From his time judging RuPaul’s Drag Race and BBQ Brawl, as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Big Brother, and starring in the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Carson Kressley has become widely known and deeply appreciated by people everywhere.
While his time in the public eye showcases his myriad of talents and deeply rooted passion for fashion, food, and an equestrian lifestyle, he also has an incredible eye for interior design, one deeply textured and thoughtfully curated. While many design enthusiasts and Kressley fans are familiar with his Lehigh Valley-based farmhouse, I sat with him to discuss his dynamic style and the inspiration behind his incredibly chic NYC apartment. Many thanks to Carson Kressley for letting us into his home.
Can you tell us a little bit about the history of the apartment? How did you find it, what drew you to it?
Carson Kressley: I don’t recommend this, but I actually bought the apartment sight unseen in 2003. I was traveling in Australia and my best friend and my accountant sent me a video of the apartment. It looked good to me and the market was hot, so I snapped it up and didn’t regret it one bit.
I had wanted a pre-war apartment in New York since I moved there in 1991. But alas, I could not afford one until I started working in TV. I loved the idea of a New York apartment like the one Oscar Madison and Felix Unger shared on the 1970s TV show The Odd Couple. It was loaded with pre-war charm and had a sunken living room, iron railings, and lots of moldings. So for some reason that vibe was etched in my brain as the kind of apartment I had to have! And, I’d always loved the charm of the West Village. Little did I know that it was a very expensive combination!
So, since I could not afford my dream apartment in my dream neighborhood, just like they do on all the real estate shows, I had to make a compromise and I settled on the style I wanted in a different neighborhood. Well, it turned out to be just perfect. I love the apartment and it has all those features I was looking for. You cannot substitute great bones and architectural integrity, and I actually really like the location in Murray Hill. I like to say it’s a bit boring but very convenient as it’s almost smack dab in the middle of Manhattan.
What changes, renovations, or major design decisions have you made since buying the place?
CK: As for the apartment, it’s a 1938 Art Deco building with the most beautiful classic Park Avenue lobby — lots of paneling, beautiful light fixtures, and walls of antique James Audubon prints. It is very authentic and quite untouched since it was built. I love all the pre-war features, the sunken living room, lead-framed casement windows, and French doors opening to a terrace with a sliver of a view of the East River.
I did a gut renovation when I bought the apartment and added some modern features like a shoe closet, soaking tub, and GE Monogram and Sub-Zero appliances. For the most part, it was just cosmetic changes with the exception of a new primary bath to replace the old one that held a four-person Jacuzzi tub. Cue the Boogie Nights soundtrack, it looked into the bedroom through indoor sliding glass doors!
The design direction was to play up the Art Deco heritage of the building, with touches like an antiqued mirrored bar, engine-turned nickel sconces, a banqueted dining room that seats 14, and floor-to-ceiling nailhead bookcases in the hallway I’ve sarcastically dubbed “the Library.” At about 1,000 square feet, the apartment feels cozy yet glamorous with its Hollywood regency vibe and lots of interesting nooks and crannies meant to surprise and delight.
Many of us have seen how stunning your farm in Pennsylvania is. How does the apartment in the city feel different to you and, conversely, how is it similar to the farm?
CK: Well, I’m a big believer that the location of any residence and the style of the actual building should always inform and influence the interior. Because the apartment is in an Art Deco building on Park Avenue in the middle of Manhattan, that was a huge influence in its design. The fixed details, like the lighting and bath fixtures, are all appropriate to the style and period of the building. With the furnishings, I think you can be a little more flexible and have fun! There, I did more glam, regency touches with a few pops of modern art and a few pieces of very contemporary furniture to keep it fresh.
The farm serves a very different purpose and of course is in the countryside of Pennsylvania. I use it to host pool parties in the summer and cozy dinners and lots of overnight guests during the holidays. Since it is a horse farm, it’s very “horsey,” but that speaks to my love of all things equestrian and its raison d’etre!
I strongly believe that interior design should be extremely personal and autobiographical even. Your spaces at home are really the only ones you can make completely yours and they should tell your story. I think all of my homes do that, in the city, at the farm, or at the beach.
What space in the apartment are you most pleased with?
CK: I just love my bathroom. I take a lot of baths, and I love the huge soaking tub, unusual in New York, but a must for me. I love the silver leafed ceiling, Art Deco mirror, custom vanity and all the artwork I have in the space. Pro tip! Don’t be afraid to hang art in your bathroom. Of course make sure it’s protected from moisture but do enjoy the personality and energy it can bring to a bath. Oh, and before I forget, monogrammed towels and shower curtain offer a personalized flair.
For a smaller footprint, you’ve made the space feel so open and large, how did you accomplish this so effortlessly?
CK: Well that wasn’t intentional. However, I did make sure that the main space was painted all one color, a warm taupe, this prevented the living and dining area from feeling choppy. The sunken living area and the raised dining area help immensely in creating room “definitions” and the sense of a large space. I just got lucky there. I also made sure I created a lot of “destinations” in the small space which create a sense of discovery and creates the illusion of more rooms than there actually are. The dining area is one vibe, the living another, the bar and library yet another. Add in the jewel box zebra upholstered powder room, the lacquered pink primary bath along with the primary bedroom, wrapped in gray linen faux paint, the terrace — it feels like the apartment is much bigger than it is.
“Avoid small rugs at all costs, the idea is to keep the eye moving to the far reaches of the space and not interrupting it with small-scale items or patterns.”
For people decorating intimate spaces, what design best practices do you recommend as the most effective?
CK: It sounds counterintuitive, but for small spaces, I like to say “go big!” In small spaces, think about using bold, large repeat wall papers, color drenching and big furniture poises that fill the space. Avoid small rugs at all costs, the idea is to keep the eye moving to the far reaches of the space and not interrupting it with small-scale items or patterns.
Are there any specific brands or suppliers that are your “go-to” for designing new spaces?
CK: Yes I have a ton. Of course it depends on the project but I love these suppliers. Mural Source for cost-effective digitally printed murals. They create such mood in spaces that lack architectural interest. Circa Interiors lighting, it’s chic and of the moment, but also timeless, and the best quality. Ballard Designs for custom upholstered pieces with thousands of custom fabrics to choose from. They have everything you need to be your own decorator! Stark Carpets, they are the best quality, and last forever. I’ve used their antelope pattern at the farm and the leopard in New York, which they sandblasted for me to give it an aged look. Farrow & Ball Paints, their palette is exquisite, you really can’t make a mistake. Horchow for all my monogrammed towels. Matouk for my bedding, they have a fabulous outlet in Fall River, Massachusetts, and I always stop on my way home from Provincetown! I love a deal and they have the very best quality. Finally, vintage pieces and antiques add soul and personality to a space. I like Everything But the House, Round Top Antiques Fair, the various shops in Adamstown, Pennsylvania, Brimfield antique shows in Massachusetts, and Bucks County Estate Traders.
