Having worked closely with Bernhardt for almost 20 years and watched the brand mature and excel in the process, the design team knew how the Bernhardt New York showroom should function in order to showcase their greatly expanded product line. There was a collective consensus to continue in the spirit and attitude of their Chicago showroom, keeping the white, ethereal residential loft feel with minimal walls.
The main design challenge was to create an inviting, comfortable atmosphere within a space twice the size of the Chicago showroom. Located in a district that is quickly becoming a hotspot for contemporary design in NYC, the showroom was designed to open views to customers by placing the main chair display and walkway along the building's perimeter and devoting the internal section to displaying the case goods and tables. Lining the perimeter with sheer, illusive drapery gives a gentle sway of motion to the space as visitors walk down the expansive display floor.
The showroom actively conceals, or reveals, the original structure through considered and deliberate architectural interventions, invigorating the space with energy and creating powerful vignettes for the furniture displayed within. Partitions appear to float above the space, and the ceiling planes are carved away to expose black voids above, creating a delicate tension. The spaces along the perimeter face the windows and embrace the natural light, combining raw elements –– such as the original beams and exposed sprinkler lines – with dramatic and precise knife-edge elements. These new elements often meet, but do not touch, and radiate a warm glow that highlights the boundaries of the space. The pure palette and minimal finishes are all 'visually quiet' to not interfere with the lines and detailing of the furniture. Void of color, the fabric/carpet evokes wool or cotton before it is dyed and colored.