The Halston House

 

Why is it always the hardest to design your own house? I have a pretty facile brain when it comes to walking into spaces and knowing what they need. But this room took me awhile and I’m so glad I waited because it’s exactly what I wanted all along!
I bought this apartment 4 years ago and immediately went to work doing small renovations. I added the long floating shelf under the television to display precious things. Some practical things were added like overhead lighting and the black and walnut sconces from Etsy on the sofa wall. But from there I struggled with most every decision. I’m a neutrals girl. I love coming home to a quiet palate that is sparse yet cozy. I had all my old furniture from my old apartment which had an eclectic, colorful, almost granny-like vibe (which I loved for that place!) but it didn’t go here. A teal sofa, patterned rug, dark wood coffee table…it all weighed down the room without celebrating the verticality of my almost 11 ft ceilings. How could I satisfy my neutral loving heart and not make it sterile?

enter Halston…

 

Halston was an incredibly prolific designer in the fashion world but also left an indelible mark on interior design and architecture. He found his way in the world, always on the cutting edge but somehow still classic. Each of his spaces were evocative of the era he himself was ushering us into. When I got the chance to immerse myself in his world while playing his best friend and muse Liza Minnelli, I came to find the exact style I had been searching for. Plush fabrics like velvet, mohair and his signature ultrasuede. Natural materials like marble and travertine. Organic curves and rounded shapes. It all adds up to the place you want to hang out it. What I call “the party after the party”. The time of night when you put on some records, pour yourself a nightcap and hang cross-legged on the floor with your best friends. He managed to make his house the chicest place while making it so inviting.

So I started where any Halstonette would: the bar

This vintage Hendredon piece was a score on Chairish. It’s authentically 70s with a rich, almost leathered, lacquer finish. Talk about quality, this piece weighs a ton! It’s about 100lbs just on its own. It houses all my party treats: bar tools, liquor bottles, ash trays and my favorite picture of Liza, splayed on the ground at Halston’s house, no doubt having an epic night. There’s also a picture of Pat Cleaveland dancing on the open stair case on Halston’s second floor townhouse. Such a vibe!


From there I found this Scarpa sofa from France and Son. I’m absolutely giddy about it. It’s a recreation of the famous shape of the 70s and boast chrome accents and tufted velvet sides. It’s the sexiest piece of furniture I’ve ever owned and I still gasp when I come home after long trips away.

The rug is from my favorite Brooklyn haunt Dyphor New York. I have to be careful when I go in there or I buy everything in there. The rug is gloriously plush and soft, perfect for lounging barefoot. My ball coffee table is also from there and I love how it adds such warmth and whimsy.

My vintage 70s falcon chair came from eBay and a total score. Most of these chairs are black leather so I was so excited to find one in a buttery cream color to play up the subtle tonal quality of the room.

Which leads me to my prized possessions, my Keren Tolendano artwork. I can’t gush enough about these pieces and Keren herself. I discovered her while sourcing art for my dressing room (more on that later!) and found out she was New York based! After dm-ing, she let me browse her studio and these pieces were love at first sight! Both pieces seem made for the spots they are in. The mod 70s style is perfectly alluded to while keeping it fresh and modern. Truly showstoppers.

Can you tell I’m in love?? I hope you enjoy my space as much as I do