‘It Doesn’t Have to Be Beige or White,’ Says Brooklyn Architect

Natalie Rebuck is a Brooklyn-dependent architect and inside designer who embraces maximalism, “even prior to it was stylish,” she said. 

She is the founder of Re: Structure Architects, a boutique company led by ladies. Rebuck delivers 18 decades of working experience as a designer, possessing worked on substantial-profile tasks, from condos to Victorian townhouses, seaside homes and penthouses. 

She has a knack for incorporating antiques and family heirlooms into modern, livable houses which are crammed with patterned wallpapers, brilliant colors and stylish tiles, fusing collectively the outdated and new. “I appreciate to be playful with coloration, textures and patterns,” Ms. Rebuck reported. “Spaces, irrespective of whether they be an workplace, a dwelling space or a museum, really should experience comfy and not intimidating.”

She is in opposition to the stark small place, but alternatively opts for a much more cupboard of curiosities technique to luxury residences. “I have often worked to build jewel box spaces that are conversation starters,” she claims.

Ms. Rebuck lives in a historic place in Brooklyn termed Fiske Terrace. She talked to Mansion World-wide about working her individual architecture business, the art of maximalism and why maximalism is the new luxurious.

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Mansion World: Why did you commence your own architecture agency?

Natalie Rebuck: It’s hard operating up the ranks at a person else’s architecture business and possessing your personal vision, trying to mould your eyesight to what works for them, since they developed their firm. I labored with numerous companies ahead of founding my have. I have been an architect for 18 several years and I have two offices, one in North Fork and my primary office environment in Brooklyn.

MG: What do you aim on?

NR: I do a good deal of luxurious residential, townhouses and Victorian households in Brooklyn. Most of my clientele know I’m heading to press them to go from place A to stage B. I really like rounding out a area and becoming in a position to see an full vision. That offers a consumer a real end-photograph product. It appears to be good. Then they still should figure out furniture and interior design and style. 

In phrases of luxury, customers are seeking for that assist. A lot of individuals come to me mainly because they never have a eyesight, they have thoughts of what they like. But they do not know how to set it together. A thing a ton of customers are wanting for suitable now is luxurious which is comfy. They don’t want an all-white kitchen area with flat panels. They want to include their items—like household heirlooms. They do not want a stark white vacant house they want a designer to include their antiques into their residence. To me, design is dilemma fixing, it’s not imposing your ideas onto a consumer. From time to time folks get caught up in their have concepts, and never hear the greater story.

MG: What drives your design operate?

NR: My style and design is centered on residing in spaces that we use every working day. They should be dynamic, appealing and usable for people of all ages. I think layout need to be enjoyment and playful, it shouldn’t be way too critical. Getting into thought who the customer is, their result, how quite a few men and women are included, how can I create a new place to give them what they have to have, and not get too caught up in the skylight or glass walls. Where is the pet bowl going to go? Getting into the nitty gritty of how the room features is significant. 

MG: Must layout be playful? Why do you want to deliver a perception of perform into people’s homes?

NR: I constantly see developing as producing a perform of art for a customer, a one-of-a-sort piece. I have under no circumstances been fearful of color…I’m under no circumstances concerned to inform customers: “It does not have to be beige or white, we can use big, daring artworks, and we can fill up every wall in your home. It is a particular preference, what do you like?”

MG: You also use patterns a ton in your style work—patterned wallpaper, patterned floors, how do you use it so it balances out a home?

NR: When I use shades and patterns in a space, I want it to come to feel like you are becoming enveloped into an notion or an in general scheme. It is a balancing sport. I’m into a good deal of jewel tone colours, shiny colors. I will locate just one point in a room—like a rug, a wallpaper or an artwork—and pull shades from 1 product, and that will make it feel cohesive. It is ordinarily 1 piece that inspires me and begins there.

MG: Why do you use cement tiles so much?

NR: I’m obsessing about them at the second. Anyone was doing the subway tile, and I experience like it is an grownup, upgraded version of the subway tile. They really feel heat and beautiful. I recognized how subway tiles were being trending. I have them in my have household, so I just say to a client “come more than, see them in my dwelling and how lavish they search.”

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MG: Why are you a maximalist?

NR: I appreciate artwork and being in a position to showcase attractive items of artwork in a room. I assume each individual piece of style and design function need to experience like its individual jewel box. The louder or the additional interest you can give with each individual factor, the better. I’m generally pushing customers to acquire what they adore. I’ll in some cases propose a faucet, a tile or a curtain, and customers say “well, which is ok.” But if they really do not love it—you’re heading to are living with it for a very long time.  

MG: What’s your individual definition of luxury?

NR: Splurging on items that you truly feel strongly about, that are not always going to give you a resale value—stuff you just really like. If you’re renovating, and you adore a tile that is out of your price range, you’re splurging on anything you sense strongly about. If something is luxurious and feels nice, you should really go for it, because it will make you content each individual day—from a dear shower faucet to an artwork, it can make your lifetime sense luxurious.

MG: What’s the most magnificent space in your dwelling?

NR: My bedroom. I splurged on a pair of incredible curtains. I also have silk chandeliers and a matching cover protect, and I have Mies van der Rohe chairs I always wanted my full lifestyle. It feels like a sanctuary, and it feels deluxe. It is my oasis.

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MG: What are you doing the job on ideal now?

NR: I am renovating a few Victorian homes. I’m carrying out an addition to a seashore property in North Fork, and just concluded a condo in Chelsea. I’m also renovating a historic foyer in Chelsea, and I have a project in New Jersey the place I’m gutting a Victorian home. The problem is hoping to accomplish what the shopper is looking for, and the time restrictions—some consider it’s only likely to consider seven months, but it can just take up to a year or two to full a home, it is a prolonged procedure.

MG: What house traits do you see coming following yr?

NR: I imagine we’re however going to be seeing a large amount of shade. We’ll see a thrust absent from beige. Individuals want more color in their households. We’re heading to see a lot more wood in properties paired with colour. In loos, you are going to also see more tiles. The rustic Italian Solange tile (a textured tile) is also creating a comeback. Concrete taps are coming back, far too. Wallpaper is also possessing a instant. 

This job interview has been edited for size and clarity. 

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