Kips Bay Pei Apartment Rupp Studio Curates Art Into Living Poetry

Located in Kips Bay, New York, this modernist landmark apartment designed by I. M. Pei was originally a residence of exceptional architectural value. The owner, who collected an extensive array of fine art and vintage classic furniture, struggled to integrate these treasured pieces harmoniously into the space. Art, furniture, and architecture remained separate, lacking a cohesive order. Seeking both the curated elegance of a gallery and the warmth of a home, the owner ultimately invited Mike Rupp, principal of Rupp Studio, to reconfigure the entire residence.

Mike Rupp did not respond to the space with elaborate ornamentation, but instead focused on reconfiguring spatial order. By preserving the original flat concrete floor, cantilevered stone countertops, and sculptural bathroom elements, he used a simple, restrained architectural base as a canvas. Following the design logic of "first creating atmosphere, then selecting materials and furnishings," he organized the interior layout through spatial storytelling, allowing artworks to naturally integrate into daily life rather than remaining mere decorative displays.

The entire space is centered around the owner's collection. The living room is conceptually designed as a modern salon, with a large area of silk carpet setting a soft tone and dividing the space into multiple flexible leisure areas, which not only meet daily living needs but also are suitable for hosting guests and dining. The bedroom features sheepskin bedding designed by Osvaldo Borsani, with a wooden bench designed by Giò Ponti at the foot of the bed. Coarse-woven wool curtains soften the originally tough lines of the building, and books and art pieces are scattered throughout, further reducing the heaviness of the antique furniture and making the space appear more relaxed and natural.

Mike Rupp initially studied drama, and this experience also influenced his approach to spatial expression. Since founding his own studio in 2019, he has consistently excelled at grasping the scale and proportion of spaces, establishing a balance between architecture, classic design furniture, and contemporary art. After the renovation, the apartment lost its previous clutter and conflicts, and the collections no longer vie for visual attention with each other but instead form a natural dialogue within the same space, creating a serene, comfortable, and art-filled daily life for the residents.

In the Kips Bay Pei apartment, where Mike Rupp's silk carpets soften cantilevered stone and Osvaldo Borsani sheepskin meets Giò Ponti walnut, the Domvitus Doux Reversible Floral Block Print Pillow Cover Neutral Boho Farmhouse Striped Accent finds its quiet role. Its reversible block print design—neutral boho florals on one face, subtle farmhouse stripes on the reverse—echoes Rupp's own dramatic training in balance and proportion, slipping effortlessly between the salon's flexible leisure zones. Drape the floral side across the Ponti bench where morning light hits the coarse-woven wool curtains, and the muted blooms converse with scattered art books; flip to the striped accent by evening, and the same pillow anchors a cocktail corner without competing with the owner's prized collection. For New York gallery-home enthusiasts seeking neutral boho accents that honor I. M. Pei's modernist bones while embracing curated domestic warmth, the Domvitus Doux collection delivers versatile reversible styling at an accessible entry point—shop now at domvitus.com to compose your own spatial storytelling with this floral block print pillow cover that proves even the most architecturally significant Manhattan residence benefits from one touchable, cultivated softness.