Manhattan mood

Located in the heart of one of the trendiest and most expensive areas of New York City, 1 Union Square caters to those living the high life. So when Peggy Leung, owner of Peggy Leung Design, was asked to create a private lounge for the apartment block, she knew it had to be the epitome of elegance and style.

The result is a lounge that oozes charm and ambience, with some very unique lighting solutions. The primary source of light is an EcoSmart 900SS firebox set into a custom made, walnut wood bookcase that covers an entire wall; this is complemented by up and down lighting surrounding the distinctive photography mural behind the bookcase.

“We took around 20 photographs of iconic places in New York City and printed them onto aluminium,” says Peggy. “We then set those into the wall behind the bookcase to give the room a very Manhattan feel. In the low light of the EcoSmart Fire and the downlights, the images look fantastic.”

“It complements the library mood of the room. People love the space, and of course the client is very happy with that.” says Peggy.

Along with the EcoSmart Fire, the colour scheme further emphasises the elegant and somewhat mysterious atmosphere of the lounge. Deep and dark hues such as the ox blood red used on the walls are accented by bronze touches on a large wall mirror, coffee table and steel dividing curtain. Low, elegant furniture and club chairs complete the look.

Despite the fantastic end result, the project wasn’t without challenges. “It’s a very competitive market, and the clientele is very young, fashionable and professional,” explains Peggy. “So there was the challenge of designing a lounge that was inviting to this clientele, with the added disadvantage of the space having no windows.”

Considering the lack of light, she worked the fire into the design from the very start, as it was the only indoor fireplace on the market that could have been used in a space with little ventilation and no possibility of having a chimney installed.

“I’m very happy and proud of this project,” Peggy admits. “Everything has a sense of belonging in the space, from the fire to the colour scheme to every piece of furniture. It all just fits.”