FORRISTAL SMITH INTERIORS

Forristal Smith Interiors was founded in 1998. I had moved on from my previous career incarnations (model, actress, world traveler and the owner of a small art gallery, Gallery Lafayette) and was looking for a new challenge. I had bought an apartment, as an investment, a few years earlier and had to renovate it completely. The ceiling was falling in; there was barely a kitchen or a bathroom. "Derelict" is what the bank had called it. I worked with a friend, Nord Haggerty, who was a designer and an artist to bring it back to its original condition. The building had been used as the civil war hospital and had a wonderful quirkiness to it. After 3 months of intense work, it was finished. I decided to move in instead of sell it. It was beautiful. I gave a house warming party and when one of my oldest friends saw it, she declared that this is what my new career should be. I had worked with the amazing decorator, Geoffrey Bennison, years before and had learned so much from him and from Nord;..