Athena Calderone, a renowned interior designer, recently undertook the ambitious project of transforming a historic Tribeca apartment into a unique and highly personalized residence. This endeavor, which began in 2023, marked a significant shift for Calderone, who had previously resided in a much-admired Greek Revival townhouse in Brooklyn. Driven by a desire for a new aesthetic challenge, she, alongside her husband Victor and their son Jivan, embarked on a journey to infuse the Manhattan property with her distinctive style. The renovation involved reconfiguring the layout, relocating the kitchen and dining areas for better light and space, and creating a dedicated home office and music studio. Calderone's meticulous approach included drawing inspiration from European architecture and collaborating with a range of artisans to bring her vision to life, resulting in an apartment that reflects a sophisticated blend of historical charm and modern design.
The Reimagination of a Tribeca Landmark
In 2023, Athena Calderone and her husband, Victor, a music producer and DJ, made the bold decision to move from their long-standing Brooklyn residence to a new apartment in Manhattan's historic Tribeca neighborhood. This full-floor dwelling, located in an early 20th-century building, once served as the executive suite for the Borden condensed milk company. Its original grandeur was evident in its herringbone floors, 13-foot ceilings, and rich oak-paneled walls, which Calderone humorously described as being the color of chocolate syrup. Previously owned by the acclaimed French architect Thierry Despont, the apartment possessed a unique history and an intriguing foundation.
Calderone's vision for the space was to move beyond Despont's previous opulent designs and create something entirely her own. Initially contemplating bleaching the dark woodwork, she found inspiration during a trip to Vienna, particularly from Adolf Loos's American Bar, which encouraged her to embrace the existing dark tones and smaller, intimate spaces. She collaborated with the Brownstone Boys to refinish the woodwork, achieving a stunning result without excessive cost. Working with architect Danielle Siggerud and her team at Studio Athena Calderone, along with Sacks and Co. Construction Management, they embarked on a comprehensive renovation. The kitchen and dining room were strategically transposed to enhance natural light and space, while Despont's former library was ingeniously converted into a home office for Calderone and a music production studio for Victor. Calderone proudly noted their success in maximizing every square foot of the apartment.
A pivotal influence on her design philosophy was Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan, an architectural marvel from 1935 by Piero Portaluppi. Calderone's earlier visit to the villa served as an epiphany, helping her understand the apartment's potential and the allure of a more formal lifestyle. Inspired by the Villa Necchi's 'datum line' – a slender horizontal band that creates the illusion of floating ceilings – Calderone incorporated a similar feature throughout her home. Her travels further fueled her creativity, leading her to discover unique materials like a creamy limestone from a Rome hotel lobby in 2024. Every design element, from the parchment-style lime plaster in the niche of the primary bedroom to the custom leaded glass doors by Amuneal and Bendheim glass, is a testament to her global quest for inspiration. She collaborated with companies like Calico Wallpaper, Lowe Hardware, Colbourns carpets, and metal fabricators Amuneal, considering this collaborative process among the most rewarding aspects of her career. The apartment features a curated collection of Vienna Secession and Art Deco pieces, sourced from European auctions, alongside prototypes from her own design studio. Notable acquisitions include a circa 1900 ebonized Viennese desk, a Cible table by Jean Prouvé and Jules Leleu, and Jacques Adnet armchairs, as well as Maria Pergay’s 1968 Flying Carpet daybed. This apartment, unfettered by its previous incarnations, truly embodies Calderone’s signature elegance and meticulous eye for detail.
This transformative project by Athena Calderone highlights the profound impact of intentional design and personal vision in creating a living space that truly reflects its inhabitants. It serves as a reminder that a home is not merely a structure but a canvas for self-expression, continuously evolving with one's journey and inspirations. Calderone’s approach underscores the value of combining historical appreciation with contemporary creativity, demonstrating that even a space with a rich past can be reinvented to embody a fresh, sophisticated aesthetic. Her dedication to sourcing unique pieces and collaborating with skilled artisans illustrates that true design mastery lies in the details and the ability to weave a cohesive narrative throughout a home. This project offers inspiration to anyone looking to infuse their personal spaces with character, history, and a touch of modern elegance.