Athena calderone's hotel hopping: how global stays shaped her stunning tribeca apartment

Studio Athena Calderone founder Athena Calderone traded Brooklyn minimalism for a richer, more worldly aesthetic in her new Tribeca apartment—inspired by a series of stylish hotel stays across the globe. The renovation, undertaken while she traversed the world, revealed a distinct evolution in Calderone's design sensibility.

Vienna's echo: sacher hotel

Stepping into her Tribeca space, Calderone was struck by a feeling reminiscent of Vienna, a city she hadn't even visited at the time. A year later, she fulfilled this intuition, immersing herself in Vienna’s art and architecture, particularly the works of Klimt, Loos, and Hoffmann. The iconic Sacher Hotel became a key source of inspiration, with its intricate details—from the saturated hues of the Blaue Bar to the decadent gold elevator—imprinted on her design vision. Every surface, every element, whispered of a bygone era.

Rome's timeless grandeur: palazzo talìa

Rome’s Palazzo Talìa, a 16th-century palazzo flawlessly preserved with contemporary flair, offered a study in the fusion of past and present. The grandeur of the Aula Magna, with its ancient frescoes and marble flooring, resonated deeply. Calderone appreciated the intimate scale of the hotel – just 26 rooms – allowing for a sense of history to permeate every corner. The hotel’s ability to blend historical weight with modern comfort evidently informed the overall mood of her Tribeca residence.

Parisian discovery: cour des vosges

The Cour des Vosges in Paris sparked a journey of discovery. Calderone embraced a slow approach, allowing herself to absorb the hotel's blend of historic architecture and modern design. Dusty mauves and pastel blues punctuated architectural moldings and antique furniture, creating an atmosphere of opulent understatement. The experience reinforced her belief in the power of unhurried observation and the beauty of layered design—qualities now apparent in her own home.

Serene kyoto: six senses

A visit to Six Senses in Kyoto proved life-altering. The hotel’s reverence for natural materials, neutral palettes, and clean lines—echoes of the Nanzen-ji Temple and Katsura Imperial Villa—provided a welcome antidote to overstimulation. The deliberate gestures of intimacy and serenity found their way into her design choices, particularly in The Atelier, and future projects. The quietude was a revelation.

New york's intimate sophistication: the twenty two

Back in New York, The Twenty Two delivered a dose of understated elegance. Rich woods, deep velvets, and moody lighting created an atmosphere both layered and luxurious. The hotel’s restaurant, Café Zaffri, with its artisanal wall coverings and Levantine cuisine, proved a particular highlight. It was a study in how history and modern living can harmonize.

Venetian dreams: the gritti palace

The Gritti Palace in Venice transported Calderone to a sensory fairytale. The grand wrought-iron staircase, ancient marble floors, and dramatic silk drapery evoked a bygone era. It's a place where the city’s bustle fades, replaced by a sense of timeless grandeur. The feeling of being enveloped in history—a feeling she sought to replicate in her own home—is palpable.

Milanese refinement: portrait milano hotel

The Portrait Milano Hotel exemplified architectural restraint and curated detail. Every hue, every material felt deliberate, embodying a distinctly Milanese refinement. The hotel's tactile and timeless aesthetic became a core element of Calderone’s own design philosophy. It’s about quality over quantity.

Calderone's journey through these hotels wasn’t just a vacation; it was a meticulous study in design, a process of distillation that resulted in a Tribeca apartment brimming with personality and global influence. The result? A home that feels both deeply personal and exquisitely informed.

The apartment serves as a testament to the power of travel to shape not just our perspectives, but the very spaces we inhabit.