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produced by ANNA KOCHARIAN photography by PATRICK CLINE
One peek inside Sasha Bikoff’s Tribeca showroom and it’s no surprise that the interior designer has a vibrant passion for color, and a fearless one at that. Born in New York City, Bikoff began her career in Chelsea’s Gagosian Gallery, armed with a degree in Fine Arts and Art History from GWU and the American University in Paris.
She later went on to establish her interior design firm, Sasha Bikoff New York, drawing inspiration from worldly travels and the multicultural aesthetics of her hometown. From decorating residences at The Dakota to launching a Tribeca-based antique store, there’s no telling where Bikoff will go next. Here, she takes us on a tour of her lively showroom and dishes on the best decorating advice she’s ever received.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU? My background in art history has really formulated my aesthetic because the history of fine arts and decorative arts go hand-in-hand. I imagine the paintings commissioned by Louis XIV with all of the furnishings that accompanied them.
I also imagine the surrealist paintings of Salvador Dali within a Parisian apartment on the Left Bank, filled with French Art Deco furniture from the ‘20s and ‘30s. Art and design hold a special place in history, and once you have knowledge of both, you can create a mental database of all of the colors, textures, and patterns, and apply them to interiors.
DESCRIBE YOUR AESTHETIC IN THREE WORDS. Whimsical. Vibrant. French.
DESCRIBE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE DECOR OF YOUR SHOWROOM. The idea behind the space was to mimic the Parisian antique shops in Saint Germain. I wanted to create vignettes that would give one a glimpse of mixing various colors and styles, a concept that is often challenging to replicate.
Although the showroom is a shop, I wanted to convey a number of scenes throughout the space, from a Beverly Hills-inspired vignette with pink, white, and green, to a monochromatic ‘70s disco scene. Each vignette has an inspirational and historical background.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE DESIGN OF THE SPACE? My favorite part of design is sourcing fabrics and playing around with them. I think that my love of fashion, vintage, and couture inspires my love for fabrics and upholstery.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU SPLURGED ON FOR THE DECOR? SCRIMPED? I always splurge on fabrics. You can buy an inexpensive vintage chair but when you upholster it with a lux patterned fabric, it can transform it into something special.
It’s all about the touch and texture of the fabric that adds a richness to a room. Our eyes are drawn to certain fabrics but the way something actually feels on the skin takes it to a new height.
ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR READERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO INCORPORATE YOUR STYLE INTO THEIR HOME? Something as small as swapping in a beautiful antique flower vase in lieu of one from a commercial home company can help add an extra level of flair to a room.
If you really want to change up the style of a room, introduce one or two pieces into an unexpected spot.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? When designing a space, stick to your your gut and be confident with your decisions.
Don’t allow someone else to change your opinion just to appease them. At the end of the day, you have to own your work.
Keep an eye out for Bikoff’s candle line and upcoming Hamptons pop-up shop! Follow Sasha along on Instagram!