Sandy & Joe’s Bewitching Home

published May 12, 2010

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Name: Sandy Chilewich & Joe Sultan
Location: East 50’s, NYC
Size: 1,500 square feet — 2 ½ bedrooms
Years lived in: 4 years
Rent or Own: Own
Who else lives here? Our youngest son, Harry (15 years old)

This is the home that Chilewich built. If you don’t know Chilewich, here’s a quick rundown. After a successful career in fashion, Sandy Chilewich took her love for textiles and entered the design world. She first gained accolades with the now iconic Raybowls. Then, in a search for new materials, she discovered a woven vinyl that continues to inspire her over 10 years later.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The fabric turned out to be extremely functional. Modern yet durable, you can even wipe it down with a sponge. The corner stone of Chilewich are the famous rugs that can be found in stores and homes throughout the world. But the fabric is so dynamic she’s developed place settings, curtains, hand bags, pet mats — even iPhone cases.

Sandy and her husband/business partner Joe were so influenced by the Chilewich design that it literally caused them to move out of their prewar building. They wanted a new canvas to showoff just what Chilewich was all about. So they settled in their current residence — their home a literal showroom for the product. And just like the designs they create, their apartment is in a category all its own.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Apartment Therapy Survey

Our style: A minimal template to let objects, art and tchochkes shine.

Inspiration: Other people’s homes.

Favorite Elements: My glass shelving in the foyer where I like to showcase my collection of small items.

Biggest Challenge: Keeping it spare when I really want to buy more stuff.

What Friends Say: What I’ve heard most is that it’s “very warm for a modern place.”

Biggest Embarrassment: We don’t have a real guest bedroom. The den converts but without enough privacy. Even our older son, who has his own place, is forced to sleep on a sleeper couch, not ideal.

Biggest Indulgence: The glass shelves in the foyer…they were a fortune!

Best Advice: Take your time, which is something I have absolutely never done. I have always been rushed and can’t imagine the pleasure of looking at millions of options and dreaming about them. I’d like the luxury of changing my mind a few times before I commit to something!

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Other Inspiration
I think I need four or five homes to really satisfy all my points of view or some huge house where I could have so many rooms to express the different aspects of myself. I have two homes now, which includes our eclectic beach house on Fire Island where we have a lot of handmade items and our own art.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Thanks, Sandy & Joe!

Images: Adrian Wilson

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