August 2015
IN GOOD COMPANY
with NEAL BECKSTEDT
There’s no need to scream. As the Chelsea-based architect and designer Neal Beckstedt—founder and principal of Neal Beckstedt Studio—proves time and again in his luxurious modern interiors, it’s fully possible to make a compelling design statement with subtlety and grace. For this soft-spoken native of the American Midwest, who has lived and worked in New York City for almost 15 years, real luxury lies in the art of understatement. “One of the elements of ‘modern’ is being very functional, and really simple,” he explains. “The great design out there has thought through the whole space of when the client wakes up until they go to bed and helps them to rediscover ways they can make their day better.” Named “One to Watch” by the editors of Architectural Digest in 2013, this young influencer’s portfolio includes Manhattan penthouses, waterfront beach houses, and a London townhouse, as well as luxury retail, hospitality environments, and product design. In every commission, the quality and originality of his work speaks quietly but confidently for itself.
Style:
Modest luxury rooted in a clean modern aesthetic. Organic and industrial materials. Original details and unexpected juxtapositions. One-of-a-kind pieces. Precise construction.
Inspired by:
“I grew up on a farm in Ohio. We played in a barn...made things in a barn. There’s a whole aesthetic of raw beams and floors that influenced me then and now. The barn, in architecture, is also very modern. It does what it needs to do and nothing more, but there’s a great handcraftsmanship to it all.”
Mood Board:
Plywood, stained gray. Sheets of blackened metal. Sculptural paper lanterns. “I love handcraft, and the imperfections and natural variations in common materials, elevated by detail.”
"Real luxury is finding the beauty in simple things."
Palette + texture:
Organic wood tones and graining. Polished and patinated steel and chrome. Linen, wool, silk. Surprising pops of color.
The BEST part of working in New York:
“It’s the center of everything. It constantly changes. I love traveling, but in New York you get that same feeling of traveling living in your own home. All that interaction is incredibly satisfying.”
Every home needs...
“a layer of warmth. Modern goes very cold very quickly, so layering a lot of textures and
warmth through
woods is very
important.”
In Good Company © 2015 Best & Company. All rights reserved. | Best & Co. thanks Neal Beckstedt | nbeckstedtstudio.com | Neal Beckstedt Studio's interior design work for fashion designer Derek Lam (shown here) appears in the September 2015 issue of Architectural Digest magazine; photography by William Waldron. All rights reserved.
SUMMER "R & R"
Manhattan’s hottest season for “Renovation and Restoration” may be winding down—but the best is yet to come
For home renovations to run efficiently, smart scheduling and constant communication are key, so there’s been little of the stereotypical “kicking back and lazing by the pool” for Best & Company’s general contracting and construction management teams this summer. And, of course, that’s the way we like it. Nothing beats knowing that our clients are happy, comfortable, and inspired by the new surroundings that await them when they return from their seasonal travels to the ocean, mountains, or faraway destination. So allow us to be the first to welcome you home, New York. And please tell us: What can we do for you next? Summer may be winding down, but the best is yet to come.
At Home in the Huffington Post
To introduce homeowners who are considering a major home renovation or restoration to the process of executing a successful project, interior designer Gail Green, founder of Gail Green Interiors (and author of An Insider’s Guide to Interior Design for Small Spaces) turned to Best & Company founder Chip Brian and Business Development Director Dana Sandberg for some practical advice: “How can residential designers and home builders work in tandem to make projects easier on the client’s budget, timeline, and wrinkle lines?” she asked. Together, Chip, Dana, and Gail created an streamlined list that’s a “Must Read” for all New Yorkers dreaming about making their homes more beautiful, functional, and fun to live in. Don’t miss Gail’s terrific article in the Huffington Post’s HOME section, “Pas de Deux: A Collaboration of Designer and Contractor—What They Do and How The Work Together.”
In Good Company
Have you spent your summer In Good Company? We hope you’re following our exclusive video series of designer profiles and quick-take Q&As. Our team has had the privilege of sitting down to “talk shop” with some of NYC’s best architects, interior designers, artisans, and makers, including Thom Filicia, John Douglas Eason, Linherr Hollingsworth, and Damon Liss. And we’ve been inspired and delighted by the advice, memories, and insights into the art and craft of home building and residential renovation that this talented group of design professionals has shared. On Tuesday, August 25th, be on the lookout for our next In Good Company profile, featuring the multitalented young architect and designer Neal Beckstedt, whose work happens to be featured in the pages of the September 2015 issue of Architectural Digest magazine, on newsstands now!
A Match Made at the Interior Design Hall of Fame
The editors of Interior Design magazine brought back some great memories for us early this summer, surprising us with the inclusion of this fun item in their June 2015 issue, celebrating our fateful 2013 meeting with Kenneth Wampler, founding director of the Alpha Workshops, the nation’s only nonprofit organization providing creative HIV-positive individuals with industry-specific training and employment in the decorative arts. That chance encounter at one of Interior Design Hall of Fame design industry’s most fun evenings led us to a very special collaboration for Alpha’s 20th anniversary year: The unveiling of Alpha’s first storefront gallery and retail space in their Chelsea headquarters building. Best & Company founders Chip Brian and Michael Daddio were proud to support this New York institution’s life-changing work, and the whole team looks forward to further creative collaboration in the future.