“I’m a big ideas person and then John elevates them and takes them to the next level,” says Upton, who had specific atmospheres in mind for each room. Her vision of a green kitchen, for example, gave way to cabinetry in a shamrock hue and walls wrapped in a shimmering de Gournay scenic landscape. When Upton and Verlander opted for a home theater rather than a proper dining room, Ruggiero conjured a moody lounge slicked in a blackberry paint, festooned with heavy velvet curtains, and crowned by a graphic Iksel wallpaper. It’s now one of their favorite spaces, where mom and dad can sip cocktails with friends while their daughter, Genevieve, plays Legos nearby. “Just being there brings out a different side of us,” explains Verlander. “We listen to jazz or classical music. It’s such a vibe.”
To round out that atmosphere, Ruggiero layered vintage and antique furnishings, including retro seating by Paul McCobb, Vladimir Kagan, and Giancarlo Piretti. Custom pieces, meanwhile, are tailored to his clients’ specific needs. The entry’s velvet-and-walnut bench, for example, can cleverly stow packages and shoes. The couple’s bed, meanwhile, is at a slightly elevated height so that they can enjoy city views. As for their daughter, one of her few requests was purple walls, against which Ruggiero integrated a bespoke bed upholstered with a Josef Frank pattern by Schumacher.
Verlander and Upton, who is perched on a sofa by Ross Cassidy for CB2 in their bedroom; wallpaper by Iksel for Schumacher. Upton wears a Bottega Veneta sweater, Lemaire pants, and Christina Caruso earrings and bracelet.
An El Anatsui artwork hangs in the entry above a custom bench; 1960s pendant by Carl Fagerlund and rug by Apparatus.
