The light of New York

A view of Manhattan, lots of plants and one-of-a-kind creations, in the flat of the model Martha Hunt

The model Martha Hunt, brand ambassador of Bulgari, and her fiancé, photographer Jason McDonald, had already chosen a two-bedroom flat in Tribeca four years ago, and had begun to decorate it. But then, during a visit to the studio of Giancarlo Valle, something clicked. Speaking of the designer of AD100, Hunt says «at first I went to him for chairs, and then it all began».

Room after room, Valle performed his magic: opening a wall, creating a layout, inventing one-offs, from an oval TV cabinet in dark red to Donald Judd-type shelves in verdigris copper. «I sent him images of things I had and things I adore», Hunt recalls. «The ceramics were very important». Her collection included vases by John Born, a flowerpot by Eny Lee Parker, a floor lamp by Carmen D’Apollonio. «The lamp looks like it has scoliosis», Martha points out, a condition that has been with her since her teen years, about which she works to raise awareness. «Maybe that’s why I chose it». Valle added works by Matt Merkel Hess and a custom table in bronze and ceramic created in collaboration with Natalie Weinberger.

When Hunt requested a lime-base coating for the walls of her bedroom («it improves air quality»), Valle chose a sage green hue to go with the pumpkin-color sofa by Mario Bellini. She suggested a semi-circular sofa for the studio, and Valle came up with two J-shaped designs in rough bouclé, placing their ivory tone against the plaster walls by Kamp Studios, triggering the sensation of being seated on a cloud.

The apartment has become a sort of personal set, a backdrop for photo shoots and Instagram campaigns, like the one created in February for the Tribeca Film Festival, sponsored by Bulgari.

«I was guided by the ceiling fresco: the cobalt cloaks of the angels set the tone,and the form of the painting suggested the large oval headboard in cherry»