An 18-inch ceramic figure presides over the living space. The sculpture was purchased at Pearl River Mart, a SoHo department shop that specializes in Chinese products. "Only in a town such as New York do you have access to numerous bits, so many one-of-a-kind bits and rare finds," says Vern.
A 100-year-old Peruvian rug adds a graphic element that Vern finds attractive. "It's a crude quality which makes it more sophisticated," he states. "It's soul, and it has depth and you can't necessarily get that same thickness in a rug that is new."
Two recycled aluminum side tables lend a hint of shimmer. "They've a built-in stain resistance with their metal surfaces, thus removing the need for coasters," says Vern. "They're also easy to move when you want the sofa to slide out and have a reflective surface that helps expand the visual plane."
"Novels populate the entire unit," says Vern, who picked titles that celebrate New York, its own history and culture. "I collected all of them throughout the trip," adds Vern, who snatched up books while he shopped for other apartment furnishings.
Flooded with daylight, the apartment demands few light fittings aside from desk lamps which Vern purchased at Haus Interior. "The store is run by a woman who's really up and coming from the world of design," says Vern. "She has restricted square footage but everything within her store is carefully thought out"
An Italian-made couch, upholstered in charcoal grey, turns right into a chaise. "I really like the low lines of it and the polished chrome legs," says Vern. "It's a great looking sofa. The simple fact that it's added functions is just fantastic."
The sofa converts to a bed, ideal for overnight quests. Vern, whose very own one-bedroom New York City apartment comes with a sleeper couch, considered it a must-have. "It's so important in New York to have things that actually serve several purposes," he states.
A leather duvet, bought at Oly at Tribeca, serves as equally seats for company and a place to relax and revel in the view. "I can envision someone lying on this chaise longue and reading the Sunday New York Times or taking a nap, falling asleep to the views of the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson River," says Vern.
Vern topped the lace using a baby alpaca wool throw blanket and Olympus field binoculars. "You can just waste your day away, taking a look at the boats going by," says Vern.
When entertaining guests, your party can easily spill in the dining and kitchen area into the living room. Additional seating is offered by window chairs.
Walls of windows offer a bird's-eye view of the southern tip of Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island along with the UNICEF Headquarters building (a nonprofit company near and dear to Vern's heart) are one of the historical landmarks visible from HGTV Urban Oasis.
"Those are one of the most crucial items in the entire unit to mepersonally," says Vern of candle hurricanes he placed in the corner of the space. Vern decorated the landmark Cipriani for the 2009 UNICEF Snowflake Ball, an iconic nyc event, and incorporated the accessories into table settings. "All those faces are faces of kids UNICEF has helped," he adds.
Purchased in a shop on the Upper East Side, a circa-1970s glass and chrome bar cart doubles as an end table in the living room. Vern enjoys its dual purpose. "I just think it's so good looking," he says.
A iron figurine, spotted and snatched up at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market, stands guard over the living area. "I really like the nature of it along with the patina of this," says Vern. "To me, it felt authentically New York."
A driftwood mirror, set under the console, balances the area's industrial-style features. "It has a natural quality to it," says Vern. "It's really about balancing out the general aesthetic."
HGTV Urban Oasis combines luxury with the most recent technology. A Samsung 3D Blu-ray Disc Player includes 3D capacities and brings online content into the TV display via web-connected Samsung software.
The winner of HGTV Urban Oasis 2010 will obtain a Samsung Starter Kit which includes two pairs of 3D Shutter glasses and a Monsters vs. Aliens 3D Blu-ray film disk.
Escaping Elephants, a black-and-white photo by artist Matthew Pillsbury, makes a statement from the living room. Pillsbury, that specializes in long-exposure photography, captured a late-night picture of dioramas at the Museum of Natural History, situated near Central Park. "If you look closely in the bottom right corner you will see the subtle outline of a security guard who was making his rounds at that area," says Vern. "It's mystical and ethereal -- I love that quality about that picture."
Proving that small spaces can indeed be luxurious, Vern sprinkled the living room with extravagant touches, such as velvet and wool-blend felt pillows.
A wrought-iron flag brace, circa early 1900s, holds court at a far corner of the apartment. The rusted artifact, rescued from a building scheduled to be demolished, finds new life as a candle sconce. "It's such incredible, beautiful detail," says Vern.
Contemporary Asian-style porcelain dinnerware and bottles of IZZE sparkling juice invite guests to sit back and unwind. Vern served up colour in tiny dollops to maintain all eyes focused on the magnificent views.
A Deco-style three-tiered side table complements wire-brushed walnut flooring. "The timber flooring has thickness and heat, and I wanted that at the unit," says Vern. "I needed it to feel like it was a house."
The apartment takes on added elegance as the sun sets along with the big lights of the city sparkle in the night skies.
