Christmas Fireworks @ Wilderstein Historic Site

 To celebrate the holidays at the Wilderstein Historic Site, Geoff was again invited to decorate the fabled music room within the grand estate. inspired by the room's circular motifs, This year's display is more of study in circular motion with lighted 'christmas trees' spiraling, circling up to the heavens, creating a wonderful warm glow. The white and gold music room is filled with all original hand carved woodwork, a beautiful plaster ceiling with a handpainted mural, all installed in 1889. It also features a suite of furniture designed for the room by famous new york Cabinet makers Pottier and Stymus.

The Poughkeepsie Journal published a story on Christmas Day about holiday decorations in various historic mansions along the Hudson river. A photograph of Geoff's installation was featured and as a result, the next day during the three hours Wilderstein was open for tours, over 160 visitors came to bask in the warm glow, setting a new one-day record of visitors to Wilderstein during the Christmas season. Glad tidings indeed!

photo credit: The Poughkeepsie Journal

See more of Geoff's previous Wilderstein installations by clicking on

The Ghost of Wilderstein Christmas Past 

Throwback: Sunglass Hut: Christmas with Georgia May Jagger 2012

Tis the season of gift-giving, warmth and sparkly sparkles. Designer Georgia May Jagger's holiday window at Sunglass Hut was an explosion of gold and red gift-wrapped boxes stacked and hanging in front of backdrops of golden glitter. Of special note, the front of the window features a mechanized gift box that we developed that opens and closes to expose (and hide) a lit sunglass display. Please have a look at the video below of our contraption in action!

Midnight in the garden of Versailles

The holidays bring their frosty touch to the gardens of Versailles, I mean, D Porthault...  Carefully clipped boxwood topiaries dusted with snow and glowing lights below a hand painted midnight sky create a wintry atmosphere around the cherub sculpture centerpiece bedecked in the latest of D. Porthault's luxurious linens.  The side windows  also carried the frosty theme.

The interior dining table featuring linens embroidered with silver and gold thread along with D Porthault's signature monogram candles.

Off the Grid

Armani's inspiration for these windows was a rotating grid. Of course it wouldn't be Armani without a  chic twist. The shallow grid was made of a thin wooden substrate  mitered to fit perfectly at the corners and upholstered in fine black satin and attached to a glowing light-box background, the effect being an aura of luxury that also reflects the details and crisp tailoring seen in their collection. Shone below are some images showing the subtle differences from window to window as some without the mannequins.

Pop up presentation

For a company that's all about making good first impressions, the annual Estee Lauder Companies Inc shareholder meeting is also no exception. GHS designed and fabricated the backdrop showcasing ad shots from all the brands owned by the Estee Lauder Companies Inc. as well as a large rear projection movie screen.  Installed by our hardworking crew in the opulent Essex House ballroom, the final effects was simple and chic, very Estee.

Spot On!

For the Lexington Ave facade of Bloomingdale's, the windows were freshly done to herald the arrival of Giorgio Armani himself, his first appearance in the US in years.  The full length of the windows at Bloomingdale's were masked in black vinyl to create large circular openings through which could be viewed the  women's collection against a background of black and white checkerboard, Bloomingdale's signature pattern.

From across the street there were a total of 6 portholes side by side, the effect of which you can see in an example below.

Armani: Simple Chic

For Armani's lifestyle store on 5th ave and 56th st, the windows were freshly done to herald the arrival of Giorgio Armani himself, his first appearance in the US in years. The specially textured and colored acrylic backdrops were imported from Italy. Each grouping of panels were reverse-custom colored and/or mirrored. From across the street this created a beautiful array of vibrant colors representing the season's collection.

Pulling out the big lamps

 Kierland Commons

To make the most of the dramatic corner atrium in Victoria's Secret new Kierland Commons location in Scottsdale Arizona, the designers extrapolated on the giant lampshade standard and came up with a hanging arrangement of multi-sized ribbon-wrapped hanging lampshades that we produced.

If you look closely at the inside edges of the lampshades, you will see the introduction of a new lighting technique that Geoff designed to give the shades more glow from the inside without a visible source.

The crisp edges of Coach

Coach is preparing a new showroom in their immense manhattan headquarters and we were delighted to help them produce a new series of blocks, plinths, Parsons tables, stands and platforms in various shapes and sizes to showcase future merchandise. Risers were variously painted in matte and gloss finishes in various shades of grey. Other finishes include bronze mirror, wallpaper and white lacquer. GHS has been working with Coach since 1995 and it has been exciting to see them prosper and grow through the years.

Giorgio Armani: Black Velvet

For the summer window,  the Madison Ave Giorgio Armani boutique hired us to produce a series of large black velvet frames with blackened chrome trim holding a double image of the same photograph. One image was printed on acrylic and the other on sheer fabric with the effect being a double exposure that 'holographically' changes focus as the viewer walks by.

Hugo Boss: Anthropocene

To celebrate the re-opening of the Hugo Boss flagship store at the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle, Hugo Boss collaborated with the Central Park Conservancy and renowned video artist Marco Brambilla to created a kaleidoscopic and panoramic video about the wonders of Central Park and Columbus Circle. For our part in this presentation, we installed the video screens surrounded by mirrors on each side side to create the 'endless reflections' of the imagery when viewed up close. A long, narrow viewing 'portal' surrounds the installation with the rest of the glass blacked out. Signage was added describing the installation, the collaboration and Hugo Boss' commitment to supporting the arts through their Hugo Boss Global Arts Program.