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When you’re a prominent fashion financier for the likes of Marc Jacobs and Tommy Hilfiger, your home had better look equally fashion-forward. That’s why Cathy and Gary Wassner challenged New York designer Fawn Galli to transform their Financial District loft from dated to daring. Galli delivered with bold looks that incorporate expertly crafted furnishings with clean finishes and durable materials. After all, the home needed to hold up to the couple’s four dogs.
“We wanted the interiors to be warm and modern, with deeply curated art and furniture. But we didn’t want to overfill each room,” says Galli. “The idea was to give space to appreciate each piece individually, but also cohesively.” AD PRO spoke with Galli about how she approached the apartment.
AD PRO: What was the biggest challenge you had to address with this space?
Fawn Galli: The home was dark, and had a modern-but-dated look. There was little access to natural light due to the surrounding buildings, plus track lighting and dark wood floors. The home needed brightness and structure, so we took everything back to the studs and opened up some spaces. That made the home feel larger. We wanted it to feel light, spacious, and contemporary.
AD PRO: But it seems like you also had to give it some personality, right?
FG: Yes! The apartment is home to Cathy and Gary Wassner, CFDA Fashion Incubator advisory board members, among many other interesting things. They are glamorous, and the space was not. After looking to move, but not finding another space they preferred, they decided to renovate their existing apartment. We kept the loft-style architecture, and dressed it up with one-of-a-kind furniture and art. We kept the color schemes to mostly black, with accents of strong color.
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AD PRO: It definitely has a maximalist vibe, but it doesn’t feel over the top. How did you manage that?
FG: We wanted everything to be unique and feel like an art piece, but the home also had to be durable because of the four dogs that live there. We paid attention to materials that were resilient and easily cleanable. Throughout the home, we used moments of blackened steel that would add dimension and feel integral to the apartment. We collaborated with Argosy Designs to create pocket doors, separating the main living space from the den. Then there’s the mix of elements and craftsmanship. I love the Pierre Yovanovitch Papa Bear chairs in the den, the BDDW sofa in the dressing room, and the Yves Klein table in the living room. All of these different items meld together to create a story that is personal to the client.
AD PRO: What other elements are unique to their lifestyle?
FG: We also worked with Argosy Designs to extend the clients’ existing marble tables to accommodate 14 people, as well as [design] illuminated display shelves for their Coke bottle collection. Together, we were able to achieve some beautiful details. During demo, we found a large amount of dead space in the master bathroom, which allowed us to double the size of the shower. It was part of this idea of surrounding the clients with their version of beauty and comfort.
AD PRO: It certainly looks like a place a fashion insider might live.
FG: There’s a balance between moments of minimalism and flourish that reflects their sensibilities. The apartment is a mix of glamour and restraint. It’s luxurious without being fussy.
Project Name: Financial District Apartment
Design Team: Fawn Galli (designer); Hanjo Contractors (contractor); Argosy Designs (metalwork)
Size: 2,500 square feet
Location: Financial District, New York
