Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Star Lounge – Feb 2013

In February, a dash of Zen was the heart of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. I created this year's Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge by channeling the aesthetic and om   of the Far East. Guests of the Star Lounge entered into a calm, relaxing and glamorous environment inspired by Asian tranditions.

The tranquil room bathed in a palette of earthy terra cottas, warm cinnabar and blacks paired with natural textiles, like flax and mohair, immediately transported guests away from New York's hustle and bustle into a warm and calming oasis. The modern interpretation of Asian design included terra cotta glazed linen walls tacked with antique bronze studs, alcove seating groups with dramatic pillows, traditional Asian consoles and cocktail tables. Accent tables made from repurposed moped tires and accessories like lacquered stone calligraphy brushes bring both new and old eastern influences to the room.

I teamed up with textile designer Nicolette Mayer for this season after being inspired by Mayer's ability to take traditional images and patterns and rework them in extraordinarily modern ways. The gorgeous result of the collaboration was an over-sized pattern of Mayer's Chinese porcelain images on natural flax colored linen. The outcome was an inspired new interpretation of an old motif and took a conventional object to a sublimely new level. I also collaborated with Maxwell Fabrics and Libeco Lagae resulting in a room filled with texture, warmth and depth.

Selected photographs by Ransom Snellings