Atherton, CA 2019
Photography by Durston Saylor
2020
New York, NY 2013
A collaboration with Robert A.M. Stern Architects, JGA completed the interior design of this apartment and furnished it with 20th Century pieces to accent the owner's collection of art.
Photography by Peter Aaron
Palm Springs, CA 2011
The renovation of a 1960's Modern house in Palm Springs. Originally designed by one of Palm Springs' mid-century architects, Hugh Kaptur, the house had been unsympathetically altered over the past decades. JGA stripped it back to the original bones, and rethought the layout of the bathrooms and kitchens for a 21st Century lifestyle.
Photography by Daniel Chavkin
North Palm Beach, FL 2006
Collaborated with Robert A.M. Stern Architects
JGA designed the interiors of this 3000 sq ft apartment in North Palm Beach as a fresh, bright weekend getaway for a young family. The apartment consists of a large open great room, a study and three bedrooms.
The interplay of intimate and open spaces provides a clean background for an eclectic mix of artwork, mid-century furnishings and custom furniture. JGA assembled a collection of furniture for the clients by such masters as George Nakashima, Billy Haines, Tommi Parzinger, Edward Wormley, Vladimir Kagan, and Leleu, along with a growing collection of art that includes Warhol, Picasso, Bertoia and Italian glass from the 1930’s to 1970’s. The main living space, including the open kitchen, is anchored by a large sectional sofa, balancing the heft of the kitchen island. The master suite is a serene refuge, with hand-woven fabrics and raw silk wall covering softening the architecture.
The bedrooms are designed to be both functional and fun for teenagers and elegant for overnight guests down for a weekend of golf. The spirit of the apartment reflects that of the clients; sophisticated, youthful and modern.
Photography by Peter Aaron
Canadian Gulf Islands, 2006
Collaborated with Robert A.M. Stern Architects
JGA designed the interiors for this 12,000 square foot summer house and outbuildings in the Canadian Gulf Islands. The site is a wooded peninsula with magnificent water views on three sides. The clients, a large, active family, wanted a sophisticated yet livable home, able to accommodate their guests and extended family, and the many activities they enjoy.
The interior detailing represents a modern interpretation of the English Arts and Crafts movement. An eclectic mix of antiques and custom pieces, along with the Client’s growing collection of Pacific Northwest art, creates an atmosphere of relaxed elegance. A restrained palette of materials, color and fabric contribute to the modern take on traditional style.
Photography by Peter Aaron
Palm Springs, CA 2009
This 2400 square foot condominium, renovated for a young family as a weekend getaway, reflects their youthful lifestyle and desire for bright open spaces with punches of color. The existing space was dark and felt claustrophobic. It was simplified and reconfigured by opening the kitchen to the dining area and living room, creating a large open space flooded with light. Limed oak cabinetry was introduced to integrate the spaces, providing continuity and architectural interest. The master bath and closets were reconfigured to include a dressing room and luxurious bath. All materials, fossilized limestone flooring, limed oak cabinetry, Calacatta Gold marble, German Green limestone, and nickel hardware, are treated in a simple, reductive manner. Along with crisp white walls, they serve as a perfect foil for a growing collection of art and midcentury furniture.
Seating in the living room is upholstered in shades of yellow and green, with accents of pink and red. A mirrored wall reflects and amplifies light, providing a backdrop for a rich rosewood Danish console. Limed oak bookshelves on opposing walls in the den ground the space and create a frame for the large television, minimizing it’s impact. A zebra skin rug, cactus coffee table and sculptural french metal and leather armchair are counterpoints to the large sectional sofa. The space now works for the young clients, sophisticated yet light-hearted and fun.
Photography by Catherine Tighe
Banner Elk, NC 2010
Inspired by the historic houses and vernacular resort architecture of the North Carolina mountains, this 6000 square foot summer house reinterprets its local predecessors for a modern lifestyle. Using a combination of local stone and poplar bark shingles for the exterior walls, and rough cut cedar for the roof, the exterior is characterized by simple volumes and a strong roof line. The house is set on the edge of a field, with a steep drop-off at the rear. The dramatic views of the mountains and a desire to minimize the apparent size of the house influenced the plan and massing.
The clients, a retired couple, requested a house that would accommodate their needs for years to come. Using ADA guidelines as a basis, the house is designed to be fully accessible. The master bedroom suite has his and her dressing rooms and baths, each with a shower designed to accommodate a wheelchair, and an adjacent library that can be used as a bedroom in the future. An elevator allows access to the basement gym and three guest rooms on the second floor.
The interiors are characterized by a more formal architectural language than the exterior. Rejecting the prevalent local ‘rustic lodge’ style, the detailing, inspired by Edwardian architecture, uses paneling and custom mouldings to create an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere. The house is based in tradition, reinterpreted for today.
Las Vegas, NV 2004
The interior design of a townhouse in Lake Las Vegas is an exercise in restraint. The client requested a calm and soothing environment, to serve as an antidote to his fast paced life. Architectural detailing was simplified and views and light maximized. A limited palette of muted earth tones, combined with the simple forms of furniture, create a soothing environment. Boxy shapes are augmented by more traditional, sculptural pieces, while curtains in a sheer natural linen frame the views. In the master suite, a contemporary canopy bed floats in the middle of the room, providing a retreat for the client. On the lower level, the study is a modern interpretation of a traditional library, with floating shelves and cabinets mounted on the wall behind a desk inspired by Donald Judd. The whole creates a simple, yet comfortable, Zen-like atmosphere that serves as a refuge at the end of the day.
Lenox, MA 2013
This was JGA’s second project in Lenox, renovating and completely reconfiguring a 1940’s Cape Cod style house. What was a warren of smaller rooms was blown open, even removing a massive central fireplace and chimney, to create a large living room open to the kitchen and new dining room. The original living room was repurposed as a new master suite, and a dressing room and bath were added. The rear façade was opened to the views and a screened porch added. The exterior was clad in bark siding, and a new metal roof installed. JGA assisted the owner, the founder of a large lifestyle company, with decorating.
Photography by Sean McLaughlin
New York, NY 2005
JGA designed a complete retail environment for Hickey Freeman in a former bank within the historic 1905 Trinity Building on Wall Street. Working within the confines of the landmark building, the architecture and the interiors of the 4000 sq ft men’s luxury store reflect the strong classic American tradition of Hickey Freeman, the last luxury men’s clothing line to be designed and manufactured in the US. The space is a modern interpretation of traditional elements, using a restrained palette of limestone, limed oak, bronze and glass. The architecture, fixtures, and furnishings all reinforce the concept of luxury as defined by Hickey Freeman.
The long, narrow store is divided into three distinct spaces, each of which defines a unique selling area: Sportswear and Fittings, Tailored Clothing, and Custom Tailoring. The three spaces become progressively more luxurious and enveloping in experience. Custom cabinetry along the walls displays merchandise. Backlit glass block panels mirror the existing windows on the opposing wall, providing a balanced ambient light. Within Custom Tailoring, luxurious fabrics are displayed along the walls, and a seating area, work tables and desks provide space for clients to peruse a range of fabrics, linings and buttons. Handmade rugs and custom bronze fixtures reinforce the luxury of the clothing. The furnishings and fixtures are positioned to direct the flow through the store, and become sculptural elements on their own.
Photography by Catherine Tighe
