Take a tour of a modernist apartment in New York City. That's All There Is to It When It Comes to Brazilian Design!

When Bonobos founder Andy Dunn and his wife, Manuela Zoninsein, bought their three-bedroom apartment on the historic Great Jones Street in New York City, they recognized that having an open floor plan was essential. They both come from large families (hers Brazilian, his American, Indian, and Scandinavian) and like entertaining. Moving into a larger home with fewer walls made sense after welcoming their first child, Izzo, in October 2020. The couple turned to their trusty friend, New York interior designer Becky Shea, for help, and she did not disappoint. Shea, who also furnished the couple's former Greenwich Village apartment, says, "I built the layout with the primary goal of entertaining in mind." “Working with Becky on our previous home and again on this one was a lot of fun since she has a good feel of our aesthetic,” Zoninsein says. This second residence reflects that aesthetic, which includes a great admiration for Brazilian modernism. Glass, wood, and stone—all of which are traditional Brazilian design materials—are frequently used in the apartment to create basic and organic aspects. “Manuela was the driving force behind the interiors,” Shea says of her client, whose ancestry is particularly visible in the main room of the property. (In fact, Brazilian designers are responsible for 90% of the furniture in the residence.) “Every piece could stand alone and still be appreciated for its materiality and design,” Shea argues. Brazilian [craft] is notable for this kind of material and structure harmonization.” دليل

Whether it's salvaged wood on the dining table from their previous apartment or a passed-down piece of art in the room, Zoninsein like the idea of repurposing. “If you invest in something lovely, it may last a lifetime,” she observes. The fact that so many of the famous Brazilian pieces, such as the old sofas in the living room, are known to the Rio de Janeiro native is also comforting. With a giggle, she explains, "Everything you see...is something I saw and sat on as a child in Brazil."

Shea originally wanted to paint the entire apartment in that Brazilian modernist style, but she changed her mind about Dunn's den, which she characterizes as "a weird, cool acid trip." The design inspiration for his little corner changed away from Brazil and toward the United States (particularly, the Old World–inspired hotels of midtown Manhattan). “I really wanted to feel like I was in a library like the one at the NoMad New York,” says the author. "I've always felt that when you move into a new property, it doesn't seem like home until the books go up," Dunn observes. Shea traveled to the NoMad Hotel in Manhattan to study every component of its design, from the soft-to-the-touch textures on the sofas to the gloomy hues on the walls, and put her own spin on the worldly, masculine space. Dunn reflects, "You really get the impression of being in a warm and pleasant setting." Plus “all of the colors of the books absolutely pop.”

What the couple loves most about their new home, though, is the narrative behind it. “They are romantics and storytellers,” Shea readily confesses. Dunn and Zoninsein were very intentional in every decision they made because they wanted to feel linked to each and every piece. “I always want to tell people the complete story of where we acquired things, but I have to hold back,” Zoninsein adds with a grin. “Every element is incredibly personal to us, and that was the point.” Indeed.