A Designer’s Own Home Filled with Art, Objects and Charm (House Tour)

Why It Matters

The video illustrates how personal storytelling and texture‑focused design can shape consumer tastes, positioning designers as lifestyle curators and driving demand for bespoke, experience‑driven interiors.

Key Takeaways

• Home blends pre‑war architecture with contemporary textures and custom pieces.
• Designer sources items from travel, thrift markets, and art galleries.
• Layered fabrics—velvet, silk, linen—create rich tactile experience throughout.
• Large earth‑toned photograph anchors living room’s narrative and personal story.
• Chelsea location offers daily dog walks, gallery visits, culinary inspiration.

Summary

Matt McKay, a New York‑based interior designer, opens his Chelsea loft to reveal a personal sanctuary that merges pre‑war architecture with contemporary design. The building, a 1920s cooperative, retains original plaster, wooden beams and a historic fireplace, which McKay preserves while introducing modern furnishings.

The tour highlights his design philosophy: layering textures, sourcing unique pieces from travel, thrift markets and galleries, and crafting custom furniture to fit the space. Velvet, silk, linen, and mohair fabrics dominate the bedroom and living areas, while a marble‑topped dining table and bespoke chairs showcase his craftsmanship. A striking earth‑toned photograph serves as a focal point, echoing his narrative‑driven approach.

McKay emphasizes storytelling, noting, “Every object has a story, and I wanted the apartment to reflect my journey.” He describes the home as a “hotel‑like retreat” that balances the city’s bustle with warmth, aided by daily walks with his dog Squid and visits to local art shows.

The tour underscores a growing trend where designers curate personal spaces as brand extensions, influencing client expectations and market demand for bespoke, texture‑rich interiors.

Original Description

A designer’s own home filled with art, objects and charm unfolds within a pre-war apartment in Chelsea, New York City, where interior designer Matt McKay creates a richly layered and deeply personal retreat. Set within the historic London Terrace building, the residence reflects both the architectural character of the 1920s and a contemporary approach to living, balancing tradition with an expressive interior narrative. Known for its proximity to galleries and the High Line, the neighbourhood informs a lifestyle shaped by culture, routine and quiet observation.

This home draws heavily on the idea of escape, reimagining the apartment as a space that feels akin to a boutique hotel suite. Rather than resisting the original architectural features, the design embraces them – from the fireplace to the exposed ceiling beams – allowing these elements to anchor the space in its pre-war identity. Against this backdrop, a designer’s own home filled with art, objects and charm emerges through a curated layering of textures, materials and furnishings that shift the atmosphere toward something more intimate and immersive.

Materiality plays a defining role throughout. Custom-designed furniture sits alongside collected objects, each contributing to a tactile and visual richness. Mohair, wool, cashmere, alpaca and linen are combined with intent, creating variation in both texture and tone. This deliberate contrast introduces warmth and depth, reinforcing the sense of comfort that underpins the home’s design direction. Wallpaper further enhances this effect, enveloping the living and sleeping spaces in a cocooning softness.

A designer’s own home filled with art, objects and charm is ultimately shaped by narrative. Each piece within the apartment carries a memory, whether sourced during travel or discovered locally. This approach transforms the home into more than a collection of furnishings; it becomes an archive of experiences. A large-scale photographic artwork in the living room exemplifies this sensibility, offering both a visual anchor and a conceptual reference that connects to broader artistic influences.

Departing from a more minimal aesthetic, the interior reflects a willingness to explore colour and layering in new ways. This evolution signals a shift toward greater personal expression, where comfort and individuality take precedence. A designer’s own home filled with art, objects and charm is not defined by a singular style but by the interplay of elements that together create a cohesive and inviting whole.

Through careful curation and an emphasis on storytelling, the apartment achieves a sense of authenticity that resonates beyond its physical dimensions. It stands as a reflection of its occupant’s perspective, where design becomes a vehicle for memory, emotion and daily ritual. In this way, a designer’s own home filled with art, objects and charm offers a considered approach to living, grounded in both place and personal history.

0:00 - Introduction to A Designer’s Own Home Filled with Art, Objects and Charm

0:54 - Daily Rituals & Home Inspiration

2:00 - Layering Texture & Custom Furnitures

3:04 - Embracing Richness Over Minimalism

3:46 - Proud Moments

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Photography by Stephen Kent Johnson.

Interior design by Matt McKay.

Filmed and edited by O&Co Homes.

Production by The Local Production.

Location: Chelsea, New York City, New York, United States

The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.

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