This apartment was designed as a humble yet intentional sanctuary for a leading auction house’s Old Masters Department Head. The design deliberately breaks from the contemporary trend of neutral, gallery-white spaces. Instead, it embraces a bolder color palette and preserves traditional details to reflect the owner's expertise in historical artworks while preserving some modern sensibilities.
The rooms surround a central square entrance hall to create an immediate sense of grandeur upon entry. This spatial organization of the apartment is curated to allow each space to unfold as a distinct visual experience. The gold-leafed ceiling in the main space creates an ethereal glow that changes throughout the day. The blue fireplace serves as an artistic focal point, while the orange study provides an energizing environment for work. The red guest room and feminine wallpapers offer moments of contrast, with the glass chandelier in the dressing room adding a final touch of elegance.
Rather than creating a stark, modern space that competes with art, the apartment offers a warm, layered environment that embraces color and pattern, elements fundamental to the Old Masters she champions. The design's rustic-chic elements, such as textured finishes and metallic accents, create an atmosphere that is sophisticated yet lived-in, avoiding the precious quality of a formal museum space while maintaining an air of cultivated taste.
