"I usually start a project by presenting my craziest idea,” reveals designer John Ferguson. In the case of his clients’ new Brooklyn apartment, that meant pitching a swatch of Pierre Frey’s Palla motif by Laura Gonzalez at the kickoff meeting. There was something about the geometric green-and-gold fabric that spoke to him, its mood matching the strong, modern disposition of the new-construction abode boasting panoramic views of the East River and cityscape. Fortunately, these clients—a stylish empty-nester couple—were looking for a full design reset in downsizing from their Upper East Side town house, and, per Ferguson, were “open to being adventurous.” In fact, while the designer proposed the fabric as a daring dash on the accent chairs, it was the wife who suggested that an entire sectional take on the pattern. That was all the encouragement Ferguson needed to move forward with his bold yet tailored vision for the space.
Pierre Frey’s Palla fabric by Laura Gonzalez clads the living area’s custom sectional, setting the tone for the home. Midcentury pieces include an Edward Wormley coffee table and a Johan Tapp end table topped with a Danny Kaplan lamp. The painting is Peter Kinley.
In the living room, an Eric Freeman painting hangs above a sofa from Lobel Modern wrapped in Schumacher fabric. Atop the Stark carpet mingle a LaVerne coffee table, Douglas Fanning accent table and Nancy Corzine chairs in Manuel Canovas fabric.
The dining room doubles as a library thanks to bespoke floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. A vintage Saarinen table base with a new marble top is rimmed with Arhaus chairs and lit by a Flos chandelier. The drapes are a Larsen fabric.
In the multipurpose media room, an Avery Boardman sleeper sofa in Kravet fabric sits below a Martin Klimas photo flanked by Visual Comfort & Co. sconces. Mushroom stools from Maison Gerard stand atop Missoni for Stark carpeting.
An envelope of Carlisle & Co. paper on the walls and Phillip Jeffries gold leaf on the ceiling gives the space a jewel-box quality. John Ferguson designed the freestanding cabinet and desk unit, which he paired with a chair by Dune.
“When it comes to bedrooms, I always like to tone it down,” notes Ferguson. In the primary, a quartet of Donald Sultan works hangs above a bed wrapped in Nobilis fabric. Lawson-Fenning nightstands save on space, as do Aerin sconces.
Ferguson spruced up the as-delivered primary bathroom with a blush linen Phillip Jeffries wallpaper. The vase is by Jeanette Morrow.
The living room’s ensuing curation takes its cues from the fabric, fusing elegance with edge. Seating in classic shapes—much of which was plucked from the town house—takes on new life reupholstered in decadent velvet and mohair textiles. Streamlined midcentury pieces by Edward Wormley and Johan Tapp play with sculptural treasures, including a LaVerne coffee table scored at auction and a bronze accent table by Douglas Fanning. An envelope of cream, matte-finish walls and silky carpeting makes a sumptuous canvas for displaying the clients’ contemporary art.
But perhaps his most ingenious use of spatial planning manifests in the third bedroom, which the client requested function as a guest room, office and den in one. In response, Ferguson placed a wall-to-wall sectional with a queen-size mattress opposite a lacquered two-piece desk and media cabinet combo. A monochrome indigo palette unifies the room, while sparkling strié flecks on the wallpaper and a gold-leaf treatment on the ceiling maximize the western sunlight during the daytime and make for a gorgeous glow at night. “We nailed the design in that it serves all of its purposes and gets used as such every day,” Ferguson says. “It functions as a guest room regularly, the husband uses it daily as an office, and every night they use it to watch TV. Plus, with all that color and texture, it’s an exciting space to be in.”
Framed by a case opening, the adjoining dining room is an homage to the clients’ love of literature. To accommodate their vast collection of books, Ferguson looked beyond an expected library solution, opting instead to line an entire wall of the formal dining space in eggcrate-style shelves. (The fact that the tomes are organized by genre as well as alphabetically offers a fun dinner party conversation starter.) A marble-top Saarinen tulip table and fabric-wrapped chandelier complete the serene scheme and allow the feature wall to steal the show. “Visually, it’s a statement,” Ferguson notes. “It does all the designing in the room for you.”
Beyond maximizing square footage with clever solutions (see: the primary and guest bedrooms, outfitted with chic floating furniture), Ferguson’s largest challenges came courtesy of the building’s fenestration. Window walls are pitched at an acute angle, which required laser-sharp furniture measurements and clever use of drapery. Further, the apartment came without overhead lighting, which the designer addressed with sconces, suspension lamps and picture lights. To celebrate the living area’s most prominent architectural feature while adding another layer of illumination, he outfitted the columns with dramatic uplighting.
The finished result is a home designed to be admired—one optimized for a fun and full season of life. And while it has hosted many a cocktail party to rave reviews, the ultimate stamp of approval came from the couple’s daughter. “She told me, ‘It takes my breath away every time I walk in the door,’ ” Ferguson shares. Humbly, he can’t help but add, “When it all came together, I kind of knew we had created something special, too.”
An envelope of Carlisle & Co. paper on the walls and Phillip Jeffries gold leaf on the ceiling gives the space a jewel-box quality. John Ferguson designed the freestanding cabinet and desk unit, which he paired with a chair by Dune.