When British-born furniture designer Andrianna Shamaris embarked on a year-long hunt for a New York City apartment, she had two nonnegotiable requirements: The apartment had to be in estate condition and it had to have views of nature. She also made clear that she wanted a restoration, rather than a renovation, project. When she finally found the perfect place on Central Park South, she enlisted architect Thomas Leeser to help her achieve her vision of an organic-modern retreat.
The first order of business was reproducing the original moldings, which were in such bad shape they couldn’t be reclaimed. “I didn’t want the new moldings to be perfect,” Shamaris says. “Try explaining this to a contractor!”
The next step in preserving the character of the prewar home was to reinstall all the original crystal knobs on custom white resin doors, which hang on pivots rather than hinges. In another unique touch, the designer custom produced a wall covered in shell-encrusted teak to divide the kitchen and living room.
“I don’t like the bourgeois look or anything too minimal, as that style lacks warmth,” she says. “So, even though I might say less is best, having a few objects with a story behind them is far more interesting to me than a room full of objects.”
When Shamaris moved into the apartment, in 2008, the fireplace was sealed shut. She and architect Leeser decided to open it up, keeping the original black marble in front and painting the surrounding frame a strong white. “We left it very clean and wabi-sabi so that it blended into the wall,” Shamaris says.
As her apartment attests, Shamaris is a believer in the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection. In fact, she has curated an entire collection based on this simple aesthetic and sells it on her 1stDibs storefront and in her New York showroom.
The entire apartment is accented with pieces from Shamaris’s studio in Sumatra, where she lived for nearly a year after a stint in sales at Ralph Lauren's Bond Street flagship. During her travels around the world, she collected antiques along with design inspiration.
Tour Andrianna Shamaris's apartment at The Study, and shop her tables, seating and other furnishings on 1stDibs today.
$1,745 / item
H 13.78 in W 23.63 in D 24.41 in
Sculptural Side Table Crafted from Mango Wood & Burnt, Black Finish
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderfully sculptural side table with an organic form. Its stark black pigment was achieved through burning the wood three times. Its neutral pigment and wood texture makes it per...
Wood, Fruitwood
$6,500 / item
H 20 in W 20 in D 20 in
Hand Made Side Table of Black Tourmaline and Black Plaster, by Samuel Amoia
By Samuel Amoia
Located in New York, NY
All pieces are made to order by Samuel and his brother Dominic (sculptor). The minerals are closely sourced from trusted miners, then hand-crushed, hand-washed and carefully sculpted...
Cement, Tourmaline
$2,120 / item
H 15.75 in W 18.12 in D 14.18 in
Ceramic Side Table - handmade - artisanal - Sculptural - custom glaze - black
By Project 213A
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
SMALL CERAMIC SIDE TABLE, designed in 2023. Hand-sculpted ceramic side table with an organic shape made in Project 213A's in-house ceramic workshop. Finished in a contemporary custo...
Ceramic, Clay
$1,370 / item
H 18.5 in Dm 13.8 in
AUREA Side Table, Black Marquita Marble Stone Modern Accent Table, End Table
Located in St Petersburg, US
‘Aurea’ Side Table by HAAND, crafted from premium black Nero Marquita marble stone. This exquisite piece measures 13.8 inches in diameter and 18.5 inches in height, with a substanti...
Stone, Marble
$4,923 / item
H 21.66 in W 13.78 in D 13.78 in
Irregular Sculptural Black Volcanic Stone Side Table by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Crusta Side Table by Andres Monnier Unique Piece. Dimensions: D 35 x W 35 x H 55 cm. Materials: Black volcanic stone. Treko Concrete is a Mexican studio based in Ensenada, that aims...
Stone
$5,068 / item
H 23.63 in W 17.72 in D 15.75 in
Glacier 02 Contemporary Side Table in Onyx and Steel by Bestia
By Difane
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Understood as the material of progress and as an emblem of the modern movement from the middle of last century, steel is the fundamental axis of the Glacier collection. The item ...
Onyx
$3,220
H 21 in W 12 in D 12 in
Jour Block Table in Black Marble Handcrafted in India by Stephanie Odegard
By Stephanie Odegard Collection
Located in New York, NY
While inspecting the works in one of her workshop's, Stephanie Odegard encountered these beautiful blocks of black marble with exceptional grains in them and reserved them to not be carved as the Jali tables and instead to be made as the block tables. Every block is unique and therefore no two tables are identical. The stone is handpicked from the lot to choose the best of the grains. Also Available in various other stones like Agra White Marble, Jaisalmer Stone, Rainbow Teak...
Marble
$995
H 17.25 in W 16 in D 16 in
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Lucite Plexiglass Table with a Black Slate Top
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic clear square 16 inch plexiglass box with a textured black slate top. Fabulous combination, its simplicity is beautiful and very durable and functional. Unnoticed slught ma...
Slate
$1,200 / item
H 23.63 in W 16.93 in D 13.78 in
Sculptural Side Table Solid Mango Wood Burnt Finish Modern Organic
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderfully sculptural side table with a mix of wood textures and shades. It features a waved design. A uniquely sculptural and versatile piece, this chair was crafted from a singl...
Wood, Fruitwood
Plinth Marble Side Table by Alentes - Modern Black Cast Stone Design
By ALENTES
Located in PALEA FOKEA, ATTIKI
The PLINTH MARBLE side table is both sculptural and functional, a friendly, eclectic touch in any space. Its form resembles a thin marble plume sitting on a body of soft curves and s...
Cast Stone, Marble
Andrianna Shamaris Volcanic Glass Coffee Table, Organic Modern Design
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Impressive volcanic glass coffee table or large side table. Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock millions of years old. Extremely mul...
Glass
Andrianna Shamaris Amorphous Charred Side Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Reclaimed lychee wood side table. Burnt, sanded and sealed whilst respecting the natural organic shape and revealing the beautiful wood grain. We have a collection. All unique. The p...
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
Andrianna Shamaris Charred Minimalist Side Table or Stool
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Hand carved minimalist cube. Burnt, sanded and sealed revealing the beautiful wood grain. The Triple Burnt Collection represents a unique line of modern furniture made from solid r...
Wood
Andrianna Shamaris Charred Teak Wood Side Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Reclaimed teak wood side table. Hand carved whilst respecting the natural organic wood. Charred, sanded and sealed revealing the beautiful wood grain. We added a gloss to this one. ...
Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood
Andrianna Shamaris Cracked Resin Side Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
The cracked resin side table is made from teak infused with resin. A dramatic piece due to the depth of the resin, which resembles a unique qu...
Resin, Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood
Andrianna Shamaris Onyx Sculptural Side Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pale onyx side table with unique textures and tones. Both usable and sculptural. It’s fascinating how Mother Nature produces these stunning five thousand year old logs with...
Stone, Onyx
As her sun-filled home reveals, the furniture maker and dealer puts a contemporary spin on antiques from around the globe.
Andrianna Shamaris has filled her epic new home with pieces of her own design.
