Community Story
Michael Bagley
Bagley began his career in the hospitality industry over 20 years ago, so when his design business began to flourish, it was only natural that he find his way back to his roots. The former head of Product Marketing for Meridien Hotels has charted an interesting course to his current challenge, the creation of the interior design of the BLT brand. The first of which, BLT Steak has become one of New York City’s most desired eateries. Its total success inspired owner Jimmy Haber to convert his other Manhattan restaurant (AZ) to the NY Times recently awarded 3 star, BLT Fish, further expanding BLT’s presence in the marketplace and bringing Laurent Tourondel full circle, back to the element that brought him his initial fame, seafood.
The BLT brand is an important and interesting challenge for me says Bagley; “the “room” is not the focus of the project, it is more the frame in which a memorable experience is realized comfortably, classically and as a compliment to the wonderful creations of Laurent Tourondel”. Working with Tourondel was not new to Bagley, the two worked together at the famed 4-star, CELLO where Bagley consulted with the architect/designer on the creation of the furniture, he was later retained to design the conversion of the public rooms for private dining.
Bagley’s Interior Design career began with furniture; he is the owner of Wood, Spring & Down, LTD a New York based custom furniture company that boasts a client list of many of the biggest names in the industry. Currently fabricating the worldwide boutique collections for GUCCI, CHANEL, DIOR, the firm also fabricates THE FRANCOPHILE COLLECTION, the furniture line designed by Bagley inspired by his favorite genre; French 30’s and 40’s. “I began designing furniture for clients who couldn’t find what they were looking for, or who didn’t want something mass produced, so we’d sit down and make a list of exactly what the function was to be and then develop its form and its finish to compliment the space it shared with other items. It went from pieces, to rooms, to entire homes, spas, and restaurants” Bagley said.
In addition to BLT Steak and BLT Fish, Bagley’s team has designed BLT Prime, BLT Burger, as well as BLT Market” for Ritz-Carlton’s posh anchor on Central Park South. BLT Steak has grown to include Washington, DC, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Juan with Scottsdale and South Beach coming later this summer. His latest projects include the renovation of an East side townhouse for crooner Michael Feinstien, the new Manhattan residence of actor Richard Thomas and his family and the renovation of Calvin Klein’s rotundad pied-a-terre in the famed Police Building on Centre St.
