Madison Square Garden is no stranger to show-stopping performances, but this time, the spotlight isn’t on the stage—it’s on a room. A room so bold, so drenched in drama, it feels like it could have its own opening night. In October 2024, as part of its continued, multi-year partnership with the Rangers, the beloved paint brand debuted The Benjamin Moore Boardroom, a private hospitality space inside The Garden. Now, thanks to ELLE DECOR A-List Designer Sasha Bikoff, the space has been transformed into a jewel box of color and glamour that feels as iconic as MSG itself. ELLE DECOR, with first-look images of the new space in hand, sat down with Bikoff to hear all about how she brought her bold vision to life.
Designer Sasha Bikoff in the newly designed Benjamin Moore Boardroom.
When Benjamin Moore approached Bikoff for the project, she didn’t hesitate. “I was like, ‘I’m the person to do this. Look no further,’” she recalls. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Bikoff has spent countless nights at The Garden—whether it was for Disney on Ice as a kid, her first concert at Z100’s Jingle Ball, or Mariah Carey Christmas shows. “Madison Square Garden is such a huge part of life and entertainment when you’re from New York,” she says. “So many amazing memories with friends and family—it’s just everything.”
So, Bikoff wanted to do more than design a room—she wanted to tell a story. “I always say I’m a storyteller,” she tells us. And the tale she spun here is one of celebration and sophistication, with red as its beating heart. “Red is the color of celebration,” she says. “It’s deeply tied to both Benjamin Moore and the Rangers, making it a central hue for all of the design elements.”
The ceilings are cloaked in Classic Burgundy, an ultra-flat paint that sets the mood with its deep richness. The walls are drenched in Raspberry Truffle, a high-gloss finish that glows under carefully curated lighting. On the millwork and railings is Neon Red, for an electrifying pop that ties it all together. “We wanted paint to be the star here,” Bikoff says. “When you use a high-gloss paint, the color just pops—the finish is so rich, it almost feels like candy.”
This technique—known as color drenching—was key to achieving what Bikoff describes as a “moody, sexy, European vibe.” More than just slapping paint on walls, every surface works in harmony to envelop you in color. “You walk in and feel like you’re in a jewel box,” she says. “The color takes over—it’s solid, glossy, no patterns anywhere. It’s like wet paint swirling together.”
But the transformation didn’t stop at paint. Bikoff brought in custom millwork and partnered with Cosentino for countertops and tabletops in a rich chocolate brown with gold and white veining—a subtle nod to the warmth of the red tones without veering into harsh contrasts. Lighting was another pivotal element. “Lighting is probably second only to paint in importance,” she says. Chrome fixtures from Visual Comfort & Co. add sparkle and provide the perfect cool counterpoint to all that warmth. Glow lighting and cove lighting were strategically placed to make those reds shimmer like they’re alive.
In many ways, this project is quintessential Sasha Bikoff: bold yet refined, playful yet deeply thoughtful—a reflection of her own personality and her love for New York City. As she puts it: “I wanted this space to feel just as alive as the city itself.” Mission accomplished.
Julia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand’s social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.
