When British-born furniture designer Andrianna Shamaris embarked on a year-long hunt for a New York City apartment, she had two nonnegotiable requirements: The apartment had to be in estate condition and it had to have views of nature. She also made clear that she wanted a restoration, rather than a renovation, project. When she finally found the perfect place on Central Park South, she enlisted architect Thomas Leeser to help her achieve her vision of an organic-modern retreat.
The first order of business was reproducing the original moldings, which were in such bad shape they couldn’t be reclaimed. “I didn’t want the new moldings to be perfect,” Shamaris says. “Try explaining this to a contractor!”
The next step in preserving the character of the prewar home was to reinstall all the original crystal knobs on custom white resin doors, which hang on pivots rather than hinges. In another unique touch, the designer custom produced a wall covered in shell-encrusted teak to divide the kitchen and living room.
“I don’t like the bourgeois look or anything too minimal, as that style lacks warmth,” she says. “So, even though I might say less is best, having a few objects with a story behind them is far more interesting to me than a room full of objects.”
When Shamaris moved into the apartment, in 2008, the fireplace was sealed shut. She and architect Leeser decided to open it up, keeping the original black marble in front and painting the surrounding frame a strong white. “We left it very clean and wabi-sabi so that it blended into the wall,” Shamaris says.
As her apartment attests, Shamaris is a believer in the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection. In fact, she has curated an entire collection based on this simple aesthetic and sells it on her 1stDibs storefront and in her New York showroom.
The entire apartment is accented with pieces from Shamaris’s studio in Sumatra, where she lived for nearly a year after a stint in sales at Ralph Lauren's Bond Street flagship. During her travels around the world, she collected antiques along with design inspiration.
Tour Andrianna Shamaris's apartment at The Study, and shop her tables, seating and other furnishings on 1stDibs today.
Andrianna Shamaris Teak Wood Day Bed, Organic Modern Design
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
The Teak Spa Sofa is available as a single sofa or L shape. Solid aged reclaimed teak wood slabs joined together for a modern minimalist aesthetic. Comfortable design for sleeping or...
Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood
$2,139Sale Price|64% Off
H 24.81 in W 94.49 in D 36.62 in
Art Deco Black Wood and Leather Day Bed Sofa
Located in IT
Art Deco black wood and leather daybed sofa. Art Deco daybed sofa, from France, from 1930s Art Deco period. Black wood frame and leather upholstery. Conservative restoration of woode...
Leather, Wood
$3,327
H 31.89 in W 79.93 in D 31.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Bamboo Sofa Bed by Vivai del Sud. 1970s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian bamboo sofa by Vivai del Sud. This sofa can become a comfortable single bed. From the part under the seat another bed can be pulled out. The bedsteads are...
Bamboo
Bed Made In Veneered Rosewood, Danish Design From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Bed of veneered rosewood of Danish design from around the 1960s. Is in very good condition. Measurements in cm: H:74.5 W:200 D:98 - 2 pcs in stock.
Rosewood
$3,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 33 in W 48 in D 30 in
Danish Modern Solid Teak "Minerva" Daybed / Sofa by Peter Hvidt for John Stuart
By Peter Hvidt, John Stuart
Located in San Diego, CA
An absolutely gorgeous Danish modern solid teak "Minerva" daybed / sofa by Peter Hvidt for John Stuart, circa 1960s. The piece is in very good original vintage condition with a brigh...
Teak, Chenille
$10,102
H 25.99 in W 78.35 in D 35.04 in
Hans J. Wegner Danish Modern Daybed in Teak and Rattan GE7 Made at GETAMA, 1950s
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Odense, DK
Designed by Hans Wegner for GETAMA this amazing convertible daybed / sofa features a beautifully patinated teakwood frame and woven cane / rattan back seat which reveals a hidden spa...
Wool, Cane, Rattan, Teak
Cinna / Ligne Roset Daybed Sofa GAO Design Jean Paul Laloy
By Cinna (Ligne Roset)
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Cinna / Ligne Roset Sofa Daybed Model GAO designed by Jean Paul Laloy. Rare Daybed Sofa in very good condition. The colour of the fabric is brown and...
Fabric, Upholstery, Foam, Wood
Kartell Trix Sofa Bed by Piero Lissoni in Orange
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trix is made up of three different elements connected by an elegant system of elastics which can transform and adapt to different uses through easy rotation. Trix can be an original two-person pouf, a comfortable bed...
Fabric, Plastic
Kartell Trix Sofa Bed by Piero Lissoni in Black
By Piero Lissoni, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trix is made up of three different elements connected by an elegant system of elastics which can transform and adapt to different uses through easy rotation. Trix can be an original two-person pouf, a comfortable bed...
Fabric, Plastic
$75,900Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 84.25 in D 38 in
Important Adjustable 'Roll Back Day Bed' Sofa by Kagan-Dreyfuss, 1950s, Signed
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very important piece of design history, and to understand why - it is all in the details, so to anyone interested in modern art and interior design, please keep reading. Vladimir Kagan’s 'Roll Back Day Bed' (model #6718) was originally conceived as a one-off design for a client in the 1950s. Valdimir Kagan selected Rosewood and Lucite, materials he had just started experimenting with at that time, blended it into a futuristic frame with a brass-capped cylindrical adjustable back cushion that can transform the sofa into a daybed and even into a double sided gallery seating system. All on top of Lucite legs giving the appearance the sofa is floating above ground. By all accounts - Vladimir Kagan advertisements, catalogues, the design community and even the team at Vladimir Kagan Designs had it documented that the design (model 6718 Roll Back Day Bed) was first put into production in 1967, however this one - this exact sofa in the photos and listed for sale, IS THE ONE that he created in the 1950s for a special one-off client. And it was later, in 1967 that he decided to bring the design into production, all based on this concept model which we have listed for sale. This is all documented with the Vladimir Kagan archives under registry 25073. They were thrilled to have found this surviving example and have added it into their archives, knowledge-base and timelines. They wrote: "We conducted a detailed review of the Kagan Archive, and we were puzzled to find that Vladimir consistently dated the release of the Roll Back Day Bed to 1967. Also based on Vladimir’s accounts, Hugo Dreyfuss retired in 1960, ending their partnership. This would mean that your example pre-dates the “earliest production date” we have on record for the Roll Back Day Bed or Roll Back Sofa...
Brass
ClassiCon Eileen Gray Daybed Original Vintage Day Bed
By Eileen Gray
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Vintage daybed with the name Day Bed by Eileen Gray. Manufactured by Classicon. Classic all time piece of furniture by the original producer. Black leather and chrome tubular steel ...
Steel, Chrome
ASYM Day Bed - Modern Asymmetrical Day Bed in Cream Boucle
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
Introducing the Asym Day Bed, a stunning piece of furniture designed to add elegance and sophistication to your living space. With its asymmetrical design elements, this day bed is b...
Upholstery
$3,506 / item
H 33.47 in W 86.62 in D 31.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Three-Seat Sofa Bed by Saporiti, 1970s
By Fratelli Saporiti
Located in Prato, IT
Three-seat sofa bed by Saporiti with original fabric from 1970s. This sofa could come with another one identical but not convertible to bed as shown in the photo.. Quotation for the...
Chrome