthy couple as his client when he agreed to participate in this year's Designer Visions: Cinema Style.
Because the Mayor's Office of Film co-sponsored the event, designers were encouraged to choose a New York film to inspire their work. Steven Cambrell chose Six Degrees because he was looking for a client that he could actually imagine living here.
"These are not people who style everything," explains Gambrel. He used a ton of color, texture, and juxtapositions of styles to foster the right balance of chaos and calm.
Many elements were custom made for this space and offer brilliant ideas for the DIYer. The set of dining tables is particularly striking. At first glance the surface appears to be a cacophany of various marble patterns, but the secret is that it is two pieces of wood on 4 wooden sawhorses. Every surface has been lined with Florentine booklining paper and sealed. The edges of the table are studded to create an even greater sense of purpose and permanence.
There is definitely a lot going on here, perhaps too much for some. But it is exhilarating to be in, in the sense that that each glance affords a bounty of sensations. Of course, art and books blanket the home, but so do lush and textured fabrics, and all kinds of plant-life. Gambrel went out of his way to create noticeable signs of life — one can imagine that people really live here and that those people are curious and adventurous, and that they enjoy more quirk than less.
House Tour Survey
Style: A vibrant blend of old and unusual. Contrasting colors and cool art.
Inspiration: Bohemian interiors of the artistic 20th century New York set.
Favorite Element: Lux textiles, lux antiques, casual lifestyle.
Biggest Challenge: No architectural elements to align with the decorations and color story.
Biggest Indulgence: 1940s antiques
Best Advice: Don’t hold back.
Dream Source: Bernd Goeckler
Resources:
• Fabric: Donghia
• Tile: Ann Sacks
• Countertops: Silestone
• Bedding: Wamsutta
• Pillow fabric: Bergamo
• Bathroom fixtures: Kohler
• Paint: Ralph Lauren Bitter Orange in study
To see more details of Fran and Oisa's kitchen, check out Six Degrees of Separation at the Setai on The Kitchn.
Images: Jill Slater
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.
Veronica & Keith's Handmade Chic 
Before & After: A Bathroom Goes From Pinky Peach to Sleek and Chic
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Hunslet Dinner Plate
A Beginner's Guide to Superb Stir-Fry: Quick, Healthy Meals from a Wok
Easy Pitcher Cocktail Recipe: Strawberry Basil Margaritas
Comments (16)
I am distressed by the sight of the dying Platyceriums in the bathroom, otherwise it's lovely.
I have to make the bulletin board with the orange ribbon.
Hands-down, the colossal bulletin board is the best idea ever. I also love the somewhat consistent, imperfectly-aligned groupings of art in threes.
I love the bedroom and the dining room. LOVE.
This decorator is one of the best out there. While this is very well put together it doesn't seems to be one of his best. Perhaps working with an actual client instead of an imaginary one provides the constraints and structure to do better work. Regardless, he's one to watch...
things that make you go hmmm...
I just left this hotel!!!!! They opened this past Monday, check out my photos and some info on North On Harper
I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one that noticed the two lovely dead plants....
...and the vanity vanity facing the wall and with no source of light, isn't that great?
...and the water falling from some two meter above the bathtub? It's perfect to get more splashing on the floor.
Design is not about doing something senseless.
TOO DARK! I believe you would be hard pressed to find a person who would not enjoy some all-natural light therapy in their life. I get it, the city is chaotic and having a cozy cocoon to come home to every day to destress is key. This is not a cozy cocoon. It is a morose depression chamber.
@shannont: Morose? Really? I find it relaxing and fantastic. Different strokes...
oh look, dead plants!
fabulous art room, so much to look at ! just lovely
@ Buster: I completely agree that this was not his best work. I went to his website and was very impressed. There's a fine line between "lived in" and "show house." I think he lost sight of that with this project.
@ Lisa: Nope, I wouldn't want to live here. I also think his concept of 10 years ago was a bad business decision. As a designer, you want to showcase your most current work to get more work.
http://www.srgambrel.com/
Oh my God. I wish there were less than 6 Degrees separating me from this apartment. To me, it's absolutely the best apartment ever. Obviously high-end, but it looks like it is just the product of a monied life well lived. It doesn't look at all like someone ran out and threw a million dollars at it in one day (the way so many high-end apartments do). Simply the best ever.
Hmmmm....I would have to agree with thorndale and lucky lu...I wasn't really impressed with this one. Seemed very I don't know.. just kinda all over the place..
Wonderful, fabulous. That is my ideal place to live.