Formal Living Room • 1 W 72nd St #56, New York, NY 10023
This room openly embraces its history. Every surface is designed to tell a story, recording time and interaction directly onto its materials. Unlacquered brass, full-grain saddle leather, and deep limewash walls celebrate authenticity over pristine perfection. These elements are built to age gracefully, documenting daily life.
The brass fireplace surround patinas with every touch. Saddle leather seating softens, creases, and darkens over time. Limewash walls shift with light and shadow. A reclaimed wood table gains new marks.
This room proudly wears the story of its every moment.
Design Philosophy
This design values honest wear and genuine patina. It applies Time-Etched Surfaces to record the room's daily life. Materials develop a unique character over time, reflecting their interaction. This approach ensures an Active Materiality where every element becomes a living record.
Spatial Narrative
Your eye first lands on the unlacquered brass fireplace surround. Robust, natural fiber rugs subtly guide movement through the long space. Primary seating upholstered in saddle leather invites you to settle into the room's main area.
Light Study
Morning light from the two end windows casts long shadows across the textured limewash walls, revealing their depth. Evening brings a warm, diffused glow, softening the brass and enriching the leather. The fireplace provides a contrasting, flickering light after dark.
Living Vignette
A child's small handprint darkens a patch of the brass fireplace surround. The dog's favorite napping spot has left a distinct, softened impression on the saddle leather cushion.
Material Palette
Unlacquered brass: It feels cool, then warms with touch, oxidizing unevenly to a deep, rich patina.
Full-grain saddle leather: It feels firm and smooth, softening and darkening in areas of frequent use.
Oyster white limewash: It feels textured and dry, its depth constantly shifting with light and shadow.
