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January 2001 Issue

Home is Where the Heart is

By Deborah Biskin Levine

 "Home is where the heart is." But, in Greg Sharp's case, a more apt adage might be, "you need a strong heart to make it home."

Scaling up the seven floors to architectural designer Sharp's Lower East Side loft, which was once a sweatshop, is no easy feat. However, after the hyperventilating ends, it's well worth the effort.

Here a magical transformation has taken place. Where once merciless task masters stood on oil soaked floors piled high with scraps of fabric, lording over immigrant laborers, now Greg supervises his staff in an environment filled with lots of light reflecting off of gleaming hardwood. A real chef's kitchen and moveable walls make Greg's this the perfect venue for any type of gathering--a party for a hundred or an intimate dinner for six.

Using modernist techniques together with natural textures, this young architect has managed to create a warm and inviting living and working habitat.

This neighborhood, just over the bridge from Brooklyn, once home to wave after wave of newcomers who were scrambling just to eke out a living, is quickly becoming and upscale place to be. Greg reports that rock legend Lenny Kravitz will soon be moving in joining a colorful and eclectic mix, with Asians, Chasidim, and Yuppies in apparent harmony.

How does Greg, a handsome, charming, and single 31-year-old with a killer smile help his clients create an abode that they love as much as he does his?

"When I meet someone who wants a home I set up an initial interview process," he explains. "It's usually just a simple conversation where I find out about their lifestyle and tastes. I find out if they have pictures or images that mean something to them. Most people are visual--they have things that they like and don't like. Most clients have already done some research, but I try to help them hone their sensibilities and make decisions. I help people enable their fantasies. The richer their imaginations, the more fun we have. For example, one couple might want an indoor pool or another may want a huge soaking tub."

Typically, Greg meets with a couple together when they are beginning the planning stages of a new home. "Everything is a subject for debate," he laughs. "My function is to help the couple stay the course--to help them get through without killing each other or bankrupting themselves. The construction process if stressful. There are endless combinations, endless choices. For some people, especially those who have trouble picking off a menu, it's very difficult."

Greg, who grew up in Connecticut and was educated at Tulane University, knew that he wanted to be an architect when he was only ten years old. "I always liked to build--legos, tree houses, blocks. When I was twenty three, I built an entire house--physically built it from the bottom up," he recalls.

Despite growing up in a architecturally traditional part of the country, Greg tries to employ contemporary materials in his designs. He utilizes steel rather than wood-frame construction, lots of glass, and implements creative solutions for heating and cooling. Greg also uses warm textures and soft colors to insure that the spaces he creates are homey.

Are there special requirements for a Jewish home? Greg concedes, "Jewish people usually are very concerned about having a nice kitchen that encourages social interaction--something open with a nice flow." Greg has yet to design a kosher kitchen, but he would love to--something with a meat and a dairy side, even with a special Passover pantry. He might go so far as to include two dishwashers and two stoves.

According to Greg, many people want a home that looks just like any other home. He encourages them to incorporate some modernist elements in their designs.

"I believe that since we live in this day and age, we should take advantage of the available technologies," he comments. "A lot of people think that their home should look just like the one next door--how boring is that?"

Deborah Biskin Levine is a frequent contributor to GenerationJ.com and Lifestyles Magazine. Her first book, Acts of Loving-Kindness (JPS) will be out in April of 2002. Recently, she co-authored a book with Dr. Louis Flancbaum and Erica Manfred entitled, Weight Loss Surgery: The Complete Guide to Gastric Bypass and Other Procedures (www.weightlosssurgeryguide.com) Additionally, Ms. Levine has essays coming out in the next issue of Olam Magazine and Modern Bride Magazine.

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