WELCOME to Nest by Tamara blog

WELCOME to Nest by Tamara blog
Hi- It's Tamara. I'm happy you've stopped by, and since 2010 I've been sharing my passion for interior design, history, art, entertaining, travel & fashion. I am an interior designer, textile designer and writer living and working in New York City and East Hampton, Long Island. My musings have taken me to international design, art, antique and epicurean events and I have lots to share. I'm grateful to have been listed as the #1 top design blog, blogs to watch, top design blogs and named and awarded Rising Star of Design by the IFDA NY industry organization. Please feel free to reach out to our team for an interior design consultation at NestbyTamara.com -Tamara

Part 2: Designers "thinking outside the box" with James Rixner's gorgeous creation at the Azure in New York City


photograph courtesy of Teter's Art Pinterest
Let me show you 
James Rixner's "soup to nuts" sophisticated penthouse for the Azure building in New York City 
I stopped into visit with James as he began putting the finishing touches on the apartment's design by setting a gorgeous table.
The stunning Baccarat chandelier and set dining table became the crowned jewel in the space, bringing this design together utilizing color, art, and lots of detail.  
Earlier in the week I wrote about this new residential high rise building on the Upper East Side of New York City called the Azure.  Two renowned designers were invited to transform the top penthouse apartments, both James Rixner and Bjorn Bjornsson each created their own spaces.  NYC&G magazine collaborated as the media sponsor for this project, and it became a labor of love, and with hard work and much talent these homes are now complete and outfitted with everything from commissioned art to towels and accoutrement in the bathrooms.  By bringing in designers to work their magic, these formerly empty and ready to sell homes now show buyers the world of possibilities on how one can live in these splendid, expansive spaces. 
Christopher Guy statue presides over the living room

James Rixner’s Sophisticated urban retreat beckons you to wear your "Sunday Best", mix yourself a proper cocktail, enjoy the art, and take in the urban views while dining at that gorgeous table.  This is the kind of home one dreams about when imagining living in  New York City.  I had the chance to meet with James in the 2,620 square foot three bedroom apartment.  It was no small feat to decorate and stylize every detail of this large scale, high-ceiling building with sweeping views in every direction of the East River and New York City.  James worked to accentuate the space and views by creating window treatments that soften the space while hiding some of the beams, and at the same time, highlighting the vista.  He was inspired by light and texture, and chose a background of moody neutral colors of  gray and silver, yet infused the living room and dining room with shots of vivid color, giving the overall aesthetic a sophisticated yet inviting feel.  The elegant black Baccarat candle holders show the example of play with color and they compliment the colorful art. 

"I approach my designs with a painterly eye, color, texture and light are among the most important elements in a well-executed room"  James Rixner
James utilized the open format in the living and dining area by bringing in unique one-of-a-kind works of art, and some he even had commissioned especially for the home by renowned artist, James Teter. 
Teters' infamous "dials" paintings add glamour to the home and the dial shapes when juxtaposed against the smoky dark background seem to shimmer off the canvas.  Teters' work is placed throughout the project, as well as other artist's pieces who wield a strong sense of color including, Sara Harris and Stacie Flint.  There is also an eclectic array of furniture and accessories with pieces from
 Robert Allen fabrics, Arteriors, Christolfe, Maya Romanoff, Christopher Guy, Century Furniture and more… 
When designing the three bedrooms, James thought about his potential clients and how they'd live in the home,
 and honed in on specific details to create a personalized space.  
What a lovely view, and I can only imagine with the skyline all lit up at night it must be even more spectacular. 
loving the generous use of red in this home
Keep up with James' next design project, 
by stopping by the Mansion showhouse in May and view the room he is currently designing.
is located at 333 East 91st street.  
For an appointment, please contact them 
to view these penthouses. 
This unique program was brought to fruition by GCT Marketing, with a plan to offer more custom designed packages to high-end residential buildings, inviting interior designers and design industry brands unique ways to collaborate with luxury residential design.  

Happy Nesting
XO Tamara