Case Study: Interior Designer Toni Sabatino Finds the Perfect Centerpiece for her Home’s Photo Gallery: Leon’s Ente SoundTile

Project Location: New York
The Space: The feature photo gallery wall in interior designer Tori Sabatino’s cape style residence
Products Specified: Leon Ente SoundTile

The Challenge
Interior designer Toni Sabatino of Toni Sabatino Style follows no specific guidelines or rules when fashioning the interiors of her clients’ homes. “I’m a believer in looking at the architectural gifts and seeing how you can work with them, keeping any features or furnishings that tell the client’s story as we remodel and update,” she says. Whether it’s mid-century modern, traditional, or contemporary, Sabatino lets the personality of the house set the tone. 

“I’ve been practicing what I preach in my own home,” Sabatino continues. The residence’s extended cape style, which was popular in the 1950s, is reflected in Sabatino’s design, from the cabinetry in the kitchen to the furnishings in the living room to an eye-catching feature photo wall in a dining area adjoining the two spaces. Like many designers, Sabatino draws inspiration from certain pieces she finds during her travels. She was on the lookout for a signature centerpiece to serve as the visual anchor of her home’s photo gallery when she came across Leon Speakers’ Ente SoundTile at the 2019 CEDIA Expo—the home technology industry’s leading trade event.

The 36”x36” Ente SoundTile on display at Leon’s booth was a version featuring an iconic image of Andy Warhol captured by famed music photographer Roberto Rabanne. (See more of Rabanne’s work available on Leon’s Ente SoundTiles here.)

The Solution
Sabatino quickly contacted Leon to purchase the product. “The gallery pays homage to the people and pop culture that I love, and Andy Warhol fits perfectly into this theme,” she explains. The black-and-white image is further accentuated by soft, elegant LED lighting around the perimeter of the Ente SoundTile. “It makes the art pop and works great as a nightlight,” Sabatino remarks.  

The fact that the wall art also functions as a speaker is a bonus. “The image of Warhol is amusing and fun; having it also play music makes it all the better,” Sabatino continues. “Music enhances a home environment as much as visual elements, so it was a treat to have one product do both,” she says. “Combined, the art and audio change the whole vibe of the room, not to mention it blows the minds of my friends and family.”      

Whether she’s creating her next design, relaxing after a long day of work, or playing with her dog Tyrion, Sabatino is always accompanied by beautiful music. It's a simple matter of streaming songs from the Sonos app on her smartphone to a Sonos Amp powering two Leon Ultima Series speakers—all concealed by the Ente SoundTile’s perforated metal grille.

Music flows evenly from the feature wall to the kitchen, living room, “even outdoors to the garden and deck when I open the windows,” Sabatino says. Whatever the occasion or the mood calls for—meditation music, rock-n-roll, or period songs from the 50s—the Ente SoundTile delivers, all while masquerading as a classic piece of art. 

Sabatino is so impressed with the artistic and musical quality of the Ente SoundTile that she often recommends it to clients. Although she was sold on Andy Warhol from the get-go, she encourages her clientele to explore Leon’s extensive online art collection or have a personal favorite custom-printed on the grille. “What makes it all the more appealing to my clients is how easy it is to install and operate,” Sabatino says. “It’s plug-and-play and requires only a phone or tablet to control.” For Sabatino and her customers, the Ente SoundTile bridges the gap between art and technology. “It’s technologically relevant for today’s households yet can be customized visually to suit any architectural style,” she says. “I’m glad I discovered it and can offer something to my customers that’s not only unique but enhances their lifestyle.” 

Learn more about Leon’s custom audio solutions on Leon’s website and view other custom projects at Leon’s Custom Shop gallery.