Arianna De Gasperis’ brownstone has a very British aesthetic and it’s blissfully peaceful and pared-back
STYLING Katja Greeff houses
LIVING ROOM
‘This is probably the most refined and elegant room in the house – and that was the goal while designing it,’ says Arianna.
DINING ROOM
This space may be pared-back but the walnut wood has a wonderful, nuanced moodiness to it.
KITCHEN
Arianna loves the neutral yet rich feel of the cabinetry’s olive hue.
home profile
Interior designer Arianna De Gasperis – founder of And Studio – and her husband. The couple have two dogs, Stewie and Ozzy.
A classic 1850s Victorian brownstone located in Jersey City, on American’s East Coast.
The ground floor comprises the entryway, living room, dining room, powder room and kitchen. On the first floor is the main bedroom and bathroom, a guest bedroom and bathroom and an office space.
Aalot of people buy historic homes and then take away the characterof what used to be there,’ says Arianna De Gasperis. The interior designer, however, did the complete opposite for her own home in Jersey City’s Van Vorst Park. From Canada and with Italian origins, Arianna studied at Parsons School of Design in New York City where she decided to settle down and launch her practice, And Studio.
When it came to finding a home, she and her husband (and their two dogs) fell in love with a Queen Anne Victorian brownstone built in 1852. ‘We moved into the property in August 2019 and started the renovation at the end of February 2020, a week before the pandemic hit,’ Arianna remembers. While the transformation was taking shape, the couple lived in the garden apartment of the home, which allowed them to follow every step of the process closely. ‘The vision was to preserve and amplify the space’s character while layering in modern functionality and warmth,’ the interior designer says. To achieve what she wanted, she began by elevating many of the home’s original details, including the oak herringbone flooring, crown moulding, stained-glass windows and wooden staircase, while the walls – finished with textured diamond plaster – were done in collaboration with Jersey Ice Cream Company.
‘Inspired by the tactile utility of London townhouses, we sought to create a home that felt wholly authentic, a balance of nuanced detail and open space,’ Arianna says. The olive green kitchen now features a more functional layout and aesthetically English style with its Shaker details
