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The Healthful Apartment: A Wellness Expert Finds Serenity on the Lower East Side

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The Healthful Apartment: A Wellness Expert Finds Serenity on the Lower East Side

February 28, 2017

When fashion entrepreneur turned wellness expert Daphne Javitch moved into her apartment on New York’s Lower East Side with her husband Pali Xisto Cornelsen, she set about making it a sanctuary in the middle of Manhattan. “We’re both in touch with our mental/physical/emotional health, and so much of that is rooted and nurtured at home. We wanted a warm but minimal place, almost beachy,” she says. The key elements? Openness, natural materials, low-slung furniture, and lots of white. Here’s a look at their unexpectedly serene space, recently spotted on Rip & Tan.

Photography by Sarah Elliott, courtesy of Rip & Tan.

the open dining and living space. 17
Above: The open dining and living space.

Javitch and Cornelsen happened upon a rare find in New York City: a recently-renovated apartment that was already open and full of light. “The previous owner did the architectural renovation and I made mostly cosmetic changes when I moved in,” Javitch says, including painting, updating the kitchen and bath, swapping out fixtures, and adding built-ins over stand-alone furniture for a streamlined feel.

a custom built in sofa anchors the bright living room. 18
Above: A custom built-in sofa anchors the bright living room.

Cornelsen, a craftsman, designed and built the sofa that wraps around the living room. “The idea was to build a low, lounge-y seating area for watching movies with a projector, and to be able to have guests sleep over. That’s why it’s so deep,” he says. Filling an apartment living room with one large built-in might seem counterintuitive, but the couch’s low profile, neutral palette, and soft textures make the room feel expansive, not cramped.

a pierre jeanneret teak and cane armchair from cornelsen&#8\2\17;s col 19
Above: A Pierre Jeanneret teak and cane armchair from Cornelsen’s collection of midcentury chairs adds warmth and dimension.

Cornelsen built the sofa from layers of reclaimed pine. “I remember I was into layers at the time, stacks of materials that would create a structure. I wanted to build something that was casual and luxurious,” he says. To keep it from feeling monotonous, he topped the down-filled Spanish white linen cushions with three different sizes of pillows upholstered with three different shades of white.

javitch painted the brick walls with several coats of white paint &#8\2\20; 20
Above: Javitch painted the brick walls with several coats of white paint “to soften the brickness of it.” They left the wood beams exposed.
on the low coffee table are three vintage french vases, a gift from a friend. 21
Above: On the low coffee table are three vintage French vases, a gift from a friend.
even the exposed pipes in the loft style apartment are painted white. 22
Above: Even the exposed pipes in the loft-style apartment are painted white.

In the dining room, a natural fiber pendant lamp hangs above the table; for similar options, see Design Sleuth: 6 Summery Natural Fiber Pendant Lights.

 leather sling dining chairs with swatches of fur add texture. 23
Above: Leather sling dining chairs with swatches of fur add texture.
javitch transformed the small kitchen into a bright workspace. 24
Above: Javitch transformed the small kitchen into a bright workspace.

Though the kitchen was in good shape with new appliances, it was mostly black—the opposite of what Javitch was going for. “It had glossy black cabinets and black granite countertops, so I tore everything out and had custom shelves and a butcher block island installed,” she says.

two low profile bulbs tucked between beams provide overhead lighting. 25
Above: Two low-profile bulbs tucked between beams provide overhead lighting.
 open shelves in place of overhead cabinets make the small space feel open 27
Above: Open shelves in place of overhead cabinets make the small space feel open and display the couple’s favorite ceramics from their travels.
the couple&#8\2\17;s ceramics collection. 28
Above: The couple’s ceramics collection.

Javitch and Cornelsen keep favorite kitchen items—”the pieces from Astier de Villatte that we received as wedding gifts, our typical Brazilian bar glasses, and a few random items from our trips to Mexico”—within reach. A mostly-white palette and plenty of empty space between stacks keep shelves from feeling cluttered.

built in shelves replace freestanding bookshelves and create a display shelf fo 29
Above: Built-in shelves replace freestanding bookshelves and create a display shelf for art and favorite objects. Long uninterrupted shelves feel expansive rather than cramped.
the all white bedroom gets a burst of color with one of javitch&#8\2\17;s d 30
Above: The all-white bedroom gets a burst of color with one of Javitch’s dresses on display.
an idea to steal: chair as pared down display. 31
Above: An idea to steal: chair as pared-down display.
javitch keeps a few wellness essentials by the bed: a candle and long matc 32
Above: Javitch keeps a few wellness essentials by the bed: a candle and long matches. A sleep mask hangs from a vintage accordion wall lamp from Orange Furniture in LA.
built in shelves hold everyday necessities. 33
Above: Built-in shelves hold everyday necessities.
the serene bath. 34
Above: The serene bath.

Like the kitchen, the bath was in need of an update when Javitch and Cornelsen moved in. “It was two small rooms with a heavy granite tub, shower, and sink counter,” Javitch says. The couple completely renovated the space, designed a new shower, and installed a Waterworks tub. The layered rugs are from Double Knot in NYC’s TriBeCa neighborhood.

the white painted flooring has radiant heat. the stool is from john d 35
Above: The white-painted flooring has radiant heat. The stool is from John Derian. (See Bathroom of the Week: John Derian’s Homage to Old Cape Cod.)
wellness essentials next to the sink. &#8\2\20;we also have amazing towels  36
Above: Wellness essentials next to the sink. “We also have amazing towels from a hotel in Oaxaca,” Javitch says.
a spa like vignette on a windowsill. 37
Above: A spa-like vignette on a windowsill.
javitch at home. 38
Above: Javitch at home.

When it comes to wellness in the home, Javitch says simplicity is key: “I feel at ease in a pared-down, clean, and cozy environment,” she says. “But the most important thing is to create positive experiences and laugh a lot in your home.”

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