“Philosophically, our approach to design is to help our clients realize the best version of themselves,” Joslyn Taylor explains of SWOON, the Studio, which she cofounded with Samantha Sano. This, of course, means a deep dive into their clients’ passions, their personalities and how they live day to day in their homes. When one art-loving couple approached the design duo to rethink their 1958 home, which had been renovated in 2007, this process was as simple as can be – the designers were already friends with the pair. “There’s a thoughtfulness and soulfulness to her,” Taylor muses of the photographer wife. “Her husband as well. They love things that have a story, hand-crafted pieces and works created by their friends.”
The couple’s eye for design drew them to the midcentury home, which, even with its dated mid-aughts makeover, was a showcase of good bones. “It had a beautiful layout but was almost museum-like,” Taylor describes. “She wanted to layer in a little bit more warmth, depth and natural texture.”
In the living room, this meant refacing the fireplace in an organic pitted travertine and, where once there had been a large, stark wall, adding a custom built-in bench alongside to create a cozy nook. A sculptural daybed in the space provides another place to “tuck in,” while a vintage cocktail table and a striking marble magazine rack add more materiality. “It was fun to start from scratch and build around their art collection,” Taylor shares. “We thought of the furnishings as an extension of their art.”
Intimacy was imperative, so the team wanted to organize the adjacent dining area to feel as if it was a separate space. A vintage de Sede sofa with a geometric back creates both separation and interest. “When you’re sitting at the dining table, you really are looking at something special,” Taylor adds. This is true of the view from the other side of the table as well: on a ledge above their marble-topped burlwood console, the owners showcase pieces from their ever-evolving art collection, many of them created by dear friends, others sourced by art consultants Cindy Schwartz and Robyn Siegel.
A careful balance of their clients’ own furnishings and art with 20th-century antiques and mindfully considered new pieces is a theme throughout. “If it wasn’t vintage, she wanted to know that it was made from a designer perspective,” Taylor states. “There’s nothing pretentious about her, but she doesn’t want things to feel like fast fashion or design.”
The kitchen was approached with the same sustainability mindset. The room’s terrazzo floors and walnut cabinetry imbued such beautiful character that the designers knew a full makeover wasn’t necessary. Honing the black marble countertops, replacing the glass-tile backsplash with Zellige tiles, swapping out the hardware and installing curvaceous pendants were all that was needed.
The tranquil primary bedroom is the location of many repurposed furnishings; the homeowners’ vintage sofa – now recovered – and cocktail table sit alongside new pieces, such as a hanging Noguchi light sculpture and a leather scoop chair. “They wanted a comfortable little retreat where they could read and where their son could come hang with them,” Taylor describes.
“Our design was just thinking about the way they live and what they value,” Taylor adds. “She is so creative, well-traveled and laid-back. She’s an artist herself and has a lot of artist friends. That played into everything. We wanted it all to have meaning and personality.”
Photography by PS.SWOON
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