Discover the hottest new club in New York city and why it’s The Met Opera!
Like many New Yorkers, designers Christine and John Gachot have a deep affection for the Metropolitan Opera. The ELLE DECOR A-Listers have frequented the building countless times, attending iconic operas like The Barber of Seville. Their son, Boris, would pass by the cascading fountains in the plaza daily on his way to performing arts classes at nearby Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. When ELLE DECOR approached the Gachots to redesign the Met Opera Patron Lounge, formerly known as the Eleanor Belmont Room, they were eager to take on the project. Take a look at this spectacular new club and lounge in the Met Opera.
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When the opera house, designed by Wallace K. Harrison, opened in 1966, legendary decorator Billy Baldwin was commissioned to design the lounge. The space already featured dramatic wall-to-wall windows and a domed ceiling, so Baldwin added a touch of practicality by creating various flexible seating areas for guests. Over the decades, however, it became evident that the lounge needed a refresh. The Gachots, with their expertise in creating warm, sophisticated interiors and their experience with luxury hospitality projects like the Pendry Manhattan West and Detroit’s Shinola Hotel, seemed like the ideal choice.
For inspiration, the Gachots delved deep into the Met’s extensive archives, which meticulously documented the lounge’s history. “The original sketches and photographs were invaluable,” John explains. “We’re building upon the work of giants here.” As avid opera fans, having access to the Met’s incredible library was an extraordinary opportunity. “John would visit the archives frequently, while I stayed at the studio,” Christine jokes. “I thought he might never return!”
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“We’re standing on the shoulders of giants here, certainly.”
Inspired by Baldwin’s original layout, the Gachots divided the space into various zones for gathering, from the bar to the sofas to the tables. They aimed to create a seamless transition between the new interiors and the opera’s iconic common areas and halls. “We wanted to transport you without feeling out of place,” Christine explains. The resulting palette of blush, red, and camel complements the gold and travertine accents of the main lobby. While the opera’s staircase and lobby features its renowned red carpet, the lounge now boasts a glittering gold custom carpet by Creative Matters that sparkles like freshly popped Champagne.
Naturally, the room’s second lease on life requires a new name. It’s now the Keebler J. Straz Lounge, named after a managing director on the Met Opera’s board who generously funded the project. This luxurious lounge is exclusively accessible to Metropolitan Opera sponsor members. According to Straz, the entrance fee is well worth it, as the redesign “symbolizes our commitment to nurturing a new generation of enthusiasts and patrons.” The Gachots, longtime supporters of the arts, share this sentiment. “As New Yorkers, we all have a responsibility to our institutions,” Christine says. “So please come out and enjoy this great city we live in!” There’s never been a more stylish place to do just that.
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