In the 13 years since he graduated from NYSID, Alberto Villalobos ’06 (AAS) has made a name for himself in high-end residential design. As this issue’s visual thinker, he shares the ideas and sourcing behind one striking room design.

Looks Elegant, Functions Informally

“I let my clients’ lives and stories guide me,” says Alberto Villalobos, principal of A. Villalobos. For this space in New York’s iconic Plaza Residences, Villalobos was charged with creating a combined dining/living room that would evoke grandeur and tradition, but also function practically for a family with four children (only the dining portion is shown here). Because this Central Park South apartment is a secondary residence, his client envisioned a space that could accommodate vivacious grandchildren and sophisticated dinner parties, and that could be maintained without fuss. Villalobos applied his deep knowledge of international art to ensure that “every piece in the room was handmade, had a story and contributed to the overall design.”

1. Villalobos’ client grew up with a crystal Baccarat chandelier, so he decided putting one in the room was the perfect way to lend the design some sparkle, formality and a sense of tradition.

2. This painting of silver blooms, from Rachel Lee Hovnanian’s “Narcissus” series, lends the back wall texture without distracting the gaze with too much color.

3. Villalobos’ team placed these porcelain flowers, by ceramicist Matthew Solomon, and sourced from Maison Gerard, on the Holly Hunt dining table, so that their curved organic forms would break the straight lines of the table.

4. These interpretations of Louis XVI chairs from Formations are intentionally “not precious.” Villalobos upholstered the seats in blue outdoor fabric, so that spills could be easily wiped up. He applied luxe horsehair fabric to the backs of the chairs. Although these neo-classical hybrids have different proportions than the originals, he added them as they are more comfortable.

5. Villalobos sourced this vintage screen, made in the 1950s by Piero Fornasetti, from Bernd H. Goeckler Antiques. The screen depicts an imagined city with its image reflected in water. In practice, it’s both evocative art and a design solution, as the screen conceals an unattractive AC unit.