This New York Sanctuary Embraces Iranian Heritage

In 2022, Danielle Schwartz and Guillermo Castello founded Elmo Studios, a design firm riffing the last two letters of their surnames. Castello, originally from Barcelona, later relocated to Canada, while Schwartz is a lifelong New Yorker. The two met while pursuing their master’s degrees in architecture at Yale University and discovered a shared affinity for timeless, sophisticated design. Initially focused on hospitality and retail projects, the duo gradually expanded into residential.

“Designing a home is much more intimate,” notes Castello. That intimacy defined a recent commission: a full renovation of a Hudson Square condo for a first-time homeowner and mutual friend. “Our client wanted her Iranian heritage and love of eclectic art objects to shine,” explains Schwartz.

Elmo Studios Makes A New York Condo Shine

The 2,000-square-foot, two-bedroom dwelling had strong bones, with a gracious layout, five-foot-wide hallways, and expansive windows framing the Hudson River and Freedom Tower. Yet its developer-grade finishes were dated and impersonal. “It simply lacked soul,” recalls Schwartz, who, along with Castello, sought to create a refuge for their client. They envisioned a home rooted in mid-century principles, blending contemporary minimalism with traditional details. “There isn’t one defining style,” Schwartz says. “That’s what makes it special.”

As both interior architects and designers, Schwartz and Castello relished the opportunity to reimagine the space in three dimensions. “We like making holistic changes, from cradle to grave,” Castello explains. In the kitchen, they refined the layout for better flow, added concealed storage, installed custom oak cabinetry, and wrapped the counters and waterfall island in honed Calacatta Vagli marble.

Mid-century Style Blends With Contemporary Minimalism In This Abode

The interiors reflect a curated mix of eras and influences, resulting in a layered, lived-in aesthetic. In the entryway, Elisabeth von Wrede’s artwork hangs above a 19th-century Swedish Allmoge farmer’s bench, paired with a sleek travertine console from RH. The palette is restrained and elemental, perfectly backdropping the client’s cherished objets and art collection.

Introducing a historic Persian rug into the scheme was paramount, recall the architects, who scoured antique vendors online and throughout New York before scoring an antique hand-knotted wool Kerman rug. “Our intent was to magnify and celebrate the history embodied in the piece,” says Schwartz.” Hence, the pictorial weave hangs in the primary bedroom like a tapestry, while a deep green silk rug grounds Elmo Studios’ custom bed. Here, the walls and ceilings are drenched in a custom lime plaster, its soft hue balancing rich furnishings, like Arje’s elemental walnut and shearling chair.

The reconfigured study also nods to their client’s heritage, where six prints from her personal collection of The Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, a Persian epic, grace the wall in custom floating frames across from her desk. The living room, appointed with low-profile, feminine furnishings, eclectic bric-a-brac, and a mix of wood, ceramic, and copper notes, has Tanguy Tolila’s serene artwork above a custom steel and leather media console. A nylon silk broadloom rug centers Louise Liljencrantz and KFK Cabinet-Makers’s walnut Cloud table; Trapeze sconces by Apparatus add dimension.

Now, their client entertains frequently, cooking meals for friends and hosting guests in her study-turned-guestroom. At sunset, golden light washes over the harmonious abode, offering respite from the bustling city below. “It’s her sanctuary,” concludes Schwartz.

Elmo Studios Crafts A Peaceful Sanctuary In The Heart Of The City