Garden State Revival House, Newark, New Jersey by Sasha Bikoff for Ed Schoenfeld and Elisa Herr. As featured in Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century

The Interiors Monologues - Sasha Bikoff

The greatest designers of the century talk about Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century

For New York native Sasha Bikoff, interiors represent more than just living spaces, they evoke a distinguished lifestyle, offering individuals the unique opportunity to turn their homes into an eclectic, creative oasis - a place they can truly call their own.

As we relate in our new book, Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century, Bikoff studied at George Washington University and then the American University of Paris. After graduating, she went to work at New York’s Chelsea Gagosian Gallery, establishing her interior design firm a few years later. Her first project was her mother’s apartment in the famous Dakota building in New York; it put her on the map. A committed maximalist, Bikoff understands how to layer upbeat colors, vivacious patterns, and eclectic curios in a way that feels chic and balanced.

Her work on The Garden State Revival House, located in the Forest Hill enclave of Newark, New Jersey, is featured in our new book, Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century, highlighting 400 of the world's best living spaces created by over 300 of the most influential people in interior design. (In keeping with such a mammoth and ground breaking undertaking we decided to make it available in four different color cover choices.)

 

Sasha Bikoff
Sasha Bikoff

The house belongs to restaurateur Ed Schoenfeld and his wife, Elisa Herrt. They tasked Bikoff with modernizing the home’s color palette and arranging their extensive collection of heirlooms and antiques. Inspired by a floral bouquet, she worked with Paints of Europe to create different high-gloss pigments for each room. To the sunny yellow dining room she added bright-blue curtains and sourced a large, rough-hewn table.

We thought it would be a nice idea to ask her about the interior in our book that inspired her the most; what it means to be featured in Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century and what is the most important aspect of a room that aesthetically-minded buyers of the book can focus on. And, of course, we just had to ask her where in her own home she'll be placing her personal copy!

"One of the most inspiring interiors for me has, and always will be, Pierre Cardin's Palais Bulles. The first time I saw images of that house it made me realize the importance of being unique and having your own creative voice and vision. I believe that interiors are supposed to transport you to a place you can only imagine in your wildest dreams. Iconic homes like this turns design into a real art form where there are no rules except for having fun with it all."

 

Palais Bulles Designers Antti Lovag & Pierre Cardin Bedroom, Cote d’Azur, France Completed 1992 - as featured in Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century
Palais Bulles Designers Antti Lovag & Pierre Cardin Bedroom, Cote d’Azur, France Completed 1992 - as featured in Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century

"I feel completely honored and blessed to be recognized by Phaidon as one of the greatest interior designers of the century. In the beginning of my career I struggled with where I belonged in this industry as I was trying to create a new look for the younger generation. A look that paid homage to the past, but with a breath of fresh life. I stuck to my aesthetic and what I believed in as a designer and although my work can be controversial to some and confusing to others my goal was never to please everyone. My goal was to be the standout special one."

"The most important areas of a room for me are the walls and floors . It all starts with the background. And just as we approach a blank canvas working on the background colors and building up on the paint that is how I approach the space. Sometimes I am not really sure where my minds eye will lead but its all about following the journey and letting the ideas, colors, fabrics, and textures, come to you as you go along."

Oversized and available in four collectable velvet covers to decorate any space in style, we wondered what color cover of Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century Sasha will be choosing. 

"I'll choose the yellow  - obviously because it reminds me of a New York City taxi and that pays homage to the city I was born and raised in. I will put it on my coffee table and adorn it with objets, trays, and florals."

 

The four different covers of Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century
The four different covers of Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century

Take a look for yourself and choose your own version of Interiors: The Greatest Rooms of the Century here. And check back later in the week for our next interview with a designer from the book. Meanwhile, you can see more of Sasha's wonderful work on her website