Elements of the unexpected add nuance to every room, thanks to Elsesser’s honed eclecticism and curiosity. “I’m a collector,” she says. “I love Milanese design, but I also love North African ikats and Dogon statues and masks from Mali.” On a recent work trip to Morocco she scoured the souk for Tuareg mats. “I was never a model who would go to a new city, order the Bolognese in bed, and wait until the next shoot. I’m going to villas or design showrooms or museums.”
“In her years of working in fashion, she’s really trained her eye,” says Hodde. “She’s incredibly selective and can clearly communicate what she likes and what she doesn’t.” In the media room, for example, she wanted an animal-print sofa—but it had to be chic, and preferably not leopard. They landed on Schumacher’s Ze’bre Épinglé that set the tone for the sexy hangout, where cork-clad walls, a chinoiserie cocktail table, and a Nathalie Du Pasquier painting feel like a subtly femme riff on Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent’s Paris apartment.
From room to room, the vibe shifts, but, as Rockwell puts it, “they all harmonize.” Upstairs, Elsesser’s serene, hotel-like sleeping quarters lead to the crown jewel: a bathroom to rival all bathrooms, where marble, mirror, and walnut paneling combine to symphonic effect. Next door, the closet acts as its minimalist foil with slick cabinetry concealing her extensive clothing collection. “It’s just pure glamour,” says Rockwell, noting the Japanese Art Deco–inspired carpet and the silk pendant, with its custom Samuel & Sons tassel. “I mean, this is the closet of a supermodel.”
As Elsesser settles into her dream home, she’s taken time for reflection. “I feel like I became a woman here,” she admits. “I learned to navigate so many things—a breakup, a contractor, having agency over my decisions and my money. I’m under no one else’s jurisdiction. It’s scary, but also very freeing.”
Paloma Elsesser’s Brooklyn town house covers AD’s February issue. Never miss a story when you subscribe to AD.
