MIXED MEDIA

The fun, modern spaces at Village Square are proof that luxury design doesn’t have to be stuffy.

In the game room at Village Square, fabric patterns were selected to reflect the high-energy functions of the space. The sectional sofa is covered in a David-Hicks-meets-Keith-Haring textile reminiscent of a maze.

One of the major real estate trends in suburban New York, as in much of the country, is the mixed-use development, a project that fuses residential, retail and entertainment uses in one space. Generally the goal is to create a “downtown” feel—often in the absence of a true downtown.

In the case of Village Square, the new mixed-use project in Glen Cove, N.Y., developed by RXR Realty, there was no need to compensate for a remote location: The Square is at the prime downtown corner of Glen Street and Bridge Street, smack in the heart of this bustling village and a comfortable walk to Garvies Point and the Long Island Sound waterfront.

In the game room, below, bar-style seating behind a custom-sized sofa doubles the capacity for screening movies and sporting events.

Amenities were part and parcel of the design: Lush outdoor gathering spaces, a fitness center and other spaces to encourage relaxation, productivity and entertainment were engineered in. For help with the element of style,

RXR did what it has done on many past luxury projects, and turned to Safavieh. Iris Carias, an interior designer at Safavieh’s nearby Glen Cove flagship showroom, headed the team. “I designed the communal spaces at Village Square to be inviting and friendly, modern but not cold,” she explains.

The library, is a study in contrasts. Safavieh designer Iris Carias hung monochromatic artwork on a bold blue wall for maximum “pop.”

To accomplish that she emphasized color, mostly by using area rugs and artwork. In the library, for example, a blue-and-gold rug is echoed by a bold blue accent wall. The wall is punctuated by an abstract artwork in shades of white—a pleasing contrast on a sea of blue.

"I was literally thinking of Hempstead Harbor, which is just down the street," notes Carias. "You feel its calming influence all around this property, and I thought blue notes were especially appropriate for the library, a space for contemplation and relaxation."

In the lobby area, left, Carias used a series of framed artwork to add color and suggest movement.

In the game room, replete with foosball, air hockey and multiple televisions, the scene is quite different—high energy and kinetic. Here Carias chose textiles that radiate energy. A sectional sofa, for example, is covered in a David-Hicks-meets-Keith-Haring pattern reminiscent of a maze. This light-hearted piece sits atop an abstract rug from Safavieh that suggests rushing water. Of course, all the fabrics are treated to withstand the rigors of family use.

The amenities at Village Square are proof that fun and luxurious can be two sides of the same coin.

The outdoor spaces at Village Square, are lushly planted and thoughtfully staged with seating for residents.