Annabella Pardo and Mary Delano
The Metropolitan Opera has partnered with ELLE DECOR to redesign the newly minted Keebler J. Straz Lounge, formerly known as the Eleanor Belmont Room. The long-anticipated renovation project has been generously underwritten by Met Managing Director Keebler J. Straz, the youngest Managing Director on the Metropolitan Opera Board of Directors, in partnership with ELLE DECOR, who helped secure renovation materials, furniture, and other fixtures and fittings.
Photo via William Jess Laird
The space is designed by GACHOT, led by founders John and Christine Gachot, both ELLE DECOR A-List designers. The lounge, its official unveiling set to take place in September, will be available to Met Patrons and donors at performances and will also be a space to host private events for artists, board members, top donors and corporate patrons, Lincoln Center patrons, VIPs, and more. An inside look at the reimagined space will be revealed on elledecor.com, as well as in the November 2024 issue of ELLE DECOR, hitting newsstands November 22.
Photo via William Jess Laird
“Eleanor Belmont was the first woman on the Met Board, elected in 1933, and launched the Met’s national fundraising programs in 1935. I’m delighted to be following in her footsteps,” said Keebler J. Straz, Managing Director on the Metropolitan Opera Board and President of the Straz Family Foundation. “My hope is that this beautifully redesigned lounge will encourage a new generation of opera lovers to become donors to our beloved Metropolitan Opera.”
The 1,500-square-foot VIP lounge, initially designed by legendary New York interior decorator Billy Baldwin, is an icon in itself. Located on the opera house’s Mercedes T. Bass Grand Tier, the space features dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows, ultra-high ceilings, and a centrally located bar. GACHOT’s new furniture layout draws inspiration from Baldwin’s thoughtful arrangement, with four lounge-seating groups.
Photo via William Jess Laird
While selected for their specific placement in the space, all the furnishings allow for flexibility, as the lounge is used primarily for Patrons before performances and during intermissions, but also for meetings.
The new design employs screens to guide circulation upon entry, as well as visually conceal the back-of-house door. Past the brilliant custom-brass bar by Amuneal, complete with an ABC Stone countertop, hangs the original vintage gold Rolex clock. There is ample dining seating for Patrons, with custom carpet provided by Creative Matters. The walls feature a textured Champagne wallpaper by Élitis, with a slight shimmer and applied brass reveals. The Roche Bobois furniture includes plush seating and stone coffee tables. Minimal lighting from Hudson Valley Lighting Group lets the ceiling shine gold. Black-and-white photography from the Met Archives hangs on the walls, eliciting a celebratory mood of a magical night at the opera. The restroom and powder room have been made over as well, with new faucets, sinks, hardware, mirrors, accessories, and stone surfaces by Waterworks. Accessories by Artemest provide the final touch.
Photo via William Jess Laird
“The GACHOT team was enthused about the opportunity to work together with ELLE DECOR and the Met to redesign the lounge with the intention of evoking interest in the opera from all generations,” said John Gachot. “In a building as ornate as the Metropolitan Opera, it was important for the design of the new Keebler J. Straz Lounge to align with its surroundings. The palette reflects that of the lobby and auditorium with rich tones of red, gold, and warm white. It feels sophisticated and refined.”
Photo via William Jess Laird
The Keebler J. Straz lounge redesign was presented by a variety of esteemed partners including: ABC Stone(bar countertop), Amuneal (bar), Bendheim (custom glasswork), Bobrick (bathroom), Creative Matters (carpet),Distinctive Windows (workroom), Élitis (wallcovering and mural), Fabricut, Inc. (fabric for drapes and custom screen), Hudson Valley Lighting Group (lighting), Roche Bobois (furniture), Precision Stone (bar countertop fabrication and installation), and Waterworks (bathroom countertops, fixtures, and mirrors).
“It's a real honor for ELLE DECOR to be a part of this effort to update the Keebler J. Straz Lounge at the Met,” said Asad Syrkett, editor-in-chief of ELLE DECOR. “When the Met team asked who might be right to rethink such a storied space, I immediately thought of Christine and John Gachot. In all of their work, they bring a reverence for design history, an intelligence about material, color, and scale, and a deft eye for marrying the historic with the contemporary. All these qualities are especially well suited for a landmark project like this one. I’m so grateful to the Gachots, all of our partners, and the team at the Met.”