The Thing I Kept: Workshop/APD's Matt Berman on the One Thing That Has Survived Countless Redecorations
Matt Berman is one half of Workshop/APD, the New York City–based architectural and design firm that he founded with partner Andrew Kotchen. The duo tackles commercial and residential projects alike and has designed everything from single-family homes to urban lofts, upscale restaurants, and custom furniture. Berman and Kotchen founded the firm in 1999, but got their big break in 2006 when they won a competition sponsored by Brad Pitt to bring affordable housing to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Now, Workshop/APD is 45-plus members strong, with an impressive roster of urban and coastal interior and architectural projects. While their focus is decidedly modern, the team also specializes in working with historic properties to give them a modern touch. They've applied this technique to hundreds of New York apartments and hotels, as well as to over 100 homes on the island of Nantucket. In early 2017, Workshop launched its first commercially available furniture collection in collaboration with Desiron. In this installment of The Thing I Kept, where designers share pieces from their own homes that have survived countless redecorations, Berman tells AD PRO about his set of Wegner Wishbone chairs that have found a new home in his Asbury Park weekend house.
Architectural Digest: Tell us—what is the piece, and how long have you had it?
Matt Berman: My Wegner wishbone chairs are one of the few pieces of furniture that made the transition to my family’s new house in Asbury Park. They’re incredibly comfortable, perfect for dinner parties, and now, they’re filled with memories that we associate with really good times.
AD: Love that they made the cut! Where did you first spot them?
MB: My husband and I first saw them during a trip to Scandinavia about 15 years ago. I remember being in the store and knowing right then and there that we loved them—we thought they were stunning. There is something incredibly simple and organic about them that is very refined; there is nothing ornamental on the chair, but the chair itself is a beautiful object. We didn’t purchase them in Scandinavia because it would have been difficult to ship them, but we were able to purchase them once we were back in New York.
AD: What is it about them that made them stand the test of time?
MB: These chairs are timeless, stylish, incredibly comfortable, and the caning is beautiful. I love the natural, washed-out, soaped oak; it's such a beautiful color. It's not too yellow, but a very simple, natural tone. And I love the feel of the chair; when you touch the back, there is a rounded quality to it that your hand grips.
In the design world, there are a lot of under-designed items that are too simple and boring, as well as items that are over-designed, complicated, and distracting. These chairs are authentic; they hit the sweet spot—an ultra-refined piece that has clearly gone through many edits down to the bare essentials, but still has authenticity and integrity.
AD: Where in your home do they live?
MB: They surround our dining table at our weekend house in Asbury Park, in a sun-filled room that looks out onto our backyard. We have hosted many dinner parties over the years, and countless interesting stories have been told. Tons of laughs and memories in those chairs.
AD: Anything else that you think we should know?
MB: My husband Jim and I made chair pads for our Wegners for when guests come over. We stitched together two pieces of quarter-inch felt, the kind often used under carpet as padding. Typically, when you look at chair pads they are thicker, but for this chair, I thought the most appropriate pad was really thin. I’ve always liked this particular carpet padding because the gray color has little flecks of color, and I knew that it would be extremely durable. We love the look of the soft felt and the sleek construction of the chairs—perfect for entertaining.
