The Studio Opening

Lanier Hicks LLC Design Studio in the East Village

Maybe it was the first night of summer. Let’s let it be. A high of 91 degrees and an evening thunderstorm in May is more than enough for this to be so. A Wednesday night and the opening of my design studio in the East Village.

All photos were taken by the talented Nicole Plett, who, randomly enough, is my next door neighbor in Bushwick! When does that happen? To share a wall with a wildly talented and charming woman?! She so graciously shared her talents to capture the fete. Thank you!!

Beautiful people, wine kept cold in the slop sink. The rain from the storm was a courtesy, making it impossible to distinguish between those caught in the shower and those sweating through their shirts. People I’ve celebrated many times before and newer faces. Photographers and architects and DJs and jewelers and writers and attorneys and stylists and shopboys and business owners. My mother and friends I grew up with in Florida. We reached the capacity of the space and spilled into the hallway, into the exterior stairwell and out onto the street.

The week prior was spent getting the place into shape and hand block printing fabric to make into curtains. This is something I would adamantly suggest you don’t try at home. My mother had her visit in the books and I wanted to use that as a deadline. Both because I couldn’t imagine this celebration without her as well as my needing of her magic touch. Blake is a master in solutions and craft. She isn’t a knitter or a needlepointer. Her work has always been in the clever making of things, things that don’t exist. Transforming a space, creating movie magic utilizing common practices and materials.

So we printed the fabric with hand-cut linoleum stamps, hung art, created a curtain for my wire rack storage, added gilt ornamentation to my recently installed frameless mirror. It all came together. The end result is where my heart is: a bit Billy Baldwin, a bit East Village Dive Bar.

I am so excited to throw more body to body cocktails, intimate dinners, themed celebrations, etc. This space will operate as my office in the rear and a private event space in the front. A place to fabricate and experiment. Excited to share what’s next with y’all.

Cheers to more parties. I love being your hostess.

xx

Lanier