The power of design to impact your standard of living.

With New York's residential real estate market at an all-time high, design has become one of the most important factors in the success of a development.

In the past, many Manhattan homebuyers based their decision only on location and zip code; today, the educated buyer considers many other aspects, including amenities, finishes, design team, and environmentally-friendly features.

To ensure that a developer meets and exceeds the new standard set by buyers, home design must be all encompassing. When a building is well designed, it results in a visually dynamic and welcoming experience for anyone who walks through the door. It is important to keep in mind that so-called 'good design' also takes into account comfort and functionality--a design element is at least meaningless if it doesn't function properly and downright absurd if it makes live more difficult--one shouldn't be a slave to design--design should be a slave to you. At S. Russell Groves, we use an assemblage of architecture, interior design and art to create unique settings that reflect each client's taste, vision and individual needs.

Our firm has a successful history of residential and commercial spaces largely because we realize that design transcends aesthetics alone--it is also about how the design enhances and shapes your life.

At The Lucida, a 21-story luxury residential condominium building currently being developed by Extell Development Company, we created a unique living experience for the residents.

As the Upper East Side's first LEED- certified building, located at 151 East 85th Street, residents will live in a healthier, ecologically conscious environment without sacrificing quality or the standard of living they expect.

As the interior architect for The Lucida, S. Russell Groves designed all interior features for the homes and common areas, including the lobby and amenities floor, and collaborated with La Palestra for the onsite La Palestra Fitness, Wellness and Spa Center. All of the 110 luxuriously spacious homes designed by our firm feature gracious layouts that complement expansive windows and offer residents an abundance of natural light. The eight duplex penthouses at The Lucida, which sold out in record time, will offer soaring double-height ceilings, fireplaces and large outdoor space boasting spectacular cityscape views.

We also wanted to pay homage to classic New York modernist architecture and infuse a sense of glamour and sophistication into the project. We focused on a modern interpretation of pre-war detailing and harkened back to a time when quality craftsmanship was an integral part of construction, not overlooked as it is so often today.

This idea was combined with a desire to put a new spin on "green design."

In recent years, there has been a misconception about green living, and at The Lucida we had the opportunity to expand horizons and show that green can be luxurious and sophisticated.

The "green grown-up" idea was prevalent in our designs, from the hand-woven, vegetable dyed carpet in the lobby, to the use of sustainable woods and low volatile organic compounds (VOC) materials in our custom-made furniture.

In addition to The Lucida, a wide array of high-end residential commissions and the redesign of the revered Neiman Marcus department store in Boston, S. Russell Groves is currently working on the national salon rollout for celebrity hairstylist Fr6d6ric Fekkai. From New York to Los Angeles, each of the six locations feature state-of-the-art customer amenities combined with elegant touches and a calming residential ambiance.

The result is a breathtaking oasis for personal care services, which is both gorgeous and tremendously efficient.

Although not always the first thing a homebuyer notices, design elements are instrumental in creating an exciting or calming atmosphere.

In residential design, especially at The Lucida, we are proud of the environment we created, exceeding even the highest standard of living.

S. RUSSELL GROVES, PRESIDENT, S. RUSSELL GROVES