Page 57 - Reside Magazine Lusk Associates

Reside — Spring 2025

Left: Barrel-vault ceiling and sliding
panels in deep blue, slate gray
and marbled patterning add character
to the Quarry Loft library
Below left: Rich colors and textures
create a warm presence in the library
Stefani Stein designed for actor
Samira Wiley’s home

of a California residence for actor Samira Wiley, writer Lauren Morelli and Well-aged legacy
their growing family, a generous three-seater sofa is the central feature of the
classically styled library. LA-based designer Stefani Stein set the statement
piece of furniture in a nook, surrounded by bespoke joinery painted in a deep When Tuscan stonemason Samuele
green with a gloss finish, and filled with books and decorative objects. A large Sebastiani moved to California in
artwork behind and wall-mounted lamps with pleated fabric lampshades 1895, he mined the Sonoma Hills
make a clear invitation to linger and enjoy the space. A low coffee table set up for the cobblestones used to build
for playing chess or board games also marks this room out as a place for the the streets of San Francisco. This
family to entertain guests or enjoy time together. venture earned him enough to
New York-based architect Frederick Tang has another theory about why buy the land on which he built the
we love to make books such a feature of our homes: to impress other people. Sebastiani Vineyards, creating
“Whenever I go to someone’s home, whether it’s for the first time or the twentieth, a winery that survives today.
I always spy on their shelves,” he says. “Book collections are the clearest Overlooking this piece of history
window into someone’s preoccupations and always an opportunity to establish is the five-acre Fleur de Lys estate,
the point of view of a space.” surrounded by century-old oaks
Quarry Loft, a New York apartment designed by Frederick Tang and previously owned by the
Architecture in 2022, features an adaptable library that can also function as winemaker’s descendants. This
a sitting room, guest room, office or entrance hall, thanks to a timber and 2,000 square foot home boasts
f luted glass sliding partition. It’s a light and contemporary rendition of both a chef’s kitchen with Italian
a classic library that makes the most of the small footprint. The white oak Breccia Medicea stone countertops
shelves are minimally arranged rather than stacked full, and the room’s and, in the cavernous basement,
barrel-vault ceiling does the job of lending the space its distinct character. a tasting room (with space for
In French designer Pierre Yovanovitch’s conversion of a quintessentially additional wine cellars). However,
Parisian apartment in 2024, the main hallway also functions as a library. it’s the library with its double-
It’s a nod both to the book collector who formerly owned the home and the height walls and bookshelves
Photos: © Giulio Ghirardi; Michael Sinclair; Gieves Anderson; Sam Frost. “Books always elevate a room,” says Tang. “On a purely visual level, a surface $12,995,000
aspirations of the couple now living there, who wanted to combine period charm
that is a standout feature of the
with a modern expression. Curved walls are fitted with slim bookshelves that
house—the perfect spot to enjoy
surround doorways, maximizing the capacity of the small space to store
reading with a glass of wine.
and display books. Much more than just a room to pass through, the library
features a playful ceiling fresco by artist Matthieu Cossé, a table by collectible
mid-century designer Jean Royère, and thick textured wood surfaces that
give it the feel of solidity.
In homes both contemporary and classical, the library is showing serious
staying power, helping us feel both grounded and connected to bigger ideas.

Property ID: 5FC3JT
of perfectly aligned spines becomes a living wallpaper. On an intellectual
sothebysrealty.com
Sotheby’s International Realty—Wine
level, a giant coffee table with big art catalogues and monographs projects
one’s curiosities and inspirations.” 0
Caroline Sebastiani
+1 415 290 3123
Riya Patel is a London-based editor, writer and curator
55 Country—Sonoma Brokerage