Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
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.
Early 2000s Organic Modern Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Stone
Early 20th Century Primitive Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Metal
1920s European Industrial Vintage Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Brass, Copper
19th Century French Antique Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
2010s American Organic Modern Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Ceramic
Mid-19th Century French French Provincial Antique Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Brass
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 19th Century European Rustic Antique Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Brass, Metal
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Terracotta
Late 19th Century American Primitive Antique Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Clay, Stoneware
18th Century Spanish Islamic Antique Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Copper, Wrought Iron
19th Century Rustic Antique Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Copper
Early 19th Century Austrian Regency Antique Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Unknown Organic Modern Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Pottery, Clay
Early 20th Century Primitive Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
Early 20th Century Primitive Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Wood, Mahogany, Reclaimed Wood
Early 20th Century Primitive Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Wood, Mahogany, Reclaimed Wood
Early 20th Century Primitive Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Wood, Mahogany, Reclaimed Wood
Early 1900s Organic Modern Antique Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood
2010s Organic Modern Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood
2010s Organic Modern Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Reclaimed Wood, Wood, Teak
2010s Indonesian Organic Modern Andrianna Shamaris Vases and Vessels
Shell, Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood