How Sister Parish Design Transformed a Plain Apartment Into a Maximalist Office and Studio
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Transforming a bedroom into an office may have been a project for many over the past two years, but Sister Parish Design—named for the celebrated interior decorator who helped design the interiors of the White House during the Kennedy administration—took it to another level. The firm reimagined Chief Creative Officer Eliza Harris's Chelsea apartment into a studio space that certainly doesn't feel (or look) like your typical work environment. Based in Westchester, Harris tells House Beautiful that she "was eager for a foothold in New York City, where the design industry is booming," adding, "we wanted to provide a source of inspiration and easy access for all designers and design enthusiasts who are interested in purchasing Sister Parish." Now, they have it, in the form of a cozy studio that showcases the best of the firm's residential work.
Harris has a special connection to the apartment, as it was the first place in Manhattan that she called home—and the place where she began her design career nearly a decade ago. She began renovating at the end of 2021 and just put the finishing touches on the studio.
With the studio acting as a de facto showcase for the firm, decorating it in a way that fit the Sister Parish Design aesthetic was key. As such, Parish herself was the inspiration for the studio's decor, resulting in the inclusion of one of her favorite patterns, Dolly (which is available as both a fabric and as a wallpaper) on the walls in a new cabbage green colorway coming out this spring. And the legendary designer's influence doesn't end there—the space is swathed in other Sister Parish Design fabrics, wallpapers, and collaboration pieces, resulting in a jewel box of a 400-square-foot apartment. And as Parish, a lifelong New Yorker, knew best, creating "peaceful sanctuaries in the busy city" was paramount, which is why Harris and co. were "after the same effect for our clients to enjoy."
Other standout furnishings and decor items on display in the newly revamped space include a rug from Sister Parish Design's recent collaboration with Tibetano, sconces from Visual Comfort outfitted in custom shades of Sister Parish Design’s New Burmese Sheer fabric, a toile chandelier from an estate sale, numerous rugs and antiques from Montage Antiques, and a lucite curtain rod from Brooklyn-based LuxHoldups.
So, how does it most differ from its previous iteration? As a young designer living in Chelsea, Harris was "design savvy yet scrappy," and wallpaper wasn’t a luxury she could afford. She did, however, decorate the space with countless antiques, including a wicker bar cart that her grandmother passed down to her. To add more of a Sister Parish-inspired flair, Harris had custom roman shades made in the firm's Plumbago fabric.
Design enthusiasts who are looking to visit the studio—and bring the Sister Parish aesthetic into their own homes—can contact [email protected] to set up an appointment.
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