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What Happens When Rafael de Cárdenas Falls for a Medieval Floral Pattern?
Architect and interior designer Rafael de Cárdenas embarked on a unique project for long-time clients, transforming a six-story Upper East Side brownstone in New York City. The clients, a large blended family returning from Texas, granted de Cárdenas considerable creative freedom, allowing him to deviate from his typical design aesthetic. While his previous work often features clean lines, noble materials, sculptural furniture, and influences from 1980s glamour and 1990s minimalism, this project drew inspiration from a much older source: a 15th-century medieval floral pattern.
De Cárdenas discovered this block-printed floral motif in an antique book and became determined to incorporate it into the design, aiming for a historical feel without being overly thematic. This pattern became the foundational element for the dining room, which in turn influenced the rest of the house. The dining room features a custom faux-parchment table, an Osanna Visconti console resembling bronze vines, a 1950s Paavo Tynell chandelier with botanical details, and 1930s Jules Leleu chairs upholstered in pink Sabina Fay Braxton fabric with custom Lesage embroidery. This ornate and layered approach extends to an adjacent bar area, installed in a previously unused first-floor landing. The bar showcases a moody burnt-orange lacquered ceiling, an Aubusson-style wall covering by Pierre Frey, and an oak bar with a Calacatta Vagli marble countertop.
Beyond aesthetics, a significant part of the brief focused on enhancing functionality for the large, active family. De Cárdenas reconfigured smaller, purpose-built rooms on the lower ground floor into an open-plan eat-in kitchen, prioritizing increased light and a more airy feel. This kitchen features a light palette with a Calacatta Turquoise Antico marble island, ivory walls, spill-proof buttercream-hued vinyl on the banquette, and a custom dining table with 1960s Niels Koefoed chairs. Mirrored panels behind the banquette were added to reflect natural light from the garden-facing French doors, creating a vibrant family gathering space.
The upper floors transition to more intimate spaces. A cozy living room provides a setting for family gatherings, complete with a grand piano, a reflective metal coffee table by Vincenzo De Cotiis, and custom boucle and velvet sofas. Bedrooms for the teenage girls reflect their individual styles: one in a moody sage green, the other more whimsical with LoveShackFancy bed linens. A gender-neutral bedroom was designed for younger children with oyster linen upholstered walls, and the baby’s nursery offers a serene environment with mural-like wallpaper and a custom canopy. The parents' primary bedroom continues the soft palette with silk shantung wallcovering, a custom leather bed, and a brass-and-parchment chandelier.
The second-to-last floor houses a quiet office and den, where de Cárdenas returned to a style more characteristic of his previous work, featuring tactile chocolate brown millwork, a bent-steel coffee table by Maria Pergay, and a custom asymmetrical sofa. This area serves as a counterpoint to the softer, more romantic motifs prevalent elsewhere. The project allowed de Cárdenas to expand his design repertoire, resulting in a home that, while incorporating his established elements, ultimately presents a softer and more romantic aesthetic than his typical contemporary work.
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