Den of Zen

Studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Jayne and Joan Michaels­ already dreamed about being chosen to participate in that grande dame of design events, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House.

Annie Block -- Interior Design, 3/1/2011 5:49:00 PM

Studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Jayne and Joan Michaels­ already dreamed about being chosen to participate in that grande dame of design events, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House. But that didn't mean the twin sisters weren't terrified once their firm, 2Michaels, was actually selected. "How will we make our room special? And how will our peers judge us?" they wondered.

All fears melted away as soon as the duo decided that the 170-square-foot space they'd been assigned should be a serene "meditation room" inspired by Interior Design Hall of Fame member Calvin Tsao. Onto that initial idea, they layered the vision of a bird sanctuary. "An egg theme emerged," Jayne Michaels adds, once an ovoid white plaster fireplace joined the mix. Joan Michaels notes, "After we made that shift, everything fell into place easily."

The resulting tableau was a serene, sophisticated mix of mid-century and contemporary furnishings and artwork. Porcelain egg shapes bulged from a screen, a nestlike chandelier hung from the ceiling, a floor lamp's bronze base took the shape of a tree branch, and a vintage birdcage rested on a stand in the corner. A closet-size nook contained the most literal "meditation" reference, a pyramid­ of Buddha­ heads carved from telephone books.