"THE FUTURE IS DIRTY" - ROBIN STANDEFER & STEPHEN ALESCH
PHOTOS VIDEO

NEW YORK

Robin and Stephen work well together. You notice it when the husband-and-wife team talk about modern design. Their answers complement each other without them even being in the same room. “Modern design is at a point that it’s old fashioned,” says Stephan. “I really feel that way. It’s a hundred years old; it’s tired.” Robin elaborates, “Modern design right now is about every day erasing the past. And we cannot continue to erase the past. We cannot take all the objects that are from yesterday and remove them.” “We don’t want to live in white boxes anymore,” explains Stephen. “We always say: the future is dirty! The future has to be dirty!” adds Robin with a smile. „Modern design right now is about every day reason the past. And we cannot continue to erase the past. We cannot take all the objects that are from yesterday and remove them.“

Born in New York, Robin worked many years in film as a visual consultant for Martin Scorsese. Stephan, a Malibu native, is a designer, photographer, painter and illustrator – a creative multi-talent. Their paths crossed in the ’90s in Hollywood – and their journey continued from there. They were in charge of the production design for over 20 films before founding their own company (named for their maternal grandfathers): Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors.

Hollywood picked up on the pair’s talents quickly. Ben Stiller, Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow have all had interiors designed by Robin and Stephen, and they’ve designed many different locations in New York, such as The Standard and it’s iconic nightclub The Boom Boom Room. Their house in Montauk, surrounded by lush greenery, exemplifies their design philosophy. Artwork meets furnishings and living accessories from global travels, radiating an air of timeless elegance. Paintings from various artists adorn the walls, there are shells on the antique wooden table and the flower arrangements look like they have just been picked from the garden – everything is meant to feel comfortable. Artwork meets furnishings and living accessories from global travels, radiating an air of timeless elegance.

“Learning to be as brave with the clients as you are in your private life” is what they learned from this house, says Stephen. Robin, sitting next to him, can only agree: “Yeah.”

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