When interior designer John Bambick founded his studio in 2021, he did so with a quiet and unruffled confidence. Just a few years later, his New York-based practice, which focuses on residential work, has already earned itself a reputation for memorable interiors that sit in a graceful space between tradition and modernity.
‘I’m always interested in the “why” of every decision,’ John says. ‘Why this colour? Why that form? Why place something here and not there? It’s not enough for me that something just looks pretty – it must feel considered and have a narrative.’ He’s applied those principles to the two-bedroom apartment in New York’s SoHo he designed for a client who’d moved cross-country from San Francisco.
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The top floor of a beautifully restored 1840s Greek Revival townhouse, with pristine painted walls, oak flooring, great natural light from large windows and cleverly positioned skylights throughout, proved the dream canvas for John’s decorative ambitions.
The client’s brief was straightforward. ‘He showed me a photo of French architect Joseph Dirand’s apartment in Paris as a starting point,’ John explains. ‘He wanted his home to feel like a Parisian apartment but with a Manhattan sensibility – moody, social, stylish. That really set the tone. We were working with beautiful, traditional architecture and millwork, so I felt I could be a bit looser with the objects to fill the space.’
Rather than rush to completion, John approached the project as an evolving collection. ‘I advised my client it would be a process of hunting and making careful selections – waiting until the right piece came along. It wasn’t about buying a showroom,’ he explains.
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The first layer, after a refresh of the Benjamin Moore paintwork and the addition of a Dedar moiré silk wallpaper in the entrance hall, was installing a set of locally-made upholstered pieces: a sofa with crisp arms, a retro-inspired lounge chair and a custom bed with bedside tables, all designed by John.
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These formed the foundation for a series of vintage discoveries sourced through dealers, including 1stDibs and others in Los Angeles and across Europe. Standout finds include a French oak cabinet by Charles Dudouyt, a graphic Fortuny cushion and Gestalt New York dining chairs in vintage Rogers & Goffigon electric-blue velvet.
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Lighting, too, became a crucial element: with no ceiling fixtures, John relied on sculptural floor lamps, sconces and table lamps for atmosphere. A favourite? An Angelo Lelii ‘Eye’ lamp from Eric Appel gallery – ‘I knew it belonged in that apartment the moment I saw it.’
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Comfort is a key factor for a Bambick interior. ‘Of course, I do want things to look beautiful and chic, but being comfortable is most important. You have to be able to cosy up even if the space is sexy. You can do both.’
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If there is a single thread that unites the interior, it is colour. John drew on a spectrum of blues, from pale powder tones in the bedroom to inky, almost black shades in the living spaces, softened with creams, greys and whites. ‘I’m not afraid of colour, but I like to use it with restraint. Here, blue felt both calming and sophisticated,’ he explains.
Tim Lenz / Otto
This is now a home that feels layered, calm, elegant. For the owner, the bedroom is a particular triumph. ‘It’s cocoon-like, with the plush carpet and a Hästens mattress on the bed,’ John says. ‘He calls it the most comfortable bed he’s ever slept in.’
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Is he happy with the results? ‘It was one of the first jobs we took on as a studio. It taught me the value of patience – of building a home over time, with intention,’ he reflects. ‘That’s where the magic really happens.’ johnbambick.com
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