Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1405904
70 gathering downstairs for happy hour, but when there's work to be done or a meeting needs to happen, a vintage travertine table and chairs are at the ready. The designers wrapped the lobby in an envelope of beautiful and textural materials, such as white oak paneling, handmade tiles, and concrete floors. And they chose a mellow color scheme punctuated by bright blue elements referenced from a Verner Panton sculptural Vitra Living Tower in an Yves-Klein blue that a design committee member had seen. "It became an interesting jumping-off point and pushed us to a place we wouldn't have gotten to otherwise," says Taylor. To tie into the vibrant blue of the Vitra Living Tower, they covered a pair of sofas in peacock blue velvet, had a rug custom woven in Morocco with blue elements, and covered the powder room walls in a vibrant blue tile. Given Swoon's success with artful public spaces, we've got to ask: What's the secret to making interiors sing, whether it's a lobby in a high-rise or a living room at home? "Soulful, special, and interesting things like books, art, and artisanal pieces are what make people most happy in a room," Taylor says. Above: On the shelves, art and culture books from Forty Five Ten and pottery by Carrie White and Matthew Gilley. Painting from Sputnik Modern. Custom ottoman. Right: Paper wall sculpture by Derrick Velasquez, Denver. Vintage travertine table from 1stdibs. Concierge desk in white oak, with handmade tile wall; Moooi chandelier from Scott + Cooner. Large ceramic vase and wood-and-concrete sculpture, both from Sputnik Modern. Shinola turntable. Living Tower by Verner Panton, from Vitra. Chair, table, and floor lamp, all from The Future Perfect.