MILAN — Turns out, curating collectible design online is also a segue into interior design.
London-based platform Invisible Collection said Monday it completed its first bespoke interior design project for The Surrey’s private residences in New York City. The Surrey, now a Corinthia Hotel, was re-opened earlier this year and is located in the Upper East Side on 76th Street. In addition to 70 rooms and 30 suites, it houses 14 private homes.
The 16-story building was originally established in 1926 as a residence hotel. Upon its re-opening, it became inaugural property in North America for Corinthia Hotels, which is headquartered in Malta. It is also home to upscale Italian restaurant Casa Tua and the Surrey Spa.
In a statement, Invisible Collection said it provided one-of-a-kind interior design services, affording prospective buyers access to a bespoke curation of contemporary furniture from the platform’s roster of renowned talents like architectural designer Laura Gonzalez, architect and interior decorator Charles Zana and architect and furniture designer Thierry Lemaire, all of whom are Paris-based and uphold the platform’s enriched contemporary French aesthetic.
“This launch pioneers a new form of collaboration in the ultra-luxury residential sector. This bespoke design service offers prêt-à-porter convenience with the attention to detail and personalization of couture, provides an exclusive curation of furniture from across their roster of over 250 designers, solidifying their unique role in the world of collectible design,” the company said. Its curation included furniture, lighting and rugs.
The online gallery was founded in 2016 by Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays, a former journalist and former creative director of Dior Home and Diptyque Home; reinsurance risk specialist and art collector Anna Zaoui, and luxury in-client strategy specialist Lily Froehlicher.
A fireplace in travertine marble is accompanied by a custom plaster ceiling lamp by Stephen Antonson. All furniture is from Invisible Collection.
In an interview, Dubern-Mallevays was enthusiastic about being a part of The Surrey’s history, remarking on how Parisian style had an impact on New York City design in 1926, when it was first opened. “It was a time when New York’s sartorial crowd still looked to Paris as the ultimate symbol of chic and savoir-faire. Think Jacques Doucet dressing Caroline Astor and the Vanderbilts, or Jean-Michel Frank traveling there to design Nelson Rockefeller’s apartment. We are truly honored to participate in the rebirth of this iconic address with our signature French aesthetic,” she said.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Invisible Collection has opened showrooms in key cities such as the Mews House in the Marylebone neighborhood of London, The Townhouse in New York’s Upper East Side and one in Rive Gauche in Paris in the 7th arrondissement.
In June of last year, Invisible Collection curated an array of furniture from its online gallery for the Banda Penthouses, also located in New York City on 111 West 57th Street.
In a similar vein, Italian design platform Artemest took a dive into the world of luxury real estate world and unveiled its first model residence concept on the 85th floor of The Greenwich in New York City in October.
For the project Artemest collaborated with March and White Design (MAWD), the award-winning interior design firm with studios in London, New York, Los Angeles and Dubai. MAWD turned the penthouse into a living gallery of Italian art, furniture, lighting and decor.
Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays, Anna Zaoui and Lily Froehlicher.
Courtesy of Invisible Collection
