Charles Klein’s living room sports an enviable assortment of rare and unique treasures that any design-lover would adore. A 250 year-old Aubusson carpet, a 350 year-old Louis XIII period chair, a Gustavian Swedish console table, and a Russian mahogany pedestal are just a few of beautiful pieces Klein has assembled in his Manhattan home. The designer and president of Charles Klein, Inc., a medium size design atelier that has specialized in interior architecture and design for the last 20 years, knows that his apartment is filled with fragile and important pieces, but finds it easy to, “cohabit comfortably with a pet.”
Noel, the pampered pug Klein pet-sits on occasion for a friend, is very well trained, according to Klein, and no threats to his prized possessions. “These things have lasted for hundreds of years,” says Klein. “They can certainly withstand a pug!”
Klein’s home is a mixture of eclectic, classic and traditional designs. “Altogether, the pieces work sympathetically, says Klein. “The room included different furniture from different countries and different periods to create a cohesive aesthetic,” the designer says of his living room.
His design work, which runs the gamut from interior architecture design to interior decorating, has often led him to consider a pet’s home life. “I am working with a client right now who has a very large Golden Retriever,” says Klein. “The dog often sleeps in the master bedroom, when the husband is away on business and I had to rethink the carpeting and bed linens to work with this situation.”
For each of Klein’s clients, who can be found all over the world, tastes vary and needs differ. “I always make accommodations for the family, and that includes animals and children,” says Klein, “but my goal is to keep the aesthetic natural.” While his work can often be described as elegant and luxurious, Klein believes in maintaining an emphasis on comfort and availability. “And that,” says Klein, “is really what the dog is all about.”
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