Decorated

Show notes and images available on our website. In this episode of Decorated , Cotter and Will discuss Art et Industrie , the SoHo gallery that redefined what furniture could be. Founded in 1979 by Rick Kaufman and Tracy Rust, the gallery blurred the boundaries between art and design, object and expression. It created a new context for furniture as a conceptual practice, rejecting the rationality...

In this special episode, recorded live at Parsons School of Design, we explore the profound impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis on interior design, activism, and memory. Hosts Cotter Christian and Will Fryer moderate a panel discussion with artists, historians, and designers, delving into how interior spaces served as sites of resistance, community, and care. Featuring insights from Stan Walden , Jamie...

Step into the vibrant world of 1980s New York City nightlife as we explore the revolutionary design and cultural impact of iconic clubs like Studio 54 and Infinity. From innovative lighting techniques and theatrical elements to the way these spaces shaped community and identity, this episode uncovers how nightclubs became more than just venues for dancing - they were transformative spaces that inf...

In Episode 4 of Decorated , hosts Cotter Christian and Will Freyer are joined by architectural historian Timothy M. Rohan to explore the dazzling interplay between NYC’s 1970s and 80s nightlife and home design. The episode dives into the cultural influence of clubs like Studio 54 on interior trends, including minimalist platforms, neon lighting, and the privatization of space. From ephemeral disco...

In Episode 3, Cotter and Will explore the formation of an industry giant: Architectural Digest. During the 1970’s and 80’s, the magazine became a major force in the industry, offering readers a glimpse of the world’s most luxurious interiors; and designers, a chance to become stars. Cotter and Will speak to Maile Pingel, Chuck Ross, Mary Nichols and Peter Vitale about their contributions to the ma...

In the second episode of Decorated , Cotter and Will dive deep into the intersections of gender and interior design, guided by the lavish world of Prince Egon von Furstenberg’s 1980 book The Power Look at Home: Decorating for Men . Join us as we discuss how masculinity, invigorated by the all-time high divorce rates of the 1980s, popularized a new interior design culture that manifested itself in...

In the first episode of Decorated, we cover the life and work of Melvin Dwork, a New York City interior designer who received an "undesirable" discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1944 for being gay. While Dwork is mostly known for his activism - he fought to overturn his discharge, and was the first to successfully do so - his work in interior design is famous in its own right for mixing old...

Wild nightclub interiors, the VonFurstenburgs, Melvin Dwork, HIV/AIDs, and other topics are up for discussion as we explore the world of interior design in 1980s and '90s NYC. Episode 1 drops on October 30!