Jim Walrod

Jim Walrod, often referred to as the “design guru" [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50F11F93D5D0C728CDDAB0994DA404482 ("New York Times" article)] ] is a self-taught interior design consultant and considered an expert in the field of mid century design. In the 1980s, he was an assistant art director for the Italian fashion house, [http://www.fiorucci.it/ Fiorucci] , [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/10/living/10FIOR.html?ex=1166158800&en=018a16741e3b27c6&ei=5070 ("New York Times" article)] ] . Mike D of the band The Beastie Boys originally coined another of his monikers “the furniture pimp”, used by the press [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/5392244/1998_rolling_stone_covers/photo/14/medium/masterp 1998 Rolling Stone Cover] ] in "Rolling Stone" magazine. Walrod was born in 1966 in Jersey City, NJ.

Projects

Walrod has also consulted on interiors for architects Jean Nouvel and [http://www.gluckmanmayner.net/GMA.htm Richard Gluckman] . His collaboration with boutique hotelier, Andre Balazs, resulted in the [http://standardhotel.com The Standard Downtown LA] hotel. Among his more recent work is [http://www.theparknyc.com The Park] restaurant [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9D01E3DA1339F936A15751C0A9679C8B63 ("New York Times" article)] ] for club and restaurant impresario team Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson. [ [http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/food/reviews/restaurant/4573/ Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson ("New York" magazine article)] ] He designed the interiors of [http://www.colors-nyc.com Colors] restaurant which is operated by the former employees of the Windows on the World restaurant in the World Trade Center. Opened in 2006, Colors was "inspired by the optimism of the 1939 World's Fair", according to Walrod. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2006/01/11/garden/20060112_CURR_SLIDESHOW_5.html ("New York Times" article with photos)] ] He has designed Nolita's [http://www.stevenalan.com/shop/stores.php Steven Alan Annex] [ [http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/shopping/columns/15182/ ("New York" magazine article)] ] the newest additions to the line of hipster fashion and lifestyle emporiums of designer, [http://www.stevenalan.com/shop/aboutus.php Steven Alan] , completing projects for him in the West Village, at [http://www.stevenalan.com/shop/press_stores.php Steven Alan Upper West Side] and NoLita. In 2008 Walrod designed Gild Hall [http://www.wallstreetdistrict.com/index.php?page=gild] , a business class hotel in the financial district of Manhattan, for the Thompson Hotel Group. Currently, he is completing the interior design of the newest hotel for the chain, Thompson LES [http://www.thompsonhotels.com] , on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on Allen Street.

Retail and film

One of his furniture and design retail ventures in the 1990s was Form and Function [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30E12FE3D5A0C758CDDA00894D0494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fL%2fLife%20Styles ("New York Times" article)] ] in Tribeca with partners, Fred Schneider of The B-52's and Jack Feldman. For Ang Lee's 1997 film "The Ice Storm", [ [http://videodetective.com/home.asp?PublishedID=7244 (film trailer}] ] Walrod consulted on the period 1970s furniture and interiors.In 2004, his design of the Tribeca restaurant, Pace, [ [http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/food/openings/9638/index.html ("New York" magazine article)] ] was featured on the television program "Opening Soon" on the Food Network. [ [http://www.lifenetwork.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=81467 (television episode)] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.indexmagazine.com/interviews/jim_walrod.shtml Jim Walrod, 1999] , an interview with "Index" magazine
* [http://www.merrillantiques.com/HOME/Press/Details/params/object/12441/default.aspx Article on 1970's furniture] , "Details" magazine
* [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1:120982140/THE+ITALIAN+JOB%7eR%7e(Jim+Walrods+designs).html?refid=SEO Interview with photos] , "WWD"
* [http://www.wallpaper.com/directory/609] , [http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fortune/0805/gallery.bestbusinesshotels.fortune/12.html] , awards for Gild Hall
* [http://www.thompsonhotels.com/] , Thompson Hotel Group website