When Anna Zaoui decided to revamp her family's pied-à -terre in Manhattan—a three-bedroom apartment overlooking Central Park—she didn't have a specific style or color scheme in mind. However, there was one thing she was adamant about: it had to be designed by Pierre Yovanovitch. "Initially, he told me he had too much on his plate in France," recalls Zaoui, co-founder of the online design gallery The Invisible Collection. "But I thought, 'It’s him or no one,' so I went back to see him, and eventually, he agreed." Yovanovitch has become one of the most sought-after designers globally. His interiors, blending subtlety and drama, elegance and irreverence, epitomize a new kind of French art de vivre.
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Upon visiting Zaoui’s apartment—a 30th-floor penthouse in a renovated condo on Manhattan’s Upper West Side—Yovanovitch was immediately struck by the breathtaking views of Central Park. Yet, he also noted that the current layout failed to capitalize on these vistas. His redesign involved a complete overhaul of the space, including opening new doorways to create an enfilade that highlights specific windows, merging the study and dining room into a large multifunctional area, and darkening the entrance to make the sunlit living room and its panoramic views all the more striking.
"You walk through a hallway with black metal walls, and as soon as you step into the living room, there's this very clean, very neutral atmosphere," explains the designer. "We created different sequences within the apartment, different moments; it's like uncovering a story." Contrast is central to Yovanovitch's aesthetic philosophy. The unifying thread running through the home, he says, is a blend of serenity and intensity. In the main bedroom, for instance, his "Papa Bear" chairs, with their soft forms and plush shearling upholstery, stand alongside a bold, almost psychedelic cyan-and-black painting by Marc Quinn.
Zaoui and her husband, who divide their time between London and New York due to their children attending East Coast universities, appreciated Yovanovitch's concept of contrasts. "I wanted something that could reflect the energy of the city while still providing a tranquil, soothing sanctuary," she says. "Pierre Yovanovitch perfectly captured that balance." His designs truly embody a sophisticated yet inviting ambiance.
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