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“The schedule was extremely demanding,” recalls Devin Hines, founder of Hines Collective. “But, it didn’t take much convincing [to take up the project] between the extraordinary views, abundance of space, and our client’s adventurous spirit and trust in our creativity–We knew this project was going to be special.”

Already familiar with the client’s taste for elegant and understated style from their previous residence, Hines seized the opportunity to collaborate in a way that not only pushed them outside of their comfort zone but allowed for full creative exploration.

“For this project, they signalled wanting a fresh start,” he adds. “We discovered early in the presentation process a willingness to be more adventurous when it came to the design.”

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While the architecture for the fireplace, kitchen and foyer from a previous renovation was kept, the many rooms are in a light and airy palette of sophisticated neutrals, recalling the apartment’s setting high in the Manhattan sky.

In the midst of bespoke furniture pieces that fuses vintage and contemporary designs, avian-inspired motifs that identify with the client’s love for birds ebb and flow through the spaces: the decorative details on the custom ash and walnut dining table, French artist Alice Riehl’s Autoportrait de Couple porcelain wall sculpture in the living room, and the many light fixtures shaped like wings of a bird.

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Meanwhile, grounding, subdued colours anchor the city below while differentiating each of the many living areas.

A hammered gold bar niche stands out amidst the dark and moody oxblood walls and ceiling of the media room “speakeasy,” which Hines claims: “At night, this room really shines.”

The shine is reflective of French artist Pierre Dunand’s Chevaux Caracolant art piece of lacquer and gilt on wood in the den with dark wood panels for walls.

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Complementing the variety of artisans, Hines Collective also introduced unique materials to bring unconventional techniques and hand-applied finishes into the apartment–all in line with the homeowner’s appreciation for all things bespoke and couture.

“One of our favourite moments to design was the powder room that we wanted to make a substantial impact,” remembers Hines, who proposed for the small space églomisé wall panels–“A French artisan technique where panels of glass are painted and gilded on the reverse and layered to create depth and interest,” he explains further.

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When tasked to provide the point of inspiration for the piece, Hines’ team was hit with a bit of a curveball, when the client proposed a dragon motif, which held symbolic meaning to them. 

“It was challenging to translate the concept and not have the dragon feel corny or scary,” the interior designer looks back on the wraparound églomisé glass panels of metal leaf and mother of pearl, created in collaboration with Agency Custom and Vancouver-based artist Noemi Kozikowska.

“It was a true labour of love, and the end result is deeply meaningful and as uniquely elegant as our client for whom it was created,” Hines adds.

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A few other challenges did threaten the design studio to miss the appointed deadline.

“We had a specific vision for the primary bathroom stone slabs since conception of the design and searched over 60 stone yards unsuccessfully,” Hines shares. “However, at the eleventh hour of the construction schedule, we and our client fell in love with a completely different stone–a Taj Mahal quartzite, and changed everything to accommodate it.”

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Besides that, a surprise building riser was uncovered during demolition to combine three rooms for an enlarged primary closet. It could not be moved, and Hines and his team had about a week to pivot and completely change the design.

After proposing several conventional options, they settled on a large, custom bronze finish tree sculpture, crafted in collaboration with Toka Builders and NatureMaker, encapsulating the riser.

Hines concludes: “Fortunately for us, our client’s adventurous spirit prevailed, and the project was completed on schedule.”

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