Creating A Dynamic, Artful Retreat In New York City

The most dramatic upgrade is revealed upon arrival, where a standard foyer was reimagined as an experiential gallery space with hand-troweled plaster walls and a suspended plaster ceiling replete with dime-size pin lights forming a constellation overhead. Rounding out the rich scheme, natural stone floors mimic terrazzo as they extend up the wall, “reminiscent of what you might see in a Venetian palazzo or traditional art gallery,” Marinelli explains. “This move introduced a more classical gesture and provided us with an earthy palette that both offsets and complements the artwork.”

A restrained color story in the living room is enlivened with subtle patterns, such as the soft abstractions stretching across the area rug. Gentle tones and an ethereal sensibility also abound in the primary bedroom, where a delicate light fixture handmade in France takes command as a sculpture above the bed. In every space, Marinelli’s stone selections informed the palette. “We decided that each room and its en suite bathroom should have a distinctive color scheme that coordinated with the overall story,” he recalls. Take the media room and its adjoining bathroom, where the hues of the Calacatta Viola marble and cranberry millwork are echoed across linen wall upholstery, an angora rug and asymmetrical lacquered bookcases.

Such focal points add depth but succeed most in supporting Marinelli’s vision of an intuitive flow unified by quality and materiality. “We favor unconventional layouts that subtly challenge the architecture and result in engaging compositions,” Marinelli adds. “Here, I wanted to create cohesive spaces that would serve as a unified backdrop for creativity, curiosity and a sense of serendipity—expressed in a distinctly cosmopolitan way.”