Just as many great art collections begin with a single acquisition—so too can a great home.In the case of a Brazilian family’s New York pied-à-terre, it all began on the opening day of Art Basel in Miami Beach a couple of years ago, when designer Edward Yedid of found himself captivated by an Ellen Gallagher painting. “The artist had shown the series at the Venice Biennale a couple years prior, and I thought this work was so beautiful, calming, colorful, and powerful,” says Yedid. He snapped a photo of the painting and texted it to a client who agreed: The work would be the perfect starting point for the interiors of his new apartment.

While the overall feel of the building’s architecture is distinctly modern, the layout of the apartment suggests an updated version of a classic Upper East Side residence with its graceful sequence of distinct rooms. We do is really a distillation of traditional values into a modern context to suit clients’ lifestyles.” 

“This room was about introducing a level of sophistication, quality, and culture,” explains Yedid. “Drawing from all their travels, we wanted a collection of different types of works—not just art hung on walls but sculpture and collectible design.” Cloud-like Ayala Serfaty lights float along the ceiling above a sculptural Maarten Baas chair,  gilded table, a bench, and a console that hosts a carefully curated selection of ceramics.

Presiding over the main living area—with its expansive views of the Hudson River and New York Harbor are Kami abstraction and that seminal Gallagher work.  Swivel chairs and a an undulating metal bench enliven the mix of furnishings.

. “What we expected to be a nothing project ended up being one of the most wonderful.”

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