INTERIOR DESIGN
African Proverb
Home is not where we live; home is where we belong.
Profile
Gia Sharp, Owner and Principal Designer of Gia Sharp Design, has had a long-standing love affair with all things design. Her creativity, keen eye for color and detail became apparent early. As a child, her passion for design was born while trying to find living quarters for her 8 (!) Barbie's. Her solution: a 4-story apartment building built from scratch, with custom furnishings crafted for each doll. Now, her innate sense of space, utility, and aesthetics makes each project she designs truly work for each client.
“The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them.” -David Hicks
As a college student furnishing her first apartment on a budget, Gia began collecting vintage pieces that required TLC and vision. Believing that good design can also be sustainable, she usually incorporates curated, vintage pieces into her eclectic designs to give them a second life. Upon earning a BFA, Gia spent the next 20+ years gaining valuable experience within the Fashion, Furniture and Interior Design industries. She has worked for notable brands, such as Calvin Klein, Uhuru Design, and Tamara Eaton Design. While working for other firms, Gia started taking small design and decorating projects on the side to try her hand at entrepreneurship. Buoyed by happy clients and successful projects, she decided to strike out on her own with the belief and mission that everyone deserves good design.
“Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design.”
-Charles Eames
Gia Sharp Design, launched in fall 2018, is the culmination of years of passion, hard work, and talent. By listening closely and developing a good working relationship with her clients, Gia is able to uncover the client's style and inspirations and create a design that elevates how they live. The main priority of every GSD project is to create a space that is expertly infused with the energy and design the client wants while addressing the practicality the client needs. To that end, GSD works on a range of projects, from full-home designing and decorating to one-room updates.
As Gia has many roles in her life, as a woman, POC, mother, wife, sister, creative, human rights advocate, art lover, and self-described foodie, she understands that her clients are just as multi-faceted, so their spaces must be designed to reflect all that they are and aspire to be.
Project
Ditmas Park Family Room
F is for Family
So worth the climb is a converted attic family room for a fun-loving family. With lots of places for movie-watching, board games and book-reading, this space has become the hub of the home.
Pattern Play
This client loves color and pattern, so we pushed it to the limit with a Missoni-esque zigzag rug, antique Lorenz chairs custom upholstered in hot pink and what looks like a boulder of carrera marble, but is really a lightweight pouf.
Quiet Time
This small corner was perfect for adding a cozy reading nook. The client's love of mid-century led us to this custom color Womb chair whose symmetry is balanced with the organic florals and live plants.
Hidden Treasures
This bay window was bare and unused, so we designed the oak-topped storage bench beneath the window as a starting point. Layered with a variety of lux pillows and bespoke cushion, it's a welcoming spot to linger whether, for work, games, or a quick bite. Custom-covered Cesca chairs provide even more eye candy to the pattern play of a room.
Project photos credit: Danni Hadnott Photography and Artistic Chad Photography
Project
Kensington Co-op
A Place for Living
This couple wanted a warm, inviting vibe for entertaining friends and hanging with their four-legged companion. We covered the furnishings in elegant, durable fabrics to keep cleaning day easy. Swivel chairs create a flexible conversation space, and grounding the space with a vegetable-dyed wool rug in vibrant orange makes the space rich yet playful.
A Great Room
Multi-tasking rooms are a necessity in the city. To create harmony, we married the color schemes of the Living and Dining Spaces and used modern lines to keep the Dining area minimal. Art helps to define it as its own space.
Work and Play
This office is a work horse: a writer's room, client meeting space and guest room all in one. Careful space planning and custom furnishings make this room all that it can be.
Collective Reasoning
Our client had collected many books over the years and wanted space for even more. We custom-designed this corner bookcase in white oak to accommodate her growing collection and provide some cozy, ambient light.
Sustainable Serenity
The requirement for the Master? A serene, soothing space for recharging after a busy day. We chose a custom, padded headboard, comfortable for reading before bed. Vintage bedside tables and dresser provide character and help do our part to give furniture a second life. Linen and velvet bedding top it all off for a relaxing vibe.
Bedside Manner
With all the muted greys and soft textures, we created balance using this brass task lamp with custom blue shade. Functional with a nice pop of color and shine.
Kitchen Confidential
This kitchen was spare and white, but needed some soul. With the addition of warm tobacco leather barstools and fun accents like the oversized red clock, this space now encourages connection over coffee.
Project photos credit: Dana Meilijson
Project
Upper East Side Pied-á-Terre
Living Room with a Pop
Color brings life to any room. We brought in a rich, saturated rug to brighten the space. Mixing this color statement with a tailored, grey sofa and see-through tables creates balance. The oversized pillow and art are a play on scale and give a sense of grandeur.
Master Elegance
Our client asked for an inviting, yet classic master bedroom. Our focal point was a towering, regal blue velvet headboard, sure to encourage lingering over a book in bed. Adding lighter neutral elements in varying textures keeps the room serene, while maintaining visual interest.
Work Space
In smaller homes, space planning makes all the difference. Our client needed a desk area, so we designated a long, unused wall as the new workspace. Choosing a desk that's light and airy keeps the space feeling open. And, to create an inspiring view, add art.
Balanced Design
This bathroom needed some finishing touches to warm up the hard finishes. An artful, modern curtain in cotton provides softness, and the accessories in matte black ground the space.
Project
Upper West Side Bachelorette Pad
Living Single
A tailored, yet cozy living room for a new homeowner. We added oversized art to give a big personality to the small space.
Windows to the World
Even a spectacular view needs the right framing. We layered solar shades to control the light and heat with jacquard sheers to add some softness and texture.
A Little Glamour
We maintained the tailored look in the bedroom as well with the tufted tweed bed and embroidered bedding. To make it fun, we sprinkled in some Hollywood Regency lux with reflective surfaces and pops of color.
Project photos credit: Mara Singer Media
Services
At GSD, we believe that everyone deserves good design, so our services can be tailored to a variety of budgets and needs. From design consultations to get your DIY spirit on the right path to full-service design and installation, living in a beautiful space is attainable.
While our focus is residential interiors, we also aim to work with non-profits to design elevated, inspiring spaces for disadvantaged populations.
The mission of Gia Sharp Design: Design for Good. Design for All.
Here is a sample of some our more popular services:
Full Service Design
Long-term interior design and project management of your home, including space planning, hard and soft finish selections, designing custom millwork, custom window treatments, furnishing and décor throughout, as well as coordination with architects and contractors
One-Day Home Consult
Home visit to consult on space planning current furnishings, art placement, window treatments, selecting new paint colors throughout, or maybe something else on your design wish list (4 hours)
One-Day Shopping Trip
Curated shopping trip with Gia to purchase furnishings or finishes/ fixtures for one room (4 hours)
Virtual Home Consult
Video visit to consult on any home-related question your heart desires (ideas for a home office, updated window treatments, etc). You have full access to Gia's expertise in color, space, organization, all things design. (2 hours)
Reviews
“Gia Sharp is as her name says. She has a great eye when it comes to interior design. She was able to take pieces from other rooms in my home and place them where they just lived better. She was also SO patient and helped me choose colors for my entire 4 BR house 2 story home-- not an easy feat. She meticulously went through my artwork and created a gallery that displayed family photos. She hung the remaining artwork with precision and thoughtfulness. Gia is an asset to her profession. She listens and understands your vision but makes it much better than you can ever imagine.” --Cori
"Quite simply, it's a pleasure to work with Gia. Not only does she have a deep understanding of all elements of design, but she's able to overlay her superb taste and experience into a style that's all YOURS. She knows what works and what doesn't aesthetically, but never forgets that your space must be livable, fun and, above all, it must fit you and your lifestyle. " --Lauren
"Working with Gia was a pleasure in so many ways. She truly listened to us as we identified our needs and preferences, aligning her suggestions with our requests. Full of ideas and a creative problem solver, Gia is extremely knowledgeable about materials and sources—both in terms of design and aesthetics and practical/technical issues. She's super organized, which helped us and also streamlined work with our contractor. She’s also a warm, communicative, and engaging person, so it was always fun to work together. Gia is a consummate professional, and we are thrilled with our lovely, comfortable, functional, easy-to-maintain home." --Terésa
