Architectural Sculpture & Restoration Inc. (ASR) was one of the 17 design teams chosen to design spaces in Franco Grimaldi’s 22nd Designer Show House. This year’s showcase took place from October 6^th to November 8^th, 2009 in a 9,000 sq. ft. Georgian and Tuscan mansion located on a three-acre estate in Weston, CT.

Past designer houses have been located in New York City, California, Florida, and Connecticut, but wherever they are, they are ultimately chosen by producer, Franco Grimaldi. Originally known for his grandiose opera singing and theatrical acting on Broadway, for the past 14 years, he has transformed his artistic repertoire to include the celebration of design.

In choosing a show house, being “big” is a requirement for Grimaldi.“I also like when they’re new so we don’t have to go through demolition,” said Grimaldi.

One of the reasons why he decided to get involved in producing show houses, besides having had his own home in Winter Park showcased, is that he wanted to help people. The proceeds of his show houses have helped victims of AIDS, cancer, child abuse, and Alzheimer’s disease, among other causes. This year, admission to the Weston Designer Show House cost $30 per person, and the proceeds went to the Connecticut Humane Society.

In addition to producing show houses, Grimaldi also produces a television series entitled: The Room of Choice© for American Showcase Homes, a subdivision of Talent Resource Centre, LLC.

After receiving a call to participate from Grimaldi, ASR chose to design the rooms, La Salonetta, and Bath, in the Weston house along with partners Siegfried Kropf, from Leinritt Decorators, and Peter Jonas, from Installation Decorator, LLC.

Upon first walking into the room which is now La Salonetta, Euclides Pagan, owner of ASR, said it was nothing but a white room, and that he already knew ahead of time what he wanted to do.

After four weeks of work with a 12-person team, the once vacuous space is now a rich French Renaissance masterpiece painted in blueish-green, and yellow tones, Neo-Classical plaster elements, and a Georgian Roman Acanthus medallion crowning a crystal chandelier. Jonas was in charge of the blood red and gold-colored fabric lining the bottom portion of the walls with a pillow effect. The walls of the Bath room were painted a regal red in Venetian plaster, and a shiny black door was handsomely trimmed with gold. Kropf was responsible for the vibrant colors and various painting techniques.

Even though Jonas and Pagan have worked independently on the same projects for many years, this was the first time in which they personally worked together in conjunction with their teams.

Just as this event allowed many unique designers to work in harmonious unison towards a common good cause, Pagan said, “La Saloneta represents and expresses the richness, craftsmanship and harmony of the Renaissance style period where all the elements in interior decoration come together.”

Dear Friends,

The evolution of Architectural Sculpture & Restoration Incorporated
continues. We are, in a sense, very much like the pieces we craft. We
reflect the imagination and ideals of those from centuries ago and
those like yourself, who come to us with the seedlings of creation.
We thrive on the idea that time is an inspiration to functional art,
and that time passed also means an emergence into a new era. From
our start as a small in-house sculpting studio thirty years ago, we
have emerged as a premiere supplier of original and custom-made
decorative ornaments, a recognized force in the field of restoration,
and a committed team of installation artists that turn ideas into
reality.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for making this
happen. Our work would not have been possible without your vision,
inspiration and creativity. We have had overwhelming support
throughout the years, and finally, after equally overwhelming
demand, I am offering a comprehensive catalogue of our work
to the public. In it you will find a diverse range of architectural
ornamentation that draws inspirational detail from the many
formative eras in architectural design. Or you can choose to develop
you own design and work closely with our helpful and creative staff
to bring it to fruition.
And so, without further adieu, we invite you to join us celebrating
our thirty years of existence in the following pages. Enjoy!

Euclides Pagan
euclides@asrnyc.com