Fashion Designer Brian Atwood’s Manhattan Apartment Has Velvet Wallpaper—On the Ceiling

Shoe designer Brian Atwood and husband Jake Deutsch feel like they live in “a glass box in the sky.”

Along with their two dogs, Zeffirelli and Tiberius, the couple recently moved into the 64th floor of the massive Hudson Yards development in Manhattan, and showed off their sky-high digs to Architectural Digest. The luxe accommodations feature incredible views stretching up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge, “then all the way over to the Chrysler Building and the New Yorker building. And then even downtown, because of the building’s curve, to the Freedom Tower,” says Atwood of their towering oasis high in the clouds. 

Because the whole apartment feels like glass walls and loft-like ceilings, the couple said they wanted to make it as cozy and intimate as possible. They filled the space with fashion photographs, vintage furniture, and sculptural art, all part of Atwood’s decades of collecting items from his travels. 

In the foyer, black-and-white palm jungle wallpaper hits guests with a “wow” factor, which continues in the oversized living room, where walls of floor-to-ceiling glass windows allow the glowing light of the city to stream in amid ample seating and  oversized plants. In the dining area, a vintage table and chairs allowed seated guests to get a full view of the skyline from one side of the table, and the vibrant gallery wall of photographs on the other.

The sophisticated kitchen area includes a wet bar, which originally served as a TV-watching nook. But the couple chose to transform it into a stylish oversized island with stools, and accents like vintage Baccarat crystal stemware and vintage Gucci sterling-silver rope bar goblets. There’s also a guest bedroom, which was converted into a “man cave” of sorts, complete with rich blue walls and ceiling, a color-blocked bookshelf and even a citrus tree.

The bedroom embodies urban sophistication, with a modern bed and wall of floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the city skyline. 

“We wanted our bedroom to feel like a jewel box, and we decided to use a custom velvet wallpaper not only on the walls but on the ceiling too,” said Atwood. The couple completed the room with a Guy Bordain image of a woman hanging over their bed. While it may not be the most traditional pick, they said it’s simply intriguing. 

“Most everybody has something that’s serene above their bed—a big horse head or a landscape,” said Deutsch. “We went for this bold image of this chick leaning over and sexy. And by the way, we’re not even straight, but it’s just exciting!” 

While the property started off as what they call a “very blank canvas,” the couple managed to put their own personal touch on it. “We’re good to collaborate. We both have the same perspective,” said Deutsch. 

See more over at Architectural Digest.