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Wendy Goodman’s Most-Read Stories of 2025
This article, written by Wendy Goodman, Curbed and New York Magazine’s design editor, compiles her most-read "Great Rooms" stories from 2025, highlighting innovative interior design and clever solutions in diverse New York residences. The common theme across these popular features is the ingenuity of homeowners in maximizing their living spaces, whether modest or grand. From compact studios to sprawling estates, the selections showcase a range of design approaches and personal styles.
One featured story details Claude-Noëlle Toly’s transformation of her 275-square-foot Bleecker Street studio into a private oasis, reminiscent of Avignon. Another entry highlights Charles FitzGerald and Kathy Cerick's creation of a cabin-like dwelling in the heart of St. Marks Place, emphasizing their use of reclaimed wood and hands-on renovation. Amy Sedaris's guest apartment in the West Village is also included, originally envisioned as a "department store" aesthetic but ultimately evolving into a whimsical "tree house" for friends, complete with a "full-tilt gingham" bedroom and a surprise in the fireplace.
An exception to the trend of small-space innovation is the inclusion of a grand mansion in the Hamptons, known as the "Port of Missing Men." This story explores how an 85-year-old countess manages a vast 600-acre estate, dating back to the 1920s, by giving each room a distinct theme and allowing her children to use them freely, sometimes even for "ghost parties." The article notes a family anecdote about sightings of a friendly, albeit lost, little girl in the expansive property.
Other notable residences in the list include an L.A. couple's Greenwich Village pied-à-terre, which was opened up by architect Andrew Franz, and a Hudson Valley log cabin that designer Jake Szymanski, initially reluctant due to his childhood in a similar home, transformed. Fernando Santangelo, a designer with a talent for restoring properties, is featured for his work on a West Village railroad apartment, filled with treasures from his travels. A Soho loft belonging to a young couple showcases a home gallery designed by Maurizio Bianchi Mattioli, featuring custom millwork, furniture, and rugs, all to accommodate their growing art collection. The apartment of supermodel Susan Forristal in a parlor apartment on East 10th Street is presented as a tribute to a past era of downtown glamour. The list also includes John Derian’s apartment, which reflects the same "fairy-tale aesthetic" as his shops, filled with papier-mâché birds, découpage, antiques, and items from Parisian flea markets, all contributing to a whimsical and curated environment.
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