Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc
Dallas, Texas
When the newly formed, publicly traded restaurant company established its corporate headquarters in Dallas, Carolyn Frani focused on the brands energetic, colorful concepts and disciplined approach to its business, creating an interior that was simple, sleek and modern. This 20,000 full floor project was in a building that contained a number of unique elements including a curved wall on one side of the offices and a conference room with 25 feet ceiling heights and a wall of glazing equal in height. With a limited Tenant Allowance, the Firm was tasked with a complete redesign of the space including all fixtures and furnishings. One of the highlights was the creation of a streamlined main conference with a lighting scheme that Illuminated the space with soaring ceilings with unique light fixtures to allow both direct and indirect lighting to supplement the recessed lighting in the ceiling. Carolyn Frani also assisted the client in management of the Tenant Allowance.
Deys Apartment Plaza
Syracuse, New York
An iconic, historical building dating back to 1893, was originally built as a department store. The adaptive reuse project converted the building into 45 luxury apartments, retail and offices. The building is located in the city’s downtown area that is experiencing a re-gentrification. Carolyn Frani designed the interior layouts for each of the 45 apartments taking into consideration the challenging existing structural elements. Significant considerations included column spacing and depth of the apartments in relationship to the exterior window wall in order to maximize the amount of light into each apartment and to preserve the original tin ceilings and expose other historical details such as the decorative column capitals. These efforts culminated in luxury apartments well-appointed the apartments with hardwood floors, gourmet kitchens, quality fixtures and natural stones.
THE LOMBARDY HOTEL
NEW YORK, NY
Built in 1926 by William Randolph Hearst this elegant prewar building is located in midtown Manhattan. Carolyn Frani embarked on a complete renovation and design for one of the units that had not been touched since the original owner purchased it in the 1950’s. The firm also managed the construction from inception through installation transforming a dated space into a warm, luxurious suite, perfectly aligned with The Lombardy’s upscale boutique motif.
MASTER BATHROOM
The firm completely redesigned the master bathroom without adding additional square footage. An outdated large corner tub was removed gaining back valuable square footage. A separate toilet room was created for privacy and rectangular soaking tub was incorporated along with heated floors.
BROWNSTONE
UPPER WEST SIDE, NY
Prior to renovating and restoring this 1800’s brownstone back to a single family home, it had been converted into several apartments. Part of the project included the addition of a penthouse floor to create a 12,000 square foot residence. While great measures were taken to replicate moldings, details and doors to respect the homes past, it was also designed for a young vibrant family to comfortably enjoy and afforded them the ability to entertain, something they did extensively.
Upper East Side Condominium
Master Bathroom
New York, NY
Carolyn Frani was engaged by the CEO of a Fortune 500 company to combine two apartments in a condominium building located on the Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The project involved a complete renovation of the apartments, in which the Firm reconfigured the layout, taking advantage of the magnificent view of Central Park, to create luxury apartment, with a private gym. The design included custom millwork through the apartment and a rich palette was created by using dark hardwoods, natural stone, and beautiful fabrics. Carolyn Frani managed the construction process from the bid and award phase through final turnover.
PRIVATE RESIDENCE
WYCKOFF, NJ
The firm was retained to renovate a home located on a golf course, twenty-five miles away from New York City. The home was over 6500 square feet with a central great room with 25 feet ceilings that opened onto the kitchen and the upstairs hallway. Sound was an issue due to congruence of the spaces. Carolyn Frani redesigned the layout to close off the great room from the large open kitchen and reduced the opening of the double height space onto the upstairs walk way to allow for privacy from the public spaces and to reduce the transmission of noise. This resulted in a layout conducive to entertaining while at the same time providing privacy for the sleeping quarters.
PRIVATE RESIDENCE
UPSTATE NY
When a third generation family member decided to raise his young family in the Georgian Revival home he had grown up in. In 2010 Carolyn Frani led the charge of completely renovating and refashioning the home for the young active family. Some of the formality of the spaces were relaxed by infusing color and patterned, repurposing the maid’s quarters into a new entry area that could accommodate storage needs, and creating a transition between the kitchen and family area by designing custom millwork that seamlessly united the two areas while respecting the architecture of the home.