Inside Interior Designer Wesley Moon's Beautiful Art-Filled New York Apartment

New York-based designer Wesley Moon drew on his passion for travel and the building’s history to design an eclectic and glamorous home

With his signature inimitable, eclectic style, American interior designer Wesley Moon is no stranger to crafting abodes that make an impact. Naturally, when it came to his own home, the results were nothing short of stunning. Still, Moon, who is also a trained architect, has a confession to make: “Designing my own home was difficult because there are so many different styles I love, and it was hard for me to narrow it down.”

The historic apartment is located in one of the last pre-war buildings on Park Avenue in New York City’s Upper East Side. The century-old structure features art moderne elements, a style from the 1930s in which American architects sought to create streamlined designs inspired by classical architecture using geometry and curving forms.

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Above American designer and architect Wesley Moon

Above The liberal use of metallic wallpaper adds a glamorous shine throughout the abode

Drawing on his personal passion for travel and history as well as the building’s architectural origins, Moon focused on showcasing historic influences in a contemporary manner. “My designs reflect a balance of contemporary and eclectic pieces, as well as a colour palette and materials that exemplify both comfort and intrigue,” he elaborates. “The result is a unique space that is timeless, elegant, and reflects the homeowner’s personal taste.”

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Above The entryway features De Gournay wallpaper on the transom window and door casings clad in Byzantine pink stone

Above Set against striking gold wallpaper from De Gournay, this ornate pink head vase greets visitors as they enter the home

One of Moon’s tried-and-tested techniques is to mix textures and patterns, but in a way that does not look like he is trying too hard, he explains. For example, the entryway, which can sometimes be overlooked as a purely utilitarian spot, features another De Gournay wallpaper inspired by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt in custom colours and gold gilded paper on the transom window above the door.

The door casings were changed to beautiful Byzantine pink stone and an ornate tulipiere vase by Matthew Solomon from New York gallery Maison Gerard welcomes guests as they enter the apartment’s exhibition zone.

Above The designer adores mixing and matching an unexpected combination of patterns and hues, as seen in the living room

“I don’t like it when there’s one piece in a room screaming at you. If something is dramatic, I find a way to neutralise it. Everything has to play nicely together,” Moon says.

In the living room is an art deco-inspired marble fireplace in a bold turquoise hue created in collaboration with Benjamin Wiener, the gallery director of Cocobolo Design Gallery, making for a striking centrepiece.

Above the custom turquoise fireplace in the living room is a composite portrait of Queen Elizabeth I of England by Michael Mapes, which features a mix of photos including one of Moon’s grandmother

Above Above the custom turquoise fireplace in the living room is a composite portrait of Queen Elizabeth I of England by Michael Mapes, which features a mix of photos including one of Moon’s grandmother

Featuring various artworks collected on his travels, this nook in the living room is among the designer’s favourite spots in his New York home

Above Featuring various artworks collected on his travels, this nook in the living room is among the designer’s favourite spots in his New York home

Hanging above the mantel is a composite portrait of Queen Elizabeth I of England by Michael Mapes, made of hundreds of smaller photographs and materials. The artwork also features a hidden Easter egg—one of these smaller images is a picture of Moon’s grandmother, also named Elizabeth. “It is fun seeing our guests discover new intricacies that they had not noticed before,” he says.

Above A De Gournay Sicilian scene wallpaper in a custom finish, coupled with a gold chandelier overhead, sets an opulent mood in the dining room

In a home so lovingly detailed with carefully sourced art, furnishings, textures and patterns, turning every corner requires a thoughtful pause to take it all in. Still, a standout vignette resides in the ornate dining room, where a custom De Gournay Sicilian panoramic wallpaper on a gilded background sets the scene for lavish gatherings.

“When I am designing for my clients, it is always a collaboration between us. So for my own home, I used my partner Sal as a sounding board,” Moon explains. “The scene depicts the Palermo church Maria Santissima del Carmelo, where Sal’s parents wed. I’m always trying to figure out what the contemporary version of something classical is so I can get that old-world feeling, but adjusted to modern times.”

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Above Equal attention is paid to the kitchen, which features custom cabinetry

Above A bar area with a varied mix of textures and materials

With the jewel-toned dining chairs and banquette seating echoing the hues on the wallpaper and a gold chandelier to pull the look together, the result is a visually coherent space that combines old-world glamour with contemporary charm. “I wanted to push the limits of my own creativity and style. I chose art and objects from different styles with varying degrees of antiquity, and made them feel united by a common thread.”

Above The cosy library features a Samuel Hatmaker portrait of Dolly Parton that comprises over 2,000 Lego pieces

Above Ombre blue curtains frame the view of the dining room from the library

This attention to detail is evident throughout the rest of the home, often in unexpected places. For instance, the cosy library, which is lined with floor-to-ceiling bookcases that hold the owners’ collection of tomes and tchotchkes, is more than a place of quiet contemplation.

Here, a sunburst ceiling mural by Los Angeles-based studio MJ Atelier is paired with a French Deco area rug by Doris Leslie Blau to “loosely symbolise heaven and earth”. Hanging on the wall is Moon’s personal favourite—a Samuel Hatmaker portrait of Dolly Parton made of over 2,000 black and white Lego pieces.

Above Free-form brushstrokes in gold add modern character to an 18th-century tapestry hung above the headboard in the master bedroom

Above A modern mirror and other decorative objects on the dresser create a playful contrast to the intricate baroque-style wallpaper

For the bedroom, Moon commissioned decorative painter Jane Henry to add squiggles of gold paint to an 18th-century tapestry above the headboard, lending a touch of irreverence. “I never want a space to feel too precious, it should always feel lived in,” he says.

Debunking the myth that art has to be displayed in an all-white, box-like setting in a gallery or museum, Moon says: “You just need to make sure that the art complements and doesn’t fight with the wall finish. As long as you love the art, it’s going to work in your home, because your home should represent you.”

Above The architectural motifs on this cabinet stand in contrast to the grey wallpaper and the sleek chair in this nook in the master bedroom

Above As with the rest of the home, this bathroom features an intriguing mix of textures on the walls, countertop and flooring

Proving his point perfectly, he adds: “When we are entertaining, people always gravitate towards it. It is cosy, perfect for a good conversation, and surrounded by pieces that we love.”

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Photography

Pernille Loof

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