In an age when new high-rises and shiny gadgets dominate our culture, there are a few dedicated souls who are committed to preserving the whimsy and heart of vintage styles and pieces. One of these pioneers of preservation is Michael Laudati, a makeup artist who has redefined himself as an architectural and design guru.
Recently Michael worked on a building in New York’s Upper West Side, restoring it to its original 1929 Spanish Revival glory. This remodel was no small project, as it involved installing windows, doors, and intricate veneers, as well as general interior decorating and design.
Taking an existing building and restoring it to accurately reflect its original period involves extensive research and planning to yield a dramatic and unique finished product. Michael Laudati has done just that; here is a look at some of the finished pieces of his lobby redesign.
Here you can see phenomenal before and after photos from Michael’s redesign. Original wooden cross beams have been refinished to a lighter, more natural state. The classic fireplace and wall were given updated treatments including beautiful finish work and edging. Drab aluminum windows hidden behind boring shutters now explode with light thanks to the beautiful casement windows we provided, along with “new” old wall sconces.
An up-close look at the new windows shows just how lovely they really are, especially when paired with a recessed wall area that makes the dark window frames stand out even more.
Here you can see one of a pair of doors we found for Michael’s project; he restored them and added stained glass into the window panel for a unique, bright look.
More stained glass sourced from OGT in the entryway.
These are more remarkable before and after photos, which show just how much difference new doors can make. The first photo shows the aluminum entryway that previously dulled the front of this Gothic apartment building. The second photo highlights the pair of Gothic doors we tracked down for Michael; they are a perfect fit for this gorgeous old building.
This is another view of the new doors for the front of the building; bright and clean, they add a whole new meaning to the phrase, “old things made new once again.”
Michael built out a stunning encasement for the building’s mailbox area; the look is completed with three vintage sconces that came from our inventory as well. It is amazing how a little light and some custom carpentry can change the look of something so dramatically!
Above is one of six steel fire doors that Michael and his team veneered with quartered oak. To finish out the look, they also added in the art tile frieze above the door, creating an authentic, eye-catching entryway.
This door is actually an original fire door, complete with portrait faces. Michael painted the door with a bronze finish and added a stunning knob that he found at our Scranton warehouse.
Michael Laudati extends his thanks to the team that helped make this renovation a success: Dave Savage of Savage Metal Restoration, EverGreene Architectural Arts, and Arkay Decorating.
