Riverfront Loft – Tribeca

TRIBECA – NYC

Riverfront Loft

Glenn Gissler Design transformed this 2,500 square-foot, 2-bedroom loft apartment in Tribeca for a family of three. Located in a freshly converted former warehouse building, the loft’s principal rooms enjoy Hudson River views and an abundance of natural light through six large west-facing windows, making the remaining walls ideal for displaying a newly acquired collection of fine art.

Gissler worked with his clients to acquire a number of artworks by recognized leading American Abstract Expressionist movement artists to be placed within the calm background. A large, lively canvas by Larry Poons hangs above the living room sofa, while striking works by Theodoros Stamos and Milton Resnick are seen in the entry off the dining area.

A large, lively and colorful canvas by Larry Poons hangs above the sofa, flanked by Ombre Italian Lamps from the 1950’s in acidic yellow and greens that add an element of surprise to the room’s palette.

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The soft green treatments mimic the hues of the Hudson River and frame the view. Anchoring this end of the room is a pair of Roman Thomas chairs upholstered in a Pollack fabric. A 19th Century Uzbekistan Suzani embroidery placed on the purple ottoman adds a layer of history and decoration.

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The upholstered furniture is tailored but welcoming, covered in warm-hued fabrics—greens, beiges, and purples—that use texture or unassertive pattern to create additional visual interest. Tables, chairs, and case goods in solid dark-stained wood offer strong, graphic silhouettes. Walls are painted in warm and soothing, yet art-friendly shades of taupe.

"We are grateful we selected GGD and would certainly recommend them to others. "

– Client

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The symmetrical Dining Area has a pair of large framed mirrors to create the feeling of openness in the room. Above the dining table hangs a branching bubble chandelier by contemporary designer Lindsey Adelman. A large Amethyst specimen is displayed prominently as the centerpiece on the dark-stained dining table from Holly Hunt.

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The first view of the apartment is of Theodoros Stamos painting from 1946 title ‘The Sacrifice’ hung above circa 1830 Chinese Alter Table.

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The entryway and dining area have a bold mix of objects but the focus of on the rich painting by American Abstract Expressionist painters Milton Resnick and Theodoros Stamos.

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In the master bedroom the palette is a combination of soft green and pale peach and the light reflecting off of the Hudson River sparkles in the Mercury Glass Lamps and 1960’s Venini Chandelier.

Senior Designer Craig Strulovitz
Photos by Gross & Daley

Family Apartment – Greenwich Village

GREENWICH VILLAGE – NYC

Family Apartment

These Manhattan clients, art collectors and parents, acquired a 3000 square foot apartment in a particularly charming prewar building on lower Fifth Avenue, having already inhabited a smaller apartment in the same building. The new space, which required gut renovation, provided an exceptional opportunity for a more serious display of their collection of modern and contemporary drawings.

Capacious closets were plentiful; suddenly there was room for amenities such as a laundry room, central air conditioning, an office-cum-playroom which doubled as a guest room, two full baths and two half baths. Glenn also renewed much of the architectural detail in the apartment: crown moldings, baseboards and door casings were all painstakingly recreated.

The most striking attribute of the apartment was its abundant and spectacular views of Greenwich Village, seen through beautiful original steel casement windows. The dining room, in particular, comprised a large loggia with windows on three sides. So immense was the dining table designed by Gissler, that its top, made by Tucker Robbins of reclaimed wood, had to be brought in via crane!

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The master bedroom encapsulates the clients’ eye for art and decorative accents. The pencil drawing above the bed is by Alan Saret; the embroidered throw on the bed is a Suzani from Uzbekistan. The Liberty “Thebes” chair is a Gissler hallmark, a seminal work of decorative art which appears in several of his interiors.

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The master bath is a lean yet luxurious jewel box of satin nickel accoutrements and beautiful black mosaic tile, laid out in a design that expands the length of the room. Mirror panels in the deep set window bring in more light and view; the light fitting has an antique milk glass shade with Edison bulbs.

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In the entry, the rustic paneled cabinet is from Mexico; the lamp is crafted from a turned wooden urn with a pair of handles in a modern silhouette. The Egyptian-inspired drawing is by Nancy Spero; the ink drawing by New York artist Beth Dary. The candlestick is by Christopher Dresser.

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In the living room, two fine French art deco chairs, reminiscent of the faceted designs of Pierre Chareau, are from Maison Gerard, NYC. They reside with a collection of framed works on paper displayed cleverly along rails built into the wall.

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In the hallway, a 19th century chair is paired with a large drawing by New York artist Karin Davie. The silvery urn at the side is a large mercury glass vessel.

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In the foyer, an antique console is arrayed with glass vessels and an African mask; above hang works on paper by Jonathan Borofsky, Gordon Matta-Clark, Merit Cohen, Robert Smithson and Lorna Simpson.

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The newly built curving stair wrapped in cerused oak paneling, appearing as if it had always been a part of the building. An enormous custom Lindsey Adelman chandelier hangs dramatically in the large curved volume.

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In the living room, an array of 20th century classics is set out with variety and verve. At left, a pair of ‘Klismos’ chairs by Robsjohn-Gibbings vies with two leather Arts & Crafts stools, and an English club chair upholstered in red Manuel Canovas fabric.

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In a corner of the living room, abutting steel casement windows provide spectacular views of downtown Manhattan. A chair with sinuous wooden arms contrasts with the geometry of the windows. The owners’ cat naps on an elegant chaise longue.

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Bookshelves line the dining room, which opens onto the living room and its magnificent views.

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In the dining room, a modified antique gas chandelier casts a glow over the custom table crafted by Tucker Robbins of reclaimed wood. It seats fourteen. The mid-century Austrian chairs with pierced slats were designed in the 1950s for Vienna’s city hall, and were bought from Kimcherova. .

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Books constituted a major aspect of the clients’ collecting activities, and shelving for them was a major architectural feature of the apartment.

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Art pervades the kitchen, with a large drawing by Donald Baechler.

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Expanses of sparkling white “subway” tiles create a pristine backdrop for the splendid stainless steel double-oven range and crisp millwork.

Senior Designer Craig Strulovitz
Photos by Gross & Daley

Family Loft – Lincoln Center NYC

LINCOLN CENTER, NYC

Family Loft

This growing family had moved from a three-bedroom apartment in a small post-war building in Greenwich Village to a dramatically larger, vastly different space: a 3000-square foot loft in a converted former warehouse near Lincoln Center. Challenged by scarce natural light and impractically long dark hallways, we rearticulated these spaces into a dwelling very human in scale, suited to entertaining and to more intimate family time alike.

The furnishings, a mix of custom contemporary pieces with 1940s French design, are a lively array, preserving the downtown Manhattan edge of the family’s former residence while lending a greater level of comfort and elegance to the new loft. Layers of African and Asian textiles and artifacts augment the distinctive eclecticism of the rooms.

The finished Lincoln Center loft reveals the fresh character that architectural rethinking, sensitive detailing and imaginative furniture choices can attain in a near-raw space.

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A Jacob Hashimoto collage above the oversized sofa sets the scene: fine art meets family living.

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Finest quality custom upholstered furniture with a rich selection of textiles, art and antiques make this living room both supremely comfortable and visually interesting. In front of the sofa is a broad ottoman upholstered in leather; in the corner, near the window, a chaise is covered in linen velvet by Calvin Fabrics. The throw, from Sarajo, is fabricated from a vintage black and red cape from Sumatra. The luxurious area rug, of vegetable dyed hand-knotted Tibetan wool is from Odegard.

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The dining room transmits a French post-WWI aesthetic–machine-inspired furniture forms executed in a traditional material–in this case, oak. The 1930s modernist sideboard is by Charles Dudouyt. Atop the sideboard is a patinated brass and copper mirror custom made by Bark Frameworks, wider and longer than the cabinet, so that its surface appears doubled. A cast bronze fireback, a silvered vase, and an African sculpture add ornamental interest. The painting is by Joan Mitchell.

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The bright pumpkin leather of a Thomas O’Brien tight-back armchair is paired with an ebonized wood console table topped in black marble designed by Glenn Gissler. The table lamp is fabricated from a printing cylinder. The two-handled vase below, glazed the color of saffron, is by late 19th century British proto-modernist designer Dr. Christopher Dresser.

"We find it hard to believe we actually live in such a beautiful apartment! Glenn designed a distinctive and comfortable family-friendly apartment that works well when we are all together but also provides autonomy for everyone."

– Client

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A French 1940s console attributed to Pascaud, with doors of inlaid shagreen and bone, creates a serene tableau at the end of a long hallway. A pair of classic signed Tiffany candlesticks, c. 1900, from Ophir Gallery, are of patinated bronze with bronze candle cup and ‘organic root’ base. Stiges wall sconces, from Roman Thomas, are of oil-rubbed hand forged iron with stitched silk pearl shade.

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A long hallway hung with contemporary art terminates in a bright checkerboard painting by American abstract artist Alfred Jensen.

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We paid special attention to augmenting storage capacity–the oversized mirror is in fact a custom 3-way medicine cabinet. The round mahogany stool is antique Chinese.

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Apple-green tile and smart stripes on the kitchen counter stools make this internal kitchen sparkle, along with the shining stainless steel professional range.

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Working directly with this teenage boy we created a bedroom that reflects his desire for both geometric order and simplicity, and the his favorite color – blue.

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Transitioning form a little girl’s rom to a room for a teenage girl we created a bright cheery palette and sophisticated furnishings to create a space that is more lounge than bedroom – putting two twin beds together with a plethora of pillows to create a 12 foot long sofa for she and her friends.

Senior Designer Craig Strulovitz
Photos by Gross & Daley

Chelsea Loft – NYC

CHELSEA – NYC

Chelsea Loft

This loft in Chelsea, owned by Glenn Gissler, was a place of design ferment and experiment, an arena for working out long-held design convictions and exploring completely fresh modes of decorative expression. Deep wall colors create a rich, shadowy atmosphere in the main living room, yet other spaces are equally notable for bursts of natural light, a chiaroscuro that informs all of Glenn’s work.

Collections of photographs and contemporary works on paper abound, along with piles of art and design books. We see certain Gissler signatures– Rietveld’s Zig-Zag chair; Christopher Dresser’s metalwork and green-glazed pottery–but there are new artistic elements as well. A Frank Stella black print from the 1970s vies with a plethora of stark, moody near-abstract black and white photographs. The loft represents a tension between the stability of well-loved furniture and objects and the restless desire for new knowledge which is the lot of every true collector and connoisseur.

Amidst experiment, Glenn did not stint on comfort, which is, as much as his devotion to art, a Gissler hallmark. Velvety tufted sectional sofas invite the guest to take in and assimilate the wealth of art and objets which fill this space.

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A favorite striped sofa is ensconced among a huge green urn and brass candlesticks, both by Christopher Dresser. On the wall, vintage and contemporary photographs invite closer scrutiny.

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A broader view of the living room reveals subtly lacquered surfaces. The asymmetrical coffee table is the color of snap peas; the walls are a bitter chocolate reminiscent of that used by Billy Baldwin in his own famous apartment. Rope seated Klismos chairs by Robsjohn-Gibbings are muscular, yet sinuously feminine in outline.

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On a 1950s biomorphic etagere, a print from Frank Stella’s black period is displayed on a modern stand; assorted green pottery completes the tableau.

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A massive Arts and Crafts oak dining table is surrounded by chairs with distinctive X splats. White-washed brick walls create a light space.

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Kitchen cabinets are lacquered elegant blue-black, displaying a collection of creamy white wares by Russel Wright.

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In the kitchen, an improvised bar beckons. Silver bowl is by Wiener Werkstatte designer Josef Hoffmann.

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In the bedroom, a light palette, of white and apple green.

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Natural wooden blinds, the color of chopsticks, emphasize the lightness of the bedroom, along with Rietveld’s Zig-Zag chair.

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An impossibly slender Tiffany candlestick and two ancient fragments of Buddhas, along with a spiky bit of a shark’s jaw create an ambiguous yet contemplative shrine.

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A chair by artist Donald Judd lacquered in dark red is juxtaposed with a selection of contemporary art.

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A medley of browns: the whole-wheat color and texture of an upholstered chair; the chocolate of the wall-color; and a striped pillow in shades of golden brown.

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In the bathroom Glenn used a vivid cobalt blue worthy of Mondrian as a backdrop for a photographs.

Senior Designer Craig Strulovitz
Photos by Gross & Daley