A Masterclass in Urban Living
New York-based Gachot Studios is led by husband-and-wife team John and Christine Gachot, whose unique, expressive approach offers fresh ways to think about contemporary urban living.
The studio’s core values of simplicity, elegance and acute attention to detail have developed over the years as the duo have crafted a consistent yet customisable throughline in their projects. As Christine explains, “we always tend to gravitate towards a warm but neutral base palette… I think what’s successful is that core group of colours and key furniture pieces. Then you start to add in a little bit of the fun along the way, and that changes from home to home.”
Their design philosophy has been honed through personal projects in several neighbourhoods in New York, including a loft on Bond Street in Soho and Beekman Place, a historic 1850s townhouse updated by renowned architect Paul Rudolph as his personal home. In this modernist Manhattan apartment, the studio sought to honour Rudolph’s vision while infusing the space with their own preference for contemporary comfort.
Layering materials and fabrics was central to creating a sense of ease and softness. “Mixing textures is really important, never being too consistent, but you also have to know what you’re using things for,” says John. Durable Indian sisal was the “lynchpin” for the couple when it came to softening the Rudolph home, yet it also allowed them to add contrast with finer materials such as timeless silks and velvets.
John notes that while there are many voluminous, old-world apartments on the Upper East Side, the existing architecture doesn’t have to drive the design. “You don’t have to be locked into the architectural style of the apartment,” he says. “They’re a backdrop for contemporary living, and I think we’ve tried to layer into that to make it feel different.” For the pair, creating a space for a client to fill with their own memories and collections is paramount. “Giving people a good backdrop for them to curate their lives moving forward is just as important.”
Colour is key to bringing life and vivacity to interiors. In their Carriage House project, the team modernised an historic carriage house with saturated hues and playful patterns. “We layered backwards a little bit and started with these really bright, lush colours,” says Christine. “When you’re dealing with a double-height space, it’s good to have those colours connect.” The base palette remained very grounding and neutral, while off-shoots of colour – such as deep aubergines and cerulean blues – were brought in through the furniture and in more contained areas such as the bathroom.
In their hospitality projects like Pebble Bar in Manhattan, they aim to bring a residential sensibility to commercial spaces through clever use of colour and experimentation with materials. “A lot of this space was meant to feel like a home, so we didn’t want it to feel too commercial and store-bought,” says John. Christine adds, “it’s really soft, very textural, lots of warm colours.” They suggest choosing robust materials for high-use surfaces such as bar tops and floor tiles, which can also add visual interest. “As it gets more beat up and abused, it actually gets more beautiful. It has variation in it,” notes John.
Throughout their work, Christine’s expertise in hospitality and John’s experience in residential has “cross-pollinated”, allowing them to develop fresh and exciting perspectives on urban living.
This series is brought to you by Fisher & Paykel.
