Swipe Some Design Moves from Kanye
Master the stylish mix of minimalism and natural textures
In 2007, Kanye West collaborated with Italian architect Claudio Silvestrin to combine two units in a SoHo building to create a home base in New York that served him and Kim until they sold it last summer. The apartment has just come back on the market for $4.7 million, listed by CORE broker Emily Beare, and it seems to have been essentially untouched by its new owners. The aesthetics, which West told Vogue inspired his Yeezy Season 2 collection, remain front and center. Described as "a restrained, modern architectural study featuring a wash of neutral hues, French limestone and pearwood, as well as two large stone structures that serve as the main parts of the kitchen and bathroom," it's an earthy palette that blends a sleek minimalism with natural textures. While not all of the furnishings are from when Kanye called it home, there are still plenty of high-minded design lessons to learn here about taking your place to the next level.
Even if you aren't blessed with high ceilings or an expansive room, choosing pieces that are low-profile and close to the ground gives the room an open, airy feeling. It also makes the room look bigger. Opt for sculptural items that add even more intrigue.
Congo media credenza,
$699 by CB2
Jeanneret lounge chair,
$749 at France & Son
Marble plinth coffee table,
from $1,691 at RH Modern
Go Tonal
An easy way to give your place a fresh, designer look is to adhere to a “wash of neutral hues.” Keep the prints to a minimum, stick to a few colors within one color palette and instead focus on textures. It brings a quiet, serene sense of calm over a room.
Light linen coverlet,
from $325 by Rough Linen
Vintage worker's stool,
$295 at Jayson Home
Orda slate lamp,
$139 by Crate & Barrel
Warm It Up
With Wood
If there's a downside to the modern, minimalist look, it's that such an austere environment can feel cold. Kanye considered this when he lined a hallway with warm wood, which concealed extra storage. Or a traditional wooden ladder to hold towels in the bathroom.
Solid American maple
towel ladder,
$71 by Latitude Run
Eames molded plywood screen,
from $2,995 at Design Within Reach
Vintage Danish tripod stool,
$825 at 1st Dibs
FYI
In May of 2018, Kanye announced on Twitter his intention of launching an architecture firm: “We're starting a Yeezy architecture arm called Yeezy home.”
