In the home’s private areas, yellow floors a striped bedroom with a mustard-colored rug, accents the custom Sacco rug in the walnut-bookcased library that faces the living room, and enlivens the crown molding and doorway to the cozy family room, where one can watch TV on a custom velvet-covered sofa.
Inspired by its 19th-century roots, the townhouse does not feature the seemingly ubiquitous open floor plan of most contemporary renovations. “The layout of the house has a classic feel because the spaces are defined; they’re not just big, meandering, high-ceilinged rooms,” Forino describes. “I think (this floor plan) lends itself better to freestanding furniture pieces than a lot of built-ins.” Since the clients were drawn to dynamic design, Forino sourced playful furniture from manufacturers around the world, including anthropomorphic chairs from Christian Astuguevieille’s Holly Hunt collection, resin wall sconces by Italy-based duo Draga Obradovic and Aurel K. Basedow, and a cocktail table with a fuchsia blown-glass base by Grzegorz Majka of London. All of the sofas are custom-made, as are the rugs, which feature geometric patterns in varying hues. Consultant Elizabeth Fiore helped decorate the walls with collectible artwork from talents such as Frank Veteran and Juergen Teller.
Although the living room is certainly the highest room in the house, Forino notes that the homeowners retreat there frequently. “It’s a really nice space to sit in and it makes you feel amazing,” she says, thanks to the patterned floor-to-ceiling drapes, a plaster chandelier, and the library observation deck that soften the space’s height somewhat. Sunlight streams through the oversized windows, which also offer views of the back garden, which was designed by Brooklyn-based Corey Hutson and is perfect for barbecues. Overall, Forino describes her design strategy for this home as “eclectic but carefully curated.” And for a couple who love to entertain, the apartment itself is a conversation piece.
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