How a NJ interior designer ended up with a project in an elite Central Park apartment

Heather Dibble has always had an eye for design. And what started out as a career in fashion in New York City has flourished into a successful interior design business.

Her latest project: designing a unit in the prestigious 15 Central Park West Apartments.

"The building is an exceptionally elite building, so it's a very exciting project," she said. "I know that I'm 46, but as far as owning my own interior design company, I've only done that for four years now. So, to be awarded something this prestigious is kind of a big deal."

Dibble learned about the world of interior design by working with friends who were involved in the field, and started picking up design projects on the side. But, once the pandemic hit, she said she took advance classes to formally learn some necessary skills and in 2020, Wantage-based Heather Dibble Interiors came to life.

"There was a learning curve with some of that, but essentially from 2020 to now, it has exploded, which has been both crazy and exciting," she said.

What is Heather Dibble's design style?

Specializing in the design style known as Modern Classic, Dibble blends modern and traditional styles to create a unique but timeless look. This includes combining sleek contemporary lines with neutral, but moody, color palettes, incorporating lots of textures and patterns, as well as using statement pieces to add character.

One of Dibble's former clients, Matt DeCristofaro, had hired her to redesign his family's Basking Ridge home. He said that after showing Dibble their spaces and explaining what they were looking for, she ran with it.

"She's on top of everything. She's aware of every detail and concerned with every detail, and she's very easy to work with," he said. "In our home, for example, if there was something we did not like, she immediately changed gears and accommodated that."

For the project at 15 Central Park West, Dibble said she worked with the client to design the outdoor spaces of his home in Bedford Hills, New York, and to modify his existing apartment in the building. Now, after recently buying a new, larger apartment in the same building, Dibble said she was asked to design the new unit.

Designing the 15 Central Park West Apartment

Dibble said she is excited about the project because of the client and because 15 Central Park West has so many architectural and historical features.

She said the building, which was designed by Robert Stern and built from 2005 to 2008, was inspired by The Dakota, one of the first apartment buildings around Central Park where wealthy individuals began living in apartment-style housing in the late 1800s. Designed with an old New York feel, she said the building features a public dining area for residents, Italy-imported marble throughout the lobby and a gated drive-up area, completed with a courtyard and a fountain.

"Robert Stern is an amazing architect in the city. He's always been very true to the roots of old New York. He does a lot of research and he's a little bit of a historian about New York too. So, to have the opportunity to work in this building, which is an amazingly gorgeous building in every way, is so exciting," Dibble said. "There's a lot of beautiful features as you walk into the building. So it's super exciting to be designing in a Robert Stern building."

Dibble said she likes to create a story for each space based on what her clients do and what their interests are. Because the unit she's designing overlooks Central Park and is owned by a client who works in nature, she has focused on incorporating the theme of bringing the outside in. She's envisioned a mural of trees in the dining room, earthy colors throughout the unit and opening up some walls to make the space feel like you're surrounded by natural and organic elements.

There is also an abundance of custom woodwork involved in the project, Dibble said. Most of it is being done by DeCristofaro, the founder and owner of Castle Ridge Construction based in Bedminster.

"She hired us to fabricate and install the woodworking in this den-type room with bookshelving and an entertainment area. That's one example of where she gave a great rendering of the space and made it very easy for us to transfer that to our shop and for us to produce drawings from that," he said. "There's also some pretty cool bronze folding doors and a large four-pane pocket door, so we're doing that part of the project too."

Overall, Dibble said there's still a long road of work ahead before this project is finished. But, she said the apartment feels like a retreat in a hustling, bustling city, and she's excited to see the end result of everyone's work.

"Interior design is such a competitive field but at the same time, there's so much work for everyone and it's so nice to be supported by other interior designers," Dibble said. "To have the opportunity to work in this building, which is an amazingly gorgeous building in every way, is just so exciting."

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ interior designer tasked with designing Central Park apartment