Week 1 Interior Design Current Event: A Remarkable Philanthropist

Loreen Arbus is a former cable television executive for Showtime and Lifetime who completed a year-long self-renovation of an truly unique apartment on Central Park West. As you are invited into the home, you get a glimpse of Loreen's psyche--an independent soul who discourages labels of any kind. The renovation consisted of taking out the 1905 pocket doors, fixtures, and finishes and bringing the apartment to life with astonishing colors and eccentric features. Many patterns and fabrics can be seen intermixed with pops of bright colors and graffiti is scattered on the walls. Loreen's love for all things unique started when she was born the daughter of Leonard H. Goldenson, the owner of ABC, a company that gave him and his family $3.5 billion when he sold it in 1895. She confesses, "People always wanted something" and she decided to assume her grandmother's maiden name in the hopes that she would be seen as her own person, and not just the wealthy daughter of a multi-billionaire. Because she is the happiest when meeting people that know nothing about her, she has decided to open her extravagant home up for about 25 gatherings a year in support of an array of philanthropic causes. Some examples are nonprofit groups devoted to disability issues, the betterment of women and children, and animal rights and the arts. These gatherings entail beautiful views of Central Park, food and drinks. She invites an accumulation of her friends, colleagues and acquaintances that she has met in television and publishing and through the multiple nonprofit boards on which she serves and provides them with an opportunity to exchange business cards, but soliciting donations is not allowed. She explains, "This is more friending-up and cultivating than fund-raising. I don't want people to think, 'Oh, here she comes, asking for money again.' This is different. People are resourceful, they'll help later in whatever way they can." From her name, to her decorating style, to her philanthropic ventures, Loreen Arbus is truly remarkable. Her shocking taste and unique networking is something that should truly be acknowledged.

These brightly painted chandeliers with lampshades of various patterns and fabrics hang in the front hallway.

While the outside view from this window is not all that interesting to look at, the gallery of fine glass and eccentric variety of trinkets displayed in it truly is.

Loreen purchased two velvet couches from Vladimir Kagan and installed acrylic indoor/outdoor rugs that are easily cleaned due to the heavy amount of traffic that the apartment encounters. 

Article:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/05/garden/dont-show-me-the-money.html?_r=0#