Name: David Epstein & Wade Tajerian
Location: West Village — New York, New York
Size: 1,250 square feet
Years lived in: 8 — owned
The calm and collected West Village apartment of David and Wade was only accentuated by the overcast weather on the day of our visit. Though it was gray and rainy outside, David was kind enough to let us kick off our rain boots and walk us through their sophisticated and whimsical pre-war home.
As the dashing and hilarious personality behind the celebrity gossip webshow, The Epicenter, David Epstein’s wit and charisma can be seen both online and in his home. Tranquil wall colors, a subdued velvet couch and a combination of the upscale and unpretentious allow for the couple’s favorite, quirkier accessories to take center stage.
Using the sage advice of his friend, interior designer Steven Gambrel, Epstein has clearly invested in several handsome statement-making furniture pieces, but it’s the confident approach to the details that make the apartment so personal. Unique art pieces and humorous treasures found in Sag Harbor and the couple’s Manhattan neighborhood add unpredictable surprises in each room.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Eclectic, cocktail living.
Inspiration: Visually, I’d be lying if I didn’t say Mad Men has had an influence. Also, there are a few elements that are 1970’s/ Laverne and Shirley inspired – such as the cabinet under the TV in the office area.
Favorite Element: Probably my vintage USA Campaign Desk from the Korean War [in the entry-way], which was stripped down to reveal the aluminum – I just think this piece is so cool. I also love the antique Chinese chair I inherited from my Grandmother’s house, which has a tush print from when I sat on it in a wet bathing suit as a child.
Biggest Challenge: To live in a Pre-War building is always a battle. We love to entertain but parties in August are nearly impossible, as the apartment just doesn’t get cool enough. Not being able to control the heat, not having a garbage disposal… I would definitely say Pre-War living is always a bit of a challenge.
What Friends Say: My friends always remark that the apartment is constantly changing – and they ask me why I spend so much time on it!
Biggest Embarrassment: Probably that my work desk is a wobbly dining room table that I couldn’t sell. Also, the suicide of one of my fish. Why would he do that?
Proudest DIY: I’m not a craftsperson, but I would say my proudest DIY would be my terrariums on the dining room table and bathroom window sill.
Biggest Indulgence: We are trying to morph from focusing on cocktails to more dinner parties – and purchasing the Dunbar dining table was a step in that direction.
Best Advice: My best advice is to take risks. I love whimsy in an elegant home and it’s so important to have the confidence to add some humor. Your home should 100% represent you and I truly believe a joyful home can help you have a better day.
Dream Sources: Sage Street Antiques in Sag Harbor, wellNEST, Wyeth, JED in Sag Harbor, Ruby Beets, End of History in the West Village, Mxyplyzyk, Historic Materialism, Walmart in Riverhead
Resources of Note:
LIVING ROOM
- • Stamped, crushed-velvet couch: Steven Gambrel
• Pillows: Nest
• Chair with ottoman: Eames
• Cork coffee table: Regeneration
• Stamp art on mantle: Sage Street Antiques in Sag Harbor
• Painting: Bo Joseph
DINING ROOM
- • Dining table: Dunbar
• Blue vases: End of History in the West Village
KITCHEN
- • Chair near the window: garage sale in Bridgehampton
• Cake stand: John Derian
• Hilary Clinton Nut Cracker: Mxyplyzyk
• Wall Aquariums: Mxyplyzyk
BEDROOM
- • Lamps on the bureau: Historic Materialism
• Lamps on either side of the bed: Crate & Barrel
OFFICE
- • Credenza under the television: Craigslist
• Majority of the scientific objects: Sage Street in Sag Harbor
• Pencils on the desk: JED in Sag Harbor
• Couch: Steven Gambrel
Thanks, David and Wade!
Images: Mat Sanders
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The HC nutcracker just made my day!
Sexy!
My favorite pieces are the chairs in the living room, the sofa in the den and the vintage Paul Evans credenza under the TV!
The bathroom sink is to die for - it's pretty much my dream sink and goes so well with the tiles and marble; love those prewar details. Speaking of details, those owl bookends and the dog statue are cute too, and LOL at MC Hammer making an appearance! Nice job, guys! Any info on the painting over the fireplace and the photo (?) over the sofa?
Love the apartment, but REALLY loved the musing over the fish commiting suicide. Had a bowl jumper, did you? There are just some questions we'll never know the answer to...
Beautifully and carefully curated! Dodecahedron bookends?! Be still my heart.
Thanks for sharing. So rich warm and cozy -- yet totally fun.
Guys, please say more about the lamps in images 9 and 14.
Lovely place. Maybe the fish didn't want to be a display piece? I kid....
At first I thought the cultural artifacts seemed a bit too deliberate, but then I realized I have very similar things--including the Clinton nutcracker, odd or funky bookends, and little bits of lucy and ricky etc. in my apt. I call them my "grownup toys."
Love the furniture and placement. It's not crowded, but it's a great mix of both upscale and affordable. Definitely looks like a fun place for cocktail parties.
I love the stuffed bear and rabbit on the bed.
Love every detail and I want to walk around taking a closer look and sipping some of that Zwack. I'm curious to taste that and inspect the art over the sofa.
Love the eclectic mix. The living room is absolutely fabulous.
Fantastic apartment.
The colors are beautiful. The light in your apartment must be incredible if this was how it looked on a cloudy day.
I found a set of Edward Wormley for Dunbar slipper chairs at an estate sale in Brookside almost 20 years ago. They are still my favorite chairs. Your coffee table would be a fabulous addition.
I love the little reading nook with the enticing view.
Congratulations!
I love the Hilary Clinton nutcracker and the painting! :)
Love the orange front door and the photo collage. The ram's head- not so much.
West Village pre-war apartment is hot in the summer. How about an air conditioner in the window?
Oh my, the chairs in front of the fire place are to DIE for.
So perfect!
WOW! What a place. So many fantastic details. So stylish and inviting. A definite fave!
i love this place, and im event more in love with that picture over the couch i wish i could see it better
That nutcracker is offensive. Are the home owners tea baggers? Shame on AT for posting such a sexist item.
I came back to study the perfection of this apt some more. The ram head is in another post, Nik111.
I do wonder about the fish. Because they are fighting fish, I guess seeing each other would contribute to stress. Don't know the range of vision they experience.
@Jason Moreland, it looks like a happy gay home to me. I think the Hillary tool is meant as a witty homage.
You might want to read Sontag on camp: http://interglacial.com/~sburke/pub/prose/Susan_Sontag_-_Notes_on_Camp.html
This place is giving me a really good vibe. I could live here. Seriously, can I live here?
Although there are many beautiful and interesting pieces, I felt frustrated by all the tight shots. I could not get a sense of the overall look of the kitchen or bathroom. And seeing the cozy, elegant esthetic in the living room made me even more interested in the rest of the place.
I agree with gingergirl. I would have loved to see the space in its entirety (more full room shots) rather than close ups of specific items/areas. To me, house tours aren't about the items you own, rather how you are able to take all those things and put them together as a whole to make a space unique, comfortable, interesting, etc.
The kitchen and bath looked beautiful, really wish I had been able to see them.
@Jason Moreland, "tea baggers" maybe ;)
I thought Hillary just had fringed out slacks on her pantsuit. Great space, classic, hammertime!
The gray living room I find so soothing. I'm a Big Fan of monochromatic. The mini fish tanks are great but a picture of a door knob? really?
Jason, I think MSNBC has trained you well.
Love. love. love!
Can someone please tell me where you take old metal desk to be stripped like the one in the house tour? I want it!
Like the space, LOVE the art collection. It's certainly well documented, isn't it?
Where's the house, for god's sake? These tour shots are nothing more than a collection of vignettes. Shame on AT that prevent us from actually seeing the "big picture"!
I love the curtains/window treatments/drapery (not sure what the preferred term is these days) in every room - I can't pick a favorite. I also like the art in every room. This is the sophisticated home that I wish that I had... well done. :)
Please Hammer, don't hurt 'em! Awesome!!!
a possible answer to the reason behind your betta's death. i think it was a fatal accident rather than a suicide. bettas are jumpers and have been told not to fill their bowls with water so close to the top to prevent the fish from getting carried away in their exuberance. apparently, they need more surface area to swim back and forth rather than vertical space.
glamorous home, btw.
**I** have been told. oops.
Very chic. Great bamboo wallpaper.
way too many vignettes, however,
OMG THIS IS PERFECT. its rare that my heart starts pumping looking thru house tours on here anymore, thinking, "oh my god oh my god i want this so badly"
but, I WANT THIS SO BaDLY! im obsessed with that little window bar and seat in the kitchen and the wall treatment and curtains in the office. inspiration file for sure.
Awesome place. I love the quirky funny things you have around.
Oh and I KNOW about the fish thing. I've had a couple of betas. They LOVE fresh oxygen and will often come to the surface for real air (can breath out of water). I think they get curious and he probably fell out. I saved my roommates fish once, looked over and saw him toppling out and quickly scooped him up before my dog got too close! My beta (Tofu) would always get out of the water (no seriously) and lay ON TOP of his castle. He was at work with me and people would come over to talk to me and be like 'ummmm your fish' thinking he was dead and I would say, he's fine, just sleeping. I would tap the side to wake him up and he would jump back into the water. Betas are curious little cusses! I think he just went too far and if you weren't there to save him, he pretty much screwed himself!! LOVE BETAS!! I need to get another. I miss you Tof!
Am the furthest thing from a "tea-bagger" and I LOVED the Hilary nutcracker. I'd like to think she would, too.
Very much enjoyed the house tour. But would've appreciated fewer vignettes and more big-picture pictures.
Really enjoyed touring this amazing home. That Neptune head lamp is very cool, and I like MC and HC!