Pictured right: Corked Pitcher: CB2.
In the couple’s bedroom, the painted IKEA cupboards mimic bespoke cabinets—inspired by a “very useful” wall of armoires they had in a Paris apartment years ago—with a clever twist: “We propped up wood around the base to look like a built-in,” shares Ferney. “I’m a maximalist who loves collecting things. When I close the cupboards, I feel like a minimalist.” A solid brass cabinet in the corner was another case of her having a vision and not being able to find exactly what she wanted. She reached out to eight different fabricators for quotes on a simple design. “That’s the secret to getting anything done—if you spend a little extra time doing the research, you always find someone who can make it work for you,” she says. To stay within budget, “we ordered $40 cotton roman blinds off Amazon,” on which Paul painted a freehand grid.
Pictured far below: Akari Lamp, Noguchi; Custom Cabinet.
Pictured above: Pax Wardrobe, IKEA; Oyster Shoal Paint, Valspar; Butler Step Stool, Hay.
like a minimalist.”
The most dramatic transformation, though, took place in the kitchen. Ferney asked the landlord if she could remove the microwave and cabinets—the bulky units blocked light from a skylight and took up way too much space—and, once given the go-ahead, swiftly replaced them with open shelving. The next challenge: “The floor was this old orange tile, which I just couldn’t figure out how to make work,” describes Ferney. “We used black and white peel-and-stick tiles to cover it that will come right up when we move out.” The entire project cost less than $70. “It made such a difference. All of a sudden I enjoy being in the kitchen!” she says. Changing out the floor helped control the palette, too. White subway tile was an easy choice for the backsplash, and when the stove stopped working, she negotiated with the landlord to let her pick the replacement: a white Ilve model from Wayfair.
“I’m a maximalist who loves
collecting things. When I
close the cupboards, I feel
Pictured above: Nook Bed, Bludot; Bold Chair by Big-Game, Moustache; Sisal Rug by Woven and Cherner Chair, DWR; Cordless Roman Shades by Chicology, Amazon; Striped Bedding, Society of Wanderers; Miramar Organic Waffle Blanket, Coyuchi; Arched Metal Floor Mirror, Rejuvenation; Vintage Mushroom Lamp.
I’m a maximalist who loves collecting things. When I close the cupboards, I feel like a minimalist.”