This Parisian Pied-à-Terre Is The Ultimate Space To Host

“I wanted to create an easy hedonistic experience, a friendly atmosphere where guests are welcome and that reflects the effortless elegance of Parisian life, with a contemporary twist,” confesses interior designer Olga Ashby about this pied-à-terre. Nestled in an elegant Haussmann building from 1911 in the 7th arrondissement, on the Rive Gauche of the French capital, the 1,615-square-foot apartment features a spacious entertainment living-dining area, as well as two studies and two bedrooms filled with refined art and design pieces. It’s the ideal space for either large gatherings or to relax in a peaceful atmosphere in the heart of the City of Light.

Designed as a livable cabinet of curiosities with hidden doors and charming architectural details, the home features contemporary and bespoke creations by renowned brands—some in collaboration with Olga Ashby—such as Dedar, Sacco Carpet, and Phillip Jeffries to name a few.

Feel Quintessentially French In This Apartment By Olga Ashby

Light travertine with gray stripes was used as a common thread throughout, from the kitchen and the bar support in the living room to the fireplace in the second bedroom and the basin unit in the main bathroom. Red marble, wool and silk add sophisticated touches to the different rooms that were all designed with circular movement in mind, to enhance flow and connection.

“While thinking about the color scheme, I aimed to bring the outdoor vibe and the beauty of the city into the property,” says Ashby, who opted for beige and gray in the living room, while earthy tones adorn the rest of the apartment with a few pops of bright hues through carefully chosen art pieces. Feeling quintessentially French, the project balances classic elements with modern design, functionality and artistic flair, and elegance with a sense of fun.

Explore An Earthy Parisian Apartment

This Pied-à-terre By Olga Ashby Reflects Parisian Elegance

The Stars Align In This Interactive Art Installation In Paris

Offering an avant-garde experience and new interactions with objects and furniture, the installation “Cosmos and Matter” forces us to take another look at the different facets of our interiors in a splendid Haussmann apartment in the heart of Paris. Born out of the Sustainable Design Association, founded in 2021 by Hélène Aguilar, and co-curated with entrepreneur Marie-Cassandre Bultheel, the project aims to promote virtuous practices in the design world. “We want to introduce a new art de vivre that takes care of the future while being deeply imbued with ancestral knowledge and wisdom,” says Bultheel.

Filled with pieces created by innovative designers, artisans and artists who use natural materials with low environmental impact, the 2,690-square-foot ephemeral installation can be experienced barefoot. Visitors explore a variety of sensations in a sensory journey that leads to 10 scenes in different rooms: the Botanic Bar, Table of the Living, Moon Lounge, Sun Lounge and Cosmic Soundscape room. “This place is more than a showroom or a gallery,” says Bultheel. “Here, a new aesthetic of luxury is expressed through reconnection, sustainability and harmony.”

Although this first iteration is on view in the French capital until Feb. 16, 2025, the ambition of “Cosmos and Matter” goes far beyond. Bultheel and Aguilar aim to bring the exhibition—in different forms—to other cities and countries in the next months.

‘Cosmos and Matter’ Installation Introduces A New Art de Vivre

This Hudson Yards Apartment Is A Design Match Made In Heaven

Perched directly over the High Line, offering full-height views of the surrounding Hudson Yards neighborhood, this 1,500-square-foot pied-à-terre was transformed from a blank developer-issued new-build into a fully bespoke vision. The interior design, by Lucy Harris, founder of her eponymous studio, was conceived to make the owners feel at home when they’re not in their primary residence in Utah. The client couple was not yet engaged when the project started; by the end of the year-plus-long process, they were married. “Our install date was planned to coordinate with the wedding reception, so the clients could host brunch for family and friends in the newly decorated apartment,” Harris recalls. “Making the reveal come together was especially exciting and romantic.”

The design intent was to provide solace from the hustle-bustle below, Harris says, “and a sensory experience at once stimulating and soothing.” Abundant curved shapes and calming tones throughout the two-bedroom, three-bath residence help achieve that goal. Ochre finds a home in the open-plan communal space, arranged into kitchen, dining, and lounging zones suited to both entertaining and everyday living. Sinuous pieces like a fiberglass-base bench by Asa Pingree and a sofa upholstered in teddy mohair make the space so cozy it feels like a hug. “The clients requested that all seating be both beautiful and ‘nap-able,’” Harris explains.

Notes of contrast energize the serene backdrop. The private areas feature a vivid palette, segueing from deep indigo in the main bedroom, adorned with a felted merino wool–on-mohair wall hanging by artist Liam Lee, to the vibrant study with emerald-green custom millwork that coordinates with Piero Fornasetti’s classic Malachite wallpaper. “This apartment is a true balance of textures, materials, and colors—a real mix of details with a bold expression,” Harris says.

The project turned out to be a love story on many levels, with the clients not only committing to each other but also doubling down on design—and the city. The wife was so inspired by the process, Harris notes, that she pivoted from her law career to matriculate at the Parsons School of Design nearby.

Inside A NYC Apartment Full Of Bold Expression

FROM FRONT LIAM LEE THROUGH PATRICK PARRISH: TAPESTRY (MAIN BEDROOM). PATTERN COLLECTIVE: WALLCOVERING. LULU AND GEORGIA: BENCH. B&B ITALIA: TABLE (DINING AREA), ARMCHAIRS (LIVING AREA). GESTALT: CHAIRS (DINING AREA). BOCCI THROUGH DDC: PENDANT FIXTURES. GRAZIA & CO. THROUGH GESTALT: STOOLS (KITCHEN). COLE & SON: WALLPAPER (STUDY). WO & WÉ: WALL LAMP. TIBOR: DAYBED FABRIC. THROUGH CHAIRISH: VINTAGE CHAIR. AELFIE: CUSTOM RUG. PIERRE FREY: CHAIR FABRIC (STUDY), SOFA FABRIC (LIVING AREA). LIGHTOLOGY: DESK LAMP. PIERRE AUGUSTIN ROSE THROUGH STUDIO TWENTYSEVEN: SOFA (LIVING AREA). LOVE HOUSE: OTTOMANS. HOLLAND & SHERRY INTERIORS: OTTOMAN FABRIC. YUCCA STUFF: COCKTAIL TABLE. USM: CUSTOM CREDENZA. COIL + DRIFT THROUGH TRNK: FLOOR LAMP. JOSEPH CARINI CARPETS: CUSTOM RUG. CORAGGIO: DRAPERY FABRIC. CUFF STUDIO: BENCH (FOYER). ALT FOR LIVING: BENCH FABRIC. BOWER STUDIOS: MIRROR. BREUCKELEN BERBER: RUG. RADNOR MADE: BED, SIDE TABLE (MAIN BEDROOM). THE CITIZENRY: RUG. STUDIO FORD: QUILT. APPARATUS: PENDANT FIX­ TURE. ASA PINGREE: CUSTOM BENCH. EGG COLLECTIVE: ROUND TABLE. AUDO COPENHAGEN THROUGH DWR: SQUARE TABLE. THE FUTURE PERFECT: SCULPTURE, PEDESTAL. CB2: BED (GUEST BEDROOM). BLU DOT: NIGHTSTAND. LOSTINE: SCONCE. KUFRI: WALLCOVERING. ZAK+FOX: DRAPERY FABRIC.

THROUGHOUT SCDA ARCHITECTS: ARCHITECT OF RECORD. GMG GROUP: GENERAL CONTRACTOR.

A SoCal Home With Mid-century Influences and Bursts of Color

What starts as a small project can balloon into something much bigger, which is exactly what happened with this hilltop house in the coveted neighborhood of Brentwood, California. Los Angeles-based, French-born interior designer Victoria Gillet was initially tasked with renovating the kitchen for her friend, model and presenter Shana Hiatt, and her husband, film producer Todd Garner, along with their teenage daughter and two dogs. Little by little, however, the project became a full transformation.

Originally designed by Kenneth Lind in 1959, the classic mid-century home is a pure expression of form and function on one level. The architect set the house closer to the front of the property in order to have visitors walk through the doors that open directly to the garden, a Zen oasis.

Inside the Stylish SoCal Home Designed by Victoria Gillet

Bergman Design House Revives a Collector’s London Home

In the Marylebone area of the British capital, Park Crescent Gardens, laid out by Buckingham Palace architect John Nash, has been transformed into a collection of refined residences befitting their royal pedigree. Nestled in the Grade I listed building, is a home for a British couple who enlisted Bergman Design House to bring warmth to the space and introduce a sense of hygge—a Scandinavian concept that describes a quality of coziness—as a nod to the Swedish origins of Albin Berglund, cofounder of the studio. 

“This home truly embraces the concept of the flâneur and marries wabi-sabi—the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete; the beauty of things unconventional,” says Marie Soliman, cofounder and creative director of Bergman Design House. 

This London Home Design Features Gallery-Worthy Art

Standout pieces include a colorful art installation by Zhuang Hong-yi in the main living area and the eccentric astronaut “The Thinker” by Joseph Klibansky, which acts as a conversation starter nestled by the staircase. 

“This home celebrates the owners’ collection and their love of discovering pieces and displaying them in style,” says Soliman. “It is subtly echoing the existing shapes and tones of the artworks, complementing but never detracting from their beauty. The design plays to the strengths of the architecture and treasured objects, ensuring the rooms exude a sense of balance and considered calm.”

Inside the London Home by Bergman Design House

Jae Joo Designs Crafts an Art-Filled Tribeca Pied-à-Terre

When tasked with creating a family pied-à-terre in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan, Jae Joo, founder of Jae Joo Designs, felt an instant synergy with her client. “Something special about her love for design resonated with me right away,” she recalls, noting her passion for contemporary art. “She already had some lovely pieces that we could incorporate into their home.”

Building on her client’s existing collection, Joo added a few more pieces to the mix, including a Nicolas Guagnini ceramic, sourced from Bortolami Gallery, above the sofa, and a quilted work by Stephen Towns from De Buck Gallery, which now sits above a blue credenza, custom-made for this project by Orior Furniture. An orange large painting by Tahnee Lonsdale from De buck gallery is showcased near the dining room where Pierre Yovanovitch chairs from The Invisible Collection surround a custom table by Jerry Nance, set near a floating bookshelf by Pierre Chapo. “Art is a big part of my process, and it was so great to work with someone who shared the same interest and curiosity,” explains Joo.

It took the designer a little over a year to shape this three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath condo nestled in a new development built in 2017 by Robert A.M. Stern Architects. “Since the space had very little architectural details to work with, my goal was to create a home that feels well balanced and inviting by following a tailor-made approach to everything we brought in,” she says. “Every piece was chosen with the notion of comfort in mind, but without compromising the look or quality.”

Covered with pure Loro Piana cashmere, the sofa was built, assembled, and upholstered on site to fit the corner of the light-filled living room. In the guest bedroom, a mural is hand painted by Dean Barger while the main bedroom features a custom color de Gournay wallpaper.

Joo blended contrasting elements such as the soft pastel fabrics and raw metal finishes with bright touches through art. “While I love to use bold colors, I always try to incorporate them to ensure they harmonize with the overall space, never overwhelming its ambience,” she says. “Even with the presence of powder white walls, there exists a delicate equilibrium between the subdued backdrop and the vibrant hues.”

Cashmere, wool, and thick washed linen were preferred for their durable yet luxurious property in this serene home where Joo maintained a minimal, clean aesthetic while introducing unexpected pops of color and unique, crafted elements to the harmonious decor.

A Colorful Brooklyn Townhouse Inspired by “La Joie de Vivre”

In Brooklyn’s brownstone-lined Fort Greene neighborhood, Jessica Wilpon Kamel and Christina Akiskalou—the duo behind New York-based studio Ronen Lev—updated a four-level 1890s-era home for a couple with elementary school-aged children.

The townhouse came with good bones and plenty of charm that Ronen Lev made sure to preserve while introducing “practical luxury,” as well as a curated selection of vintage European design pieces. “The parlour floor, which corresponds to the second level in historic New York brownstones and townhouses, accessed through the building’s front steps, is always the most luxurious,” says Wilpon Kamel. “These grand rooms are often filled with period detailing such as high ceilings, stone fireplaces, large street-facing windows and ornate ceiling work. We deliberately restricted the amount of furniture in this space, allowing each piece to shine in its own right. We wanted every element to have space to breathe.”

In the living room, a narrow mirror, stretching from floor-to-ceiling, contrasts with a low-set, sinuous sofa, creating tension with a play on scale. For the eclectic dining area, Ronen Lev sourced a vintage table and chairs, and custom designed the shelving unit. Unexpected graphic patterns add character throughout, referring to the work of architect and designer Alexander Girard (1907-1993). Various shapes and themes repeat in the house, like the black-and-white checkered pattern in the powder room, seen in the floors and wallpaper details.

A bold palette enlivens the children’s rooms, where historical details meet modern furnishings. “We approached the children’s rooms through a playful design lens, selecting soft, rounded furniture and vibrant green and yellow hues,” says Wilpon Kamel. “The owners wanted a home that would be full of color and look and feel like nothing they have seen before.” The designers delivered on all fronts.

Inside the Renovated Brooklyn Townhouse 

This Viennese Private Members Club is Redefining Hospitality

In one of Vienna’s most significant squares—where the Dukes of Babenberg built their residence between the 12th and 13th centuries—a medieval house, which dates back to 1508 and stretches over nine floors, is starting a new chapter in its rich history. Thanks to the intervention of interior designer Theresa Obermoser, the former residence-turned-members club, Am Hof 8, is now a hub for art, culture, and business.

 “A local member wants to feel like this is something new and extraordinary and an international member wants to feel like [they have] arrived in Vienna,” says Obermoser, who introduced vibrant colors into the space, aiming to reflect the elegance of the Austrian capital while paying tribute to the tradition of London clubs.

The Design of Am Hof 8, a Members Club in Vienna, Melds Past and Present

In the on-site nightclub and lounge, a disco ball installation creates a party vibe while textiles that reflect animal prints and lush greenery pay tribute to the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna. Similarly, botanical accents within the club’s stairway and elevator banks nod to one of the largest greenhouses in the city, Palmenhaus Schönbrunn.

“When you arrive, you just see a very narrow, cute pink house with some French bistro chairs and a black and white canopy,” says Obermoser. “Then, you enter a new world of something that has not been seen in Austria so far.”

Walk Through Am Hof 8 Designed by Theresa Obermoser

Modernism Meets Minimalism in This Brownstone Renovation

Marissa Corvino, founder of Corvino Design, immediately saw the potential of a house built in 1901—despite its state of disrepair. “It was partially demolished, and you could not walk through the rubble,” she remembers. “The historical details were interrupted by damage, so I decided to start fresh.”  

To further personalize the spaces, Corvino decided to include pieces by talented female ceramists and artists who are relatively new to the design world, including: Agnes Pisalska, Nathalee Paolinelli, Kristin Yezza, Simone Polk, Savannah Loeffler, and Kate Zaremba, among others.

“It was my first time designing for myself and I spent a lot of time overthinking,” confesses Corvino. “I wanted this project to feel like a fresh inspiration for family urban living where you can have high end finishes without worrying about kids playing, cooking, and entertaining.” Mission accomplished.

Inside Marissa Corvino’s Renovated Brownstone

Crystal Sinclair Designs Infuses Bold Touches into This New York Home

In the village of Larchmont, north of New York City, Emmy Award-winning producer J.B. Miller (the president and CEO of Empire Entertainment) and his wife Maggie decided to raise their two children. Far from the hustle and bustle of New York City yet close to a thriving community and fresh air, this Victorian home, originally built in 1888, needed a makeover to introduce more character into the interiors, with some bold touches.

For the team behind Crystal Sinclair Designs—led by husband and wife Ben and Crystal Sinclair—the idea of pairing a beautiful tapestry with a Camaleonda-style sofa as a way to marry old and new was the starting point—everything else sprung from this initial inspiration.

Neutral colors prevail with varying shades of blues, creating a palette that is soft on the eye with an organic feel. The vintage and contemporary furniture and decor, however, make a statement in every room where materials such as wood and chrome meet with bouclé and velvet, showcasing a balance between audacity and warmth. A selection of rugs from Crystal Sinclair Designs’s collection contributes to a welcoming atmosphere in this family-friendly home where surprising room accents are offset by an overall sense of calm.