Ritz-Carlton Showcase Apartment
by Julia Wong

Written by Rebecca Christian
Photography by Werner Straube
Produced by Hilary Rose & Jo Ann McVicker

The multi-talented Julia Wong loves exploring the intersection of design, art, and technology. Assisted by Angelina Briggs, she created this stunning pied-à-terre for the Ritz-Carlton Residences Showcase in Chicago. A beautiful blend of modern style and classic taste is punctuated with unexpected pops of her own unique personality. Here, Julia divulges her inspirations behind this sophisticated apartment.

TH: What was your original concept for this apartment?
JW: I like to integrate technology, design, and art. The concept here is industrial chic. I wanted the apartment to feel like a home in the sky, to embrace the outside, not create a concept that was just interiors. The outside is an extension of the interiors. The earth, water, and metal elements are woven into the design deliberately and organically, so you can see it in the throw pillows, or you might see it in my coffee table collection—metallic bases with either a concrete top or salvaged wood tops. I don’t want the person who lives here to tiptoe around the design. Even though it’s luxurious and opulent, it has a very easy casual feel to it.

TH: Beginning in the living room, how did you choose your palette and why?
JW: Instead of using bright colors, my color palette is berry. I wanted the palette to be very close to nature, using contrasts rather than big, bold colors. The art and photography are very important in this room. Because I’m from Los Angeles, I wanted a little fun too, a little glam, a little Hollywood. I’ve mixed black and white photography with abstract art. The palette is neutral but very dramatic in scale.

TH: How were you able to achieve your modern yet livable style?
JW: I’ve used really classical shapes, like the Schumacher chair in the living room that really anchors the room. It’s very dramatic and oversized. It’s just a wing-back chair but a new interpretation—a traditional chair reinvented. I really wanted to recreate a media room feel, a space that is comfortable yet chic. But that was difficult to achieve because of the confinement that I had to work with. For example, the TV area is very tight, so I put in a sectional to maximize the seating. The sectional is tufted to give it richness. It’s really comfortable. The juxtaposition of the different elements—metal, luxurious velvet, salvaged wood, and technology—resulted in a space that was luxurious and comfortable, not too precious.

TH: It seems like you fit a lot into such a limited space. How did you accomplish that?
JW: Every space has its limitations. For example, I wanted to recess the TV, but I couldn’t because there’s an electrical panel behind it. So Integrisys, our technology partner, came up with this new TV that’s mounted on the wall and has a frame around it. You can put any image onto the canvas, and the canvas lifts up to expose the TV. This solved my problem in the seating area. And what’s dramatic about it was I could put my own photography on it. The technology really integrated with my design.

The chaise came about because of the space we had to work with as well. The views are fantastic, but we couldn’t possibly put another seating arrangement in that tiny space. I wanted something dramatic there, something that the view really commands. So I came up with this double chaise because I love textures. I have tufting on the sofa and I wanted to do the leather channeling on the double chaise—something very handsome, masculine but with a soft curve. I came up with the double chaise because that’s where I’d want to sit in the mornings, look at the view and have a cup of coffee. For me, the chaise was very daring because it’s such a bold piece.

TH: The master bedroom is the most calming space in the apartment. Tell us about it.
JW: A bedroom, especially in an apartment, can feel very commercial. Instead, I wanted to create a space that is very sexy, but also very soft. This space doesn’t have much width, but we have height, so I’ve taken advantage of that. A four-poster bed would seem very heavy and cumbersome in a space like this, so I used soft draperies to achieve the height. I wanted drama, but I didn’t want to use pattern. Because we sleep in here, it should be very calm and peaceful—it’s the water room. The drama comes from the volume of the drapes. I wanted something that would feel like you’re at home in a residence, rather than an apartment, so I’ve used an antique olive pot with an olive tree so it feels homier. I really wanted to get away from the urban feel in the bedroom, though there’s a hint of it with the nailhead trim. I wanted the palette in here to be watery and peaceful. Instead of bronzes, the metals are silver and stainless. The wall is by Faux Design Studio. I didn’t want Venetian plastering, or faux finish. I wanted a wall that looks like an old wall in Europe that has been rained on for a hundred years so there are watermarks and patches. I think we accomplished that.

TH: The dressing room was such an interesting addition. How did you fit it into your design?
JW: This room has the worst view in the unit—basically you’re looking at the air conditioning vent of the building next door. I felt this could be a glamorous dressing room, so I made it about storage and glamour. I wanted to showcase how easily you can customize California Closets, even though they’re a module closet company. In this room, I’ve used lighting and draperies to achieve the glamour. Again the metallics in the fabric are part of the industrial chic concept. And everything is organic: linens, cottons, and wool. Again the photography is important. We have a great picture of Diana Ross behind the scenes, having a cup of coffee in her dressing gown. That’s the only piece of art in here because it’s all about the clothes. The bench is important, and not just for looks. I’ve used tufting to bring in texture, warmth, and a touch of color. But also the bench is practical, if you need to pack for a trip, put your shoes on, and so forth.

Interior designers: Julia Wong, lead designer, and Angelina Briggs, senior designer, Julia Wong Designs, 4349 Park Vicente, Calabasas, CA 91302; 818/223-8886, juliawongdesigns.com.
Kitchen designer: Mick De Giulio, De Giulio Kitchen Design, 1121 Central Ave., Wilmette, IL  60091; 847/256-8833, degiulio.org.
Flowers: H. Bloom, 312/846-1194, hbloom.com.

Photography: Eddie Wolfl Photography, eddiewolf.com.
Photo framing: Elite Art Framing, 818/785-1616, elitepictureframing.com.
Art (by Bradford Stewart): Bradford Stewart Contemporary Art Gallery, 310/922-1747, bradfordstewart.com.
Quote from JFK: design and graphics from Julia Wong Designs, 818/223-8886, juliawongdesigns.com.
Wallpaper and printing: Wolf Gordon, 800/347-0550, wolf-gordon.com.
Paint (“Simply White” #OC-117): Benjamin Moore & Co., 888/236-6667, benjaminmoore.com.