Form Meets Function

TO SOME, designing a home feels like a daunting task filled with uncertainty. Will these colors look good together? Is the furniture arranged in a way that offers cohesion and flow? Is the space functional while maintaining artistic flair? Such questions may leave many people’s heads spinning, but to Tenafly resident and interior designer Ingrid Bergman, the answers come naturally, and they always have.

As a young girl, Bergman was captivated by the arts. Growing up in Israel, she attended art school during her middle school years, spending countless hours painting, sketching and exploring her creativity. Even as a child, her instinct for cohesive design was clear.

Her artistry extended beyond the canvas, because at home she could often be found staging her bedroom and sliding her parent’s furniture across the floor, reimagining her surroundings and bringing new life into the space.

WORLDWIDE AESTHETICS

Bergman later pursued a degree in architecture in Israel, where she honed her technical skills and deepened her understanding of how design and structure intersect. Her studies taught her to blend form and function, and she learned to create spaces that were not only visually appealing but also livable, efficient and safe. While working as an architect, she also launched a career as a graphic designer, taking on new skills and honing in on her craft.

Life had more in store and her career was on the brink of unfolding. Her husband’s job prompted multiple international moves, taking the couple from Israel to Canada, California, Massachusetts and eventually to Tenafly.

Along the way, Bergman absorbed the unique architectural aesthetics of each region: the clean modernism of Israel, the Mexican and industrial influences of California and the traditional charm of Boston. These global experiences deeply shaped her perspective and helped define her design identity.

While working as an architect, Bergman began accepting interior design projects on the side and quickly discovered that is where her passion lies. With the encouragement of her husband, she took a leap of faith and transitioned into interior design full-time.

In 2015, she launched IBK Design, an interior design firm specializing in high-end residential projects that marry timeless elegance with functional modernism. Thanks to her architectural background, Bergman is involved in every phase of a project, from foundational planning to the final furnishings.

With a portfolio that features styles ranging from Hollywood glam to chic modern French and black-and-white farmhouse, Bergman’s background has familiarized her with trends across the board. Although she appreciates traditional architecture, Bergman is personally drawn to sleek, modern aesthetics, a preference shared by many of her clients. “We connect on the style— there’s chemistry,” she says.

CONNECTING WITH TENAFLY

Bergman notes that working with clients in the Tenafly area comes naturally because they “speak the same language,” allowing her to make local recommendations. Tenafly has gradually shifted from favoring traditional and transitional styles to embracing more modern designs, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Clients now want a cleaner, more contemporary look,” she explains. While black, white and gray remain staples in her palette, she has embraced the rise of warmer tones such as earthy woods and creams that bring softness and natural elements into modern spaces. “I hope that trend stays for a while,” she says.

After moving across the globe, Bergman, along with her husband and two sons, settled in Tenafly 13 years ago and found the very thing she has been revamping for others: her home. She has met many wonderful friends in town and appreciates Tenafly for the diversity it brings culturally and geographically.

“I love that it’s close to the city,” she says. She loves heading over to Manhattan when she needs a break from the greenery and craves a more urban setting. She also mentions that part of what makes working with Tenafly residents so great is that they “have design sense because they are close to an urban area” and the artistic influences that allows.

It’s not just the people of Tenafly that are diverse, Bergman says—their design style is as well. When it comes to design in Tenafly, she notes that “there’s a bit of everything: old, new, modern, traditional.

“I love this town, I love living here,” she continues, adding, “there are great people here. It’s a very diverse community, and that’s what makes it feel like home.”

To learn more about IBK Design, visit ibkdesign.com.

BY GABRIELLE WALTERS