As a creative, I am always eager to learn how others stay inspired, but today, I’m here to share what is inspiring me at the moment. Truthfully, I find that I am inspired almost everywhere I look.  Being a visual learner and a designer, I am always noticing inspiring color palettes to incorporate in my NYC lobby design as well as in my hallway design schemes, in particular. 

Today, for example, I was visiting our local gourmet supermarket and found the vegetable selections and display absolutely inspiring. For example, the colors of the aubergine (eggplant) and the variety of lettuce colors (fresh greens with subtle reds) can inspire upholstery hues for the lobby as well as hallway design scheme colors. Then, the Romanesco cauliflower’s collections of spirals and delicate peaks led me to think of intricate lobby carpet patterns that will hide daily wear and tear. And carrots and fingerling potatoes both come in an array of unusual colors that are so appealing and visually interesting and inspiring.

In New York City, I’m inspired by the Gilded Age mansions that have been converted to museums and hotels, oozing with deep rich woods and saturated colors. These spaces are so timeless and sophisticated. When I spot the spectacular moldings and carvings on the walls and ceilings, I’m always eager to take reference photos for our lobby design and hallway design work, and I encourage my team members to do they same when they’re equally enchanted by something. Even in my day to day life in NYC, I’m awe-struck by building architecture, tile patterns, carved limestone, wrought iron door patterns, hardware, retail store windows, eyeglasses, jewelry…it’s all eye candy to me!

I also find inspiration in nature. Early morning mist mutes the landscape in a way that is so elegant and understated. Ice “sketches” on a pane of glass allow for a contrast between cool blue grays and darker background colors. This contrast, as well as the organic shapes that take place, lead me to think of carpet patterns once again. I am also in awe of the sunrises and sunsets I experience as I drive in and out of the city at dusk and dawn, which are filled with salmons, blues, golds, smoke, lavender and get my interior design juices flowing. With these remarkable and awe inspiring natural color palettes, how can I not be inspired at every turn I take?

As a New York City lobby and hallway designer, I am often called in to evaluate not only the functional needs of a lobby but also ways to make a lobby appear outstanding and memorable in order to distinguish a given building from others.  

Essentially, a lobby should be filled with items that are aesthetically pleasing but non controversial. To help you get started selecting accents that will shine in your lobby, I’ve put together some guidelines to reference during the design process. 

 Probably the toughest thing to select and finalize in any lobby setting is artwork.  Artwork is the most common finishing touch of any lobby installation, the last item to go in. 

Painted canvases and sculptures are commonly seen in NYC apartment lobbies. I advise staying away from genre pieces, like pieces with people, and instead have opted for universally calming landscapes, depictions of architectural elements, and photographs. I always work to avoid art that is readily available in the marketplace—a cookie cutter solution is not the advisable choice here. 

Instead, I advise sourcing images that complement the building’s architecture, pay a nod to its history, or reference a place in the neighborhood.  

Looking to go in another direction? Try an eye-catching wall treatment. In the lobby shown here, this was done with a wood veneer wallcovering installed in a starburst pattern. The visual is powerful yet neutral enough to avoid being the subject of criticism.

There are many products on the market that can be used to bring a natural or organic feel to any lobby. The living wall is becoming more popular because it is more accessible, artful, and unexpected. It also serves as a tie between the indoors and out. That said, a living wall will require maintenance, but this care pays off—with proper care, a living wall will last for four to six years on end. Additionally, live plants are associated with a slew of benefits, ranging from increased oxygen levels to an overall feeling of ease.

Have you ever visited a wonderful restaurant or hotel with striking flower arrangements? Why not include this type of element in your NYC apartment lobby in the form of fresh flower arrangements or potted plants such as orchids? As with the living wall, live plants boost people’s moods—and who doesn’t want to feel a little less stressed when arriving home at the end of a long day?

The light fixture over your vestibule, doorman station, or seating area should be classic, suitable in scale for the space, boast LED for energy savings, and keep with the overall building design.   Lighting is generally a larger ticket, investment item and can make all the difference in adding oomph to a space. Take your time when selecting lobby lighting, though. Include a variety of fixtures: table lamps, floor lamps, pendants, and sconces are all fair game.

I have always admired water walls; a fountain is always a wonderful focal point for a lobby. There is little water needed because a pump re-circulates the water, and if properly constructed, there is zero to little issue over time. Plus, the sound can drown out unpleasant street sounds, which is always a plus in New York City. Best of all, a water wall doesn’t need to be large to make an impact and brings a calming and spa-like quality to your lobby.

While some of the options outlined above involve a one-time cost and others require a bit of maintenance, they all make an impact in a NYC lobby. Consult with your Board to determine what is accessible within your building’s budget; you cannot go wrong with any of these additions.

Living in a prewar building is quite appealing to many young buyers for a slew of reasons. A pre-war apartment refers to a unit built before World War II, generally during the time period between 1900 and 1939. Pre-war buildings are known for the generous size of their apartments and beautiful 20th century architecture. Pre-war buildings often include features such as marble slab walls, mosaic flooring, elaborate plasterwork ceilings, and moldings.

That said, as a New York City lobby and hallway designer, I’ve learned that young buyers want to see something fresh and modern in their buildings, too. And before you fear that adding contemporary touches will interfere with a building’s original charm don’t worry. There are many ways to add modern influences to a space without compromising character. Below, I’ve listed a few solutions.

Bring wow-factor to the lobby with a well-designed doorman’s desk that is minimalistic and features state of the art technology. For example, iPad technology can be used to manage package retrieval and other essential functions. This will help bring even the most storied building into the 21st century.

Meticulously maintained existing finishes are key to ensure that the building stays looking elegant and sleek. Polished existing marble walls and floors, restored or even simplified plaster details, shiny clean surfaces indicate excellent maintenance.

Adding cove lighting where appropriate is a modern touch that is subtle enough to work in a traditional space.

Try some modern art with pops of color and opt for slightly oversized scale pieces. This helps emphasize their importance and presence

As a hallway designer, I’ve kept note of what those looking to start a family notice when touring buildings. This includes: kid friendly upholstery fabric that is easily cleaned to avoid the “oops” factor when accidents happen, package space designed to accommodate scooters, tricycles, and strollers and car seats, and furniture with soft, rounded ages that are safe for little ones wandering around.

It’s safe to say that as a professional who designs New York City apartment building hallways, I witness a number of mistakes that need remedying. I wanted to share the most common hallway design mistakes below—make sure your building is not guilty of any of these!

Lighting can so significantly contribute to the mood of a space. I often notice lobbies in which each light fixture has a different color temperature, which is certainly not ideal. If you don’t provide your superintendent or resident manager with a specific lighting temperature, they may simply grab the nearest bulb and call it a day. As a result, you wind up with a very visible mish mash of bulb colors, which leaves a lobby looking chaotic.

My advice is to avoid clear plastic corner guards at all costs. Why? The clear plastic versions look flimsy, yellow over time, and show damage and wear quite easily. I feel that corner guards should either be custom painted to disappear into the wall covering or should be a metal color that matches the brass or chrome finish used in the hallway. Also, keep height top of mind. When corner guards are short—as in, they do not range from floor to ceiling—they appear out of place.

I cannot tell you how many times New York City cooperative and condominium buildings opt out of upgrading their door hardware, door chimes, and the signage on their unit doors. After implementing a fresh, new hallway design scheme, these elements that are left over from a bygone era will be an eyesore. Do everyone a favor and say goodbye to them once and for all!

Purchasing stock material for future use is always a smart decision when it comes to lobby and hallway design. Unfortunately, some buildings must operate with very tight budgets and don’t purchase additional carpeting, wall coverings, light fixtures, or any of the other materials they just paid to have installed. But, the reality is that there may be times when you will need to replace some of your hallway design elements. And the unfortunate consequence is that often products are either custom to begin with or discontinued over time. It is best to have 10 to 15 percent of additional materials stored away for such occasions, trust me.

It is critical to keep a list of the paint colors used in the lobby and hallway so that when doors need to be repainted over time, your building staff doesn’t have to guess or try to match paint colors. This process is not fun for anyone and simply leads to complications that could have easily been avoided. 

It’s always easier to go into a remodel knowing what to avoid, and your condo and coop lobby design will truly shine if you just keep the above five tips top of mind!

Indoor plants have been having a major moment for the past several years and have only begun to become more popular as we’ve started to spend more time at home. But green friends don’t just belong inside individual apartment units—they deserve to shine in building lobbies, too. 

The good news is an overly green thumb isn’t required in order to maintain a beautiful floral or plant display for all residents to enjoy. Even something as simple as a bouquet of gorgeously arranged fresh flowers can easily be replenished each week and will add instant elegance and charm to any lobby. Additionally, there are plenty of ultra realistic-looking faux plants on the market these days, too, if you’re most inclined to go that route! 

It’s simple enough to create a stunning indoor garden in the lobby in just a few steps. All it takes are a few energetic residents who are willing to volunteer to tackle the below tasks—the results  of which will make a major impact on daily life in the building.

1. Find the Right Planters

Toss those plastic pots that plants are housed in at the nursery and invest in some stylish planters that will correspond with your lobby’s existing decor. If you’re not sure where to begin, Mediterranean-inspired vessels are particularly on trend at the moment and look lovely with a variety of furniture styles and color schemes. If you’re looking to add more color to the lobby, you can also do so by way of planters—choose striped or patterned pottery that will add some pep to the entrance of your building.

2. Purchase Moss

Purchase a bag of moss that can be reused with each new plant. You can buy this while sourcing your plants and planters—Home Depot and Lowe’s are excellent one stop shops for all things gardening. Moss can improve indoor air quality, but let’s face it—it’s also simply more pleasant to look at than dirt, making it a worthwhile buy.

3. Pick Your Plants

Green friends come in all shapes and sizes, but don’t let too many options wear you out. Perhaps you can switch up the lobby’s plant display each season. In that case, I suggest purchasing healthy looking flowering plants such as mums for the fall. In the winter, opt for amaryllis, then display bulbs for the spring. Orchids look wonderful any time of year. If you wish to shop locally, these can be found at farmer’s markets around the city, supermarkets or garden/floral shops. They do not need to be expensive to make an impact! 

If you wish to streamline the process and purchase all of your necessary supplies online, there are many resources for doing so, too. Companies including White Flower Farm, Bloomscape, and The Sill, just to name a few, will deliver gorgeous, healthy, potted plants straight to your door in just a click. These websites are also an excellent place to go should you have questions about caring for a specific type of plant or determining how much sunlight a plant needs before you make your purchase. 

With a little TLC, it’s incredibly easy to add much-needed life into a lobby and create a space that will soothe and inspire residents each day.

As a New York City hallway and lobby designer, I pay close attention to the signage present within a building, keeping it top of mind throughout the design process—trust me, I have definitely witnessed cases in which signage was clearly an afterthought!

Signage is so critical within a building from both a practical and an aesthetic perspective. In my work focusing on New York City hallways and lobbies, I consider signage to be an essential component of the design process, just as important as carpet, lighting, wall treatments, and the like. After all, the signs hanging in apartment buildings tell us so much. Signs help residents and visitors—and the authorities, in the case of emergencies—navigate their way throughout a building and locate specific stairwells, floors, and units. In the event of a fire, proper signage is critical in directing rescue workers where to go and conveying which doors are accessible and functional.

From a design perspective, signage is its own form of branding with a building. And today, adequate branding is extremely important in a competitive resale marketplace. Factors to consider when selecting signage include the building’s overall color scheme, use of specific metal finishes, and the period of the building (historic, contemporary, et cetera). These factors may influence decisions such as what typeface and motifs should be incorporated into the signage. Elements used on interior and exterior signs can also be woven into staff uniforms, the building’s entryway awning, and the like, in order to solidify a building’s brand.

When it comes to signage within a building, consistency is key. You will want signs to be uniform throughout the interior and exterior of a building, both for aesthetic and branding related reasons. You can always opt for a two-toned option to play off of mixed metals incorporated into a building’s existing design if needed. Not sure what font to select? Picking a typeface can definitely be a fun process! If you need some inspiration, look to the building’s history.  Typefaces that were popular in the early 1920’s are quite different from ones used in the 1950’s and 60’s. Residents and visitors alike will appreciate thoughtful touches and close attention to detail, so don’t hesitate to get a bit creative!

So take it from me: No NYC hallway or lobby is complete without well thought out signage that will shine in these areas and beyond.

It’s always exciting to hear what paint companies will choose to name the “Color of the Year,” as picks truly can run the gamut from basic whites to soft greens and teal blues to deep, rich reds. This year, green is having a major moment. Benjamin Moore—whose paints we use most often in our projects due to their quality and versatility—announced that “October Mist 1495” will be the hue of 2022.