Incollect Magazine - Issue 3

Incollect Magazine 71 2022 One of the designer’s oldest friends, whose traditional apartment he designed and then refreshed years later was radically transformed to complement the couple’s extensive contemporary art collection. Alex relates, “That was tough for me, because I am such a lover of antiques. We came to an agreement: if the antiques had to go, then the apartment still needed gravitas. We would have to find furnishings and objects that were rare, striking, and special. . . . the art couldn’t be everything and the furniture nothing. I told them, ‘This is going to be a hard-shop task,’ and they said, ‘We’re up for it.’ ” A subdued gray and white color palette was chosen to allow the artwork to pop, enlivened by mixing reflective and matte finishes and a range of tones from steel grays to shimmering silvers. In the living room, important works by Richard Prince and Rudolph Stingel are hung on the fireplace wall, and a painting by George Condo is above the sofa. Carpe D’Or by François-Xavier Lalanne, a sculpture in gold leaf and resin, is displayed on the mantel. Vintage pieces, collectible design and contemporary craft all come into play in a room where the furniture is on par with the art. Maria Pergay conceived her Chaise Anneaux/Ring Chair while peeling an orange, and this 1968 design in stainless steel is one of her most iconic. Another of her works, the stainless steel and acrylic Acier chair, 1969 sits opposite. The aluminum cocktail table in the foreground is vintage Karl Springer, the table in front of the sofa is by Belgian artist Ado Chale. A pair of gilded ceramic and parchment table lamps are by contemporary maker Andrea Koeppel. Photo by Richard Powers, Alex Papachristidis photo by Donna Newman