The Secret Life of Style

Photographs by Robert Granoff | Photograph of Sandler’s daughter’s eyes by Andy Marcus Photography. 

Photographs by Robert Granoff | Photograph of Sandler’s daughter’s eyes by Andy Marcus Photography.


You may feel like you know Liza Sandler. The striking blonde may have been in your living room on Bravo’s reality TV show about six close-knit women from Long Island, all friends for decades. You may even have watched when the cameras captured Sandler’s farewell to her large suburban house after her split from her husband.

However, that’s where the storyline diverges. In real life, Rona Landman stepped in. The New York decorator helped make an apartment in an 18-story Upper East Side building a chic, welcoming home for Sandler and her girls. It’s a perfect fit for a TV show that’s all about women reinventing themselves in the face of changes and challenges.


Photographs by Robert Granoff | Daughter’s bedroom | Marilyn Minter photograph, “Tear Jerker.” Purple fur footstool from Outpost Original. 


ALL-GIRLS PAD | “Liza hired us to relocate her, two daughters and three adorable white dogs from Old Westbury, Long Island to New York City,” says Landman. “The downsizing was quite a feat, going from a 10,000-square-foot home to a 2,800-square-foot apartment.” That’s a lot of dresses and heels to find a spot for.

Sandler’s search ended at a chic, glasswalled, LEED-certified building in the heart of one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods. She landed a sun-drenched three-bedroom, and Landman found ways to make it both smart and pretty – like its owner – with pops of happy colors and fun textures like fur.


Photographs by Robert Granoff | Daughter’s orange bedroom | “Hermes” fine art prints from The Oliver Gal Artist Co. 

Photographs by Robert Granoff | Sandler’s bedroom | Headboard from Bespoke by Luigi Gentile. Silver dresser from Design Works. 


WISH LIST | “The challenge was to edit down my belongings and find enough storage space for them,” recalls Sandler. “I also wanted a modern home as opposed to the traditional one I was leaving.”

Landman jumped right in, outfitting a dressing room with plenty of hanging space and shoe storage, plus sliding bins for accessories. She added a sleek computer table that hides storage space underneath. Throughout the apartment, contemporary lighting fixtures, glass and metal tables, and dramatic floor-to-ceiling window treatments transmit the modern message.

“I wanted all three bedrooms to be different, so we used orange accents in Carly’s room, and purples and lavenders in my daughter Ryan’s room,” tells Sandler. The furry purple footstool looks like a giant powder puff or pompom, lifting hearts at the sight of it.

Her own bedroom is dark charcoal with silver and fuchsia accents for sexy Hollywood glam. It features a dressy dresser and luxe, plush cushioned headboard. “Rona was easy to work with and very efficient, which was important because I needed to move in quickly,” states Sandler.


Photographs by Robert Granoff | Den | Slim Aarons’ color photograph, “A Wonderful Time.” Chairs with orange cushions from Sit Down New York. Sofa from Michael Dawkins Home. 


PLAYING FAVORITES | She loves the living room best.

“I have two seating areas, one for watching the TV in the corner with the glass windows and one near the dining area,” the reality star says. “I live on the couch by the TV with my doggies.”

The space previously known as the breakfast room was her least favorite room because she was stumped on how to decorate it. “Rona came up with a solution of a TV/couch and a great table from Knoll for eating,” she remarks. The round white table is ultramodern, with orange cushioned white chairs around it.

“I was raised on Long Island and developed my style over time,” she adds. “It’s still evolving, but that’s what I love about Rona. We have the same aesthetic.” Stay tuned. Some things may be secret, but this team’s eye on style is not.

Photographs by Robert Granoff.

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