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elevated wooden patterns were added onto the wall. Together
with the retro golden chandeliers above the elongated black marble
bar, they create a warm and intimate atmosphere.
I always pay great attention to detail: when designing for the
hospitality industry, this can elevate a space to the next level. The
service bell I mentioned before is one of those details that no other
bar in New York City has, but it is a feature a lot of people talk
about and appreciate.
CM: Be in love with our work is always the key to achieve better
results. Are you in love with this job? What do you love most
about being an interior designer?
DM: There is nothing more exciting than receiving the initial brief
from a client; listening to their dreams and aspirations and feeling
the adrenaline pumping as creative ideas start to spark in my
mind. This creative rush is what I love about my job: combining
the client’s ideas with my own inspiration to create a story that
reflects the client’s vision and exceeds their expectations.
I am very passionate about what I do and love to create a buzz
around a project. Being able to transform a space and make it
successful, creating a concept people talk about and want to come
experience is something I strive for with every project I take on.
This is exactly what we’ve achieved with The Bennett; we’ve
created a story, transporting people to another place. A place
where they can breathe and unwind, enjoy a lovely cocktail and a
beautiful experience.
CM: Do you have a favourite project or a favourite story about
one of your projects?
DM: That would be the Raines Law Room on 17th Street. It
was my first project with Yves Jadot (CEO of YJRG) and Alberto
Benenati. The level of success exceeded what we initially expected.
Yves and Alberto had never opened a lounge before and I was still
working as a full-time employee at a design firm. Yves’ initial
idea was to open a space for him and his friends to hang out after
hours. When he contacted me via Facebook to inquire about my
interest for the project, I almost did not reply! Luckily I did, and
the original idea transformed to what everyone now knows as one
of the best speakeasy bars in New York City.
I worked many nights and weekends after my day job with
a very low budget and low expectations, but this project
ultimately became the one that helped launch my career.
When I proposed to incorporate the service bell as a key feature of
the bar, I knew it would help create that intimacy and add a special
touch to the space, something people would remember. Yves
initially did not like the idea and I had to push to convince him. It
is now the key feature in all the cocktail bars we’ve collaborated
on. This goes to show that a designer must push their client’s
vision sometimes to accomplish a vision.
PROJECTS //
