When Christopher Guy Harrison decided to pop over the pond and put up a flagship showroom in the United States, he couldn’t have just another cookie-cutter, pop-up shop. After all, the renowned British furniture designer’s Christopher Guy brand is pretty distinct. His creations don’t just give you somewhere to flop, they create an eye-catching room that’s both fun and functional.
Whether you know it or not, you’re probably familiar with his work. Some of those killer creations have been featured in blockbuster films such as Casino Royale, The Hangover, The Devil Wears Prada, Ocean’s Thirteen, and others.
With that sort of resume and an international clientele, this space needed to be special. It needed to be something that could match the designer’s signature style at every turn.
Located on the penthouse floor of the New York Design Center, the Christopher Guy Showroom is a 20,000-square-foot showcase that just oozes “the world’s most fabulous lifestyles.” It features three different suites and a 225-foot-long furniture runway to showcase multiple pieces and several luxury lifestyles.
However, this showroom doesn’t just have furniture out for ogling. Crescendo Designs was brought in to turn the showcase into an interactive experience by complementing the designer’s work with a high-tech twist. The company installed state-of-the-art lighting and several other electronic perks.
At the end of the aforementioned runway is a 16-panel Planar video wall. Measuring 14 feet wide and 8 feet tall, the attraction adds another design element to this stylish space. The auditorium is another awesome looking room—and not just because of the custom mural that adorns the walls. Crescendo Designs installed a Runco high-brightness projector and a 110-inch Stewart Filmscreen projection screen in this area, which also features seating for 30.
Despite the big, bold displays, Crescendo Designs didn’t forget some of the smaller details. For instance, the company put Trufig hidden outlets in the center runway so there isn’t any clutter to detract visitors from the furniture on display or the design of the surrounding show areas.
A Crestron control system ties in all of the electronic components, from lights and distributed audio to the AV system in the auditorium room. That system allows the entire showroom to be controlled from a single button at the front entrance, so it can be turned on or shut down with one push. For remote control, a 12-inch Crestron V12 HD touchscreen behind the desk can tap into everything electronic. For on-the-go access, lighting scenes can change the mood, color, or effects in the space, all via an iPad.
The Christopher Guy New York Showroom is located at New York Design Center, 200 Lexington Avenue, Penthouse Suite – Level Nº16, New York, NY 10016.