A dramatic dining room space.
photo by Compass Real Estatephoto by Compass Real Estate

The Fabulous Manhattan Estate of Lisa Burns

An Exclusive Online Auction Presented by BRG Fairfield

The Woman Who Curated a Life

There are people who decorate their homes, and then there are those who compose them. Lisa Burns did the latter.

A sharp, creative mind at the helm of an international public relations firm, she built a career on storytelling. Her spaces told the richest story of all. From her elegant Manhattan apartment to her light-drenched home in the South of France, Lisa surrounded herself with things that held meaning: objects gathered from her travels, moments made tangible.

Her taste was instinctive. Her eye, impeccable. Every piece she chose (from a finely carved French armoire to a whimsical piece of mid-century glass) felt like a page from a personal narrative written in design.

A Global Perspective, Rooted in Curiosity

Lisa’s career took her around the world, and she rarely returned home empty-handed. From collecting European antiques and Paris flea market finds to shopping London antique markets and sourcing items perfect for south of France interiors, Lisa’s discerning eye and talent for design helped her build her Manhattan interior design from European design inspirations.

Treasures Found Across Europe

In London, mornings might begin at Alfies Antique Market searching for English silver or modernist ceramics before lunch near The Conran Shop London. In Paris, she spent weekends perusing the Les Puces de Saint-Ouen Flea Markets, where she discovered treasures that carried the patina of history and the poetry of craft.

Her fine art and furniture collections weren’t about trends or labels, but rather the tactile joy of discovery and buying the things that were of interest to her..

She had a gift for finding beauty in the unexpected: a chipped glaze that revealed the hand of the maker, a textile whose wear told its own story. In Lisa’s world, style was never static; it evolved with her, becoming a map of the places she’d been and the life she’d lived.

The Art of Living Beautifully

Those who knew Lisa speak of her warmth and her love for the art of gathering.

Entertaining with Intention

Dinner at her Manhattan home was an event, but never a production. The table might be set with fine china and antique silver, yet the atmosphere was always relaxed, the conversations lively and unforced.

She believed that beauty was meant to be used and not preserved behind glass. Instead, beauty should be woven into the rhythm of daily life. Her entertaining style reflected that: graceful, effortless, and deeply personal.

Every object in her home carried that same intention … to delight, to serve, to connect.

A Home That Spoke Without Words

To walk through Lisa’s Manhattan apartment was to see how harmony can exist within contrast.

Antique European pieces lived comfortably beside clean-lined modern furnishings. English silver caught the same light as contemporary sculpture. A French portrait hung over an American writing desk.

It was a dance between eras and influences. A living dialogue between past and present.

Lisa’s interiors revealed not just her taste but her temperament: thoughtful, eclectic, and quietly bold.

Her spaces felt both cosmopolitan and intimate, layered with the texture of experience.

A Collection Becomes a Chronicle

Now, the more than 300 pieces collection Lisa built over decades reflects the story of a woman who saw design as a form of autobiography.

Objects with Meaning

Among the pieces are the things that shaped her aesthetic and echoed her values: craftsmanship, authenticity, and beauty with substance. There are hand-painted ceramics, sculptural lighting, and art that bridges continents and styles. Each item was chosen, not acquired.

An Invitation to Remember

While Lisa Burns is no longer here to tell the stories herself, her collection does that for her. It offers a glimpse into a life lived with discernment and joy and is a reminder that our surroundings can be both mirrors and maps.

Her estate now opens to admirers and collectors who share her love for the well-made and the well-traveled.

But even beyond the walls of an auction, the story of Lisa Burns endures in the way she lived; beautifully, generously, and with an eye always open to wonder.

To Explore Further

Those interested in viewing Lisa’s collection can find it through Black Rock Galleries’ estate auctions on the AuctionNinja Marketplace.

And for those inspired by her eye, explore global design trends and inspiration for the kind of spaces and stories Lisa herself might have loved.

To view this beautiful collection in the property, please visit Compass Real Estate. The property is listed by:

	Mary Ellen Cashman Listing Agent, Compass maryellen.cashman@compass.com | 917-710-2655
	Nick McHugh Alternative Listing Agent, Compass nickmchugh@compass.com | 603-986-6816