Looking at newlyweds Tasha Forgash and Matt Manes's
well-turned-out apartment in South Boston's Macallen Building, into which they
moved just six months ago, one might surmise that they started from scratch
decorating the place. After all, there are no signs of stereotypical
bachelor-pad belongings: no leftover lava lamps, no chrome and black leather
'80s throwbacks, no unsightly entertainment center. Nor are there the overtly
feminine touches one so often finds when girl attempts to domesticate boy, like
tasseled tiebacks, dried flowers, or frilly shower curtains. Instead, this is a
sleek urban abode with the sort of sophisticated style that one would assume
takes ample time to achieve - or, at least, requires some hefty payments to a
sought-after interior designer.
Rather, the space is simply the result of two style-conscious
individuals with similar aesthetic sensibilities merging their belongings.
Tasha, 33, a color specialist at the edgy salon Shag, and Matt, 31, a principal
in the modern furniture showroom M2L, share an appreciation for good design.
Tasha says, "We both work in creative industries, so an interest in design was
something we had in common right off the bat."
Upon walking in, one immediately gets that this couple is funky
and fun. In addition to the enthusiastic welcome from their trio of pups,
visitors are greeted by an oversized soft sculpture of a bright green pony by
Italian designer Eero Aarnio. On one end of the sparkly white Caesarstone
countertop sits a tangerine KitchenAid mixer, balanced on the other end by a
tall orange art-glass vase with swirling black stripes that Matt hand-carried
home from a trip to Holland. Lime-green counter stools provide an additional
tangy accent.
Beyond the kitchen is the dining area, outfitted with a
clean-lined walnut extension table by Walter Knoll, purchased, like most of the
furniture, off the floor of M2L. Matt tells us, "We had planned on a different
table, but it sold, so we borrowed this one and loved it." Surrounding the
table are six white Panton chairs, about which Matt says, "Since we don't sell
them, I had never sat in one until I was at a show in Germany, where they had
them in the cafeteria. They are really comfortable, and I like the way they
look with the wood." As for the art, they each brought one to the table, so to
speak: the blue abstract piece is Matt's, the portrait Tasha's. She says, "Even
our art goes well together, though when we first moved in I had them hanging on
opposite walls. I definitely prefer them like this."
Pops of orange reappear in the living room, compliments of Matt's
Artifort Orange Slice Chairs, designed by Pierre Paulin. The iconic pieces are
a playful counterpoint to the chic Dordoni white pebble-leather sofa with
contrasting black zippers that Tasha spotted in the M2L showroom in D.C. last
year. The six-sided smoky coffee table came out of Matt's old bedroom.
As for the couple's new bedroom, the roomy, light-filled space
contains some of the most exquisite examples of their collection, including a
white leather Eileen Gray Bonaparte Chair paired with the sleek black vanity
Matt bought Tasha for her birthday, atop which sits a Kartell Bourgie Lamp. A seating
area is composed of two Utrecht Armchairs - designed by Gerrit T. Rietveld and
upholstered in chocolate brown leather with topstitching, they're Matt's "dream
pieces" - and a low zebrawood coffee table, all on a shaggy brown rug. A
whimsical limited-edition Charles and Ray Eames Molded Plywood Elephant stands
in the corner of the arrangement, another birthday gift from Matt to Tasha.
Tasha says, "I've learned a lot about furniture from Matt, about
investment pieces and how much craftsmanship goes into making each one. Good
design can take you places. It lasts."
--Marni Elyse Katz
Marni Elyse Katz is a freelance writer
in Boston who blogs about style at stylecarrot.com.
