When Kate Upton and Justin Verlander called upon designer John Ruggiero to turn their uptown NYC penthouse into a home, John called upon ILevel to help put on the finishing touches. The result? An Architectural Digest Open Door feature that’s as stunning as it is personal.
Chic as Hell: The Design Vision
The apartment began as an all-white blank slate overlooking Central Park. Ruggiero set out to make the space “chic as hell” and deliver on the couple’s vision of color, art, and elegance.
He limewashed the living room walls pink, painted the kitchen cabinetry a deep shamrock green, and transformed the dining room into an Old Hollywood-inspired room in deep blackberry. Custom furniture, floral wallpaper, wainscoting, ornate ceiling details, and rich gold velvet curtains all came together to make a once-bare apartment feel like it had been lived in for decades.
“You can look out at the city and enjoy the city, but you still feel like you’re in your own little world,” Verlander told AD.
Follow John’s Instagram for behind-the-scenes glimpses, custom furniture renderings, and a look at the design concepts he developed for the family throughout the process.
Photos: Gieves Anderson / Architectural Digest
How ILevel Works Alongside Interior Designers
Working in lock-step with John, ILevel was called in to de-install the existing artwork before the full renovation, then again to reinstall everything, hang new pieces, and make the kind of small adjustments that bring a space to completion.
At one point that meant re-hanging a painting a few inches higher to accommodate a new piece of custom furniture. Small details, but they matter when a designer has been this deliberate about every element of a room.
Here’s a look at the installation layout throughout the apartment:
- Entryway
- The entry sets the tone of the apartment immediately. An El Anatsui sculpture installed above a custom bench anchors the entry, alongside a flea market photo collage John sourced himself and an entryway mirror.
- Living Room
- A large-scale painting commands the room, balanced by a sculptural branch mirror above the fireplace, a smaller painting, and a large tapestry.
- Screening Room
- A sculptural piece on custom brackets (60″ x 60″) and a New York vignette artwork give the room personality and focus.
- Primary Bedroom
- A painting above the fireplace brings the light into the most private room in the home.
- Kate’s Office
- A mirror, placed to reflect both light and the surrounding design.
- Hallway
- Three large pieces running the length of the hall, continuing the flow of the space.
Beyond these key rooms, multiple additional art pieces and mirrors were placed throughout the home, each chosen to complement rather than compete with Ruggiero’s comprehensive design.
What It's Like to Work with a Designer on a Project Like This
Working alongside an interior designer on a project of this scale isn’t just about hanging pictures. It’s about being a reliable, adaptable partner throughout a process that unfolds over time.
For this project, that meant scheduling around an active renovation, communicating closely with the design team as the project evolved, and being ready to make in-the-moment adjustments when the space called for it. The art doesn’t overwhelm the rooms here. Each piece plays lightly with everything around it, which is exactly how it should feel when installation is done right.
This is how ILevel works with interior designers on important projects for their closest clients. If you’re a designer working on something special, we’d love to hear from you.
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