Pictured top right: On Ferney: Top, Ulla Johnson; Pants, Momoni; Shoes, Freda Salvador. Pictured above: Mags Sofa, Hay; Outline Sofa by Muuto, DWR; Marble Plinth Coffee Table by Norm Architects, Menu Design Shop; Pyramid Table Lamp, In Common With; Geo Armchair and Ottoman by Saba, Silk Dupioni Pillows by Varanasi, Velvet Pillow, and Mohair Throw, ABC Home; Hera Side Table, West Elm; Chess Set, Print Works Market; Vintage Dining Chairs.
Pictured left: Heart Plate by John Derian x Astier de Villatte, John Derian; Jordan Painting, Paul Ferney; Large Ceramic Vase, H&M Home; Uni Candlestick, Virginia Sin; Olcott Yellow Vase, Crate & Barrel. Pictured right: Vintage Table, Chairish.
In her own spaces, Ferney prefers a slightly more subdued palette. This was true of her last home in San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood, which she and her husband, Paul, sold in 2019—and remains true of the three-bedroom apartment in New York City’s West Village that their family of five currently occupies. The rental was meant to be a bookmark during a yearlong sabbatical, a place for everyone to land in between travels. After selling 95 percent of their possessions, they took off for six months to the U.K., Croatia, India, France, and beyond. When COVID-19 became a serious issue, they felt lucky to have a nest in which to recalibrate.
Of course, Ferney took the long days of early lockdown to decorate what was essentially a blank canvas. She approached the space like a Rubik’s Cube, tackling the strange features that come with old Manhattan buildings and leaning into the beautiful architectural surprises that won her over from the beginning—such as the wall of 18-foot windows in the living room. “This apartment could not be more light filled,” says Ferney, adding after a beat, “with the exception of our entryway.”
