Collection
Guest Curator: Avenue Interior Design
Guest Curation
Avenue Interior Design
Avenue Interior Design was founded in 2009 by Ashley Manhan and Andrea DeRosa out of a shared desire to simplify original design for their clients. To date, they’ve worked with hospitality authorities like sbe, Kimpton and MGM, creating spaces that are rich, layered and complex. Learn more about how they integrate authentic art into their spaces, and how they feed their creativity.
Q.
Tell us a bit about your design work and team...
A.
Avenue Interior Design originally started as a boutique hospitality design firm. The recession had really set in, and Ashley and I felt it was an opportune time to enter the industry. Our mission was simple and streamlined; Present our clients with an authentic, original design narrative and outline a clear methodology to implement the designs. As a result, our earliest clients included like-minded hospitality pioneers such as sbe, Kimpton and MGM.
Q.
What is your best advice for hospitality clients who are considering building a collection with their property?
A.
Artwork is monumental in establishing a sense of place, and continuing the design language of any interior. It’s also hugely personal and shapes how guests perceive the property, how they engage with the space and how they remember their time there. In recent years, art has taken center stage and become the main attraction, and so many properties have continued to push the envelope.
Q.
Where do you get your visual inspiration from? What keeps you inspired?
A.
From subject matter to material, color to composition, art is such a powerful presence and drives our appreciation of design. We often turn to paintings for color palettes and patterns when it comes to designing custom carpets, fabrics, and wall coverings. Architecture, travel, nature, and fashion are also eternal sources of inspiration. The creativity from season to season with fashion is truly awe-inspiring. And for good reason, nature continues to provide inspiration and growth on so many levels.
Q.
What is your current favorite piece in your personal collection?
A.
Andrea: Whenever I can, I collect pieces from artists we commissioned for our projects. One of my favorite collections is a series of vintage Vogue magazines commissioned by Andrea Mary Marshall from her Vague series.
Ashley: Years ago my grandmother commissioned portraits of her children and she recently gifted me with my dad’s portrait. It’s oil on canvas w/ a thin, gilded gold double frame. It’s beautiful and so personal.Terry O’Neill’s photography has been a mainstay for many of the projects we’ve designed. Just prior to his passing I purchased the photo of Faye Dunaway at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I’ve always loved the natural, effortless style this particular shot exudes.
Q.
What are some of the challenges you see collectors and clients face with art collecting, and what are some suggestions you have for how they tackle them?
A.
With sources like Tappan, the options for collecting art are seemingly limitless. The biggest challenge is deciding what to admire versus what to acquire. You may fall in love with a piece but find that it doesn't have the right home in your interior. In order for art to be truly appreciated, its surroundings must also embrace it.
