4 min read“The Golden Rules of Decorating” from House Beautiful’s October 1989 Issue:
Michael Greer, an avowed neoclassicist, believed that every space needed “one marvelous decorative object which you love outrageously.” Designer and avid art collector Sterling McDavid takes that sentiment to heart in her Manhattan home, centering each space around artwork that creates a dwelling as personal as it is beautifully one of a kind.
When Sterling McDavid was first shown a 4,000-square-foot duplex for sale on the Upper East Side, the designer lovingly described it as a blank white box. It wasn’t the then-owners’ primary residence, but they’d still invested a lot into building out a modern floor plan in the prewar pied-à-terre. McDavid teared up during the walk-through; she could envision it as her and her husband’s dream apartment, but it was just them at the time, and they didn’t need a four-bedroom home. But McDavid believes in fate, so when it went back on the market four years after their first look, at the same time that she, her husband, and their two young kids were house hunting, she knew the apartment she’d spent all that time yearning for had to finally be theirs.
“I really wanted to lean into the prewar architecture while simultaneously bringing in contemporary elements,” McDavid explains. She kept the color palette neutral to emphasize the existing trim and moldings, introducing a mix of antique finds—French tapestries in the library, the vanity in the powder room—and modern pieces to give it a luxurious Parisian feel in the heart of Manhattan.
But what truly stands out is what’s on the walls. “As art collectors, we really wanted a home where each piece has its moment and can spark conversation,” she says. Every room is centered around its own pièce de résistance: a Sirak Melkonian in her son’s room, a hand-painted Joseph Dufour wallpaper in the dining room, and her favorite, an untitled work from Jean-Michel Basquiat in the living room.
“It’s important to me that a home feels comfortable but still has unique elements specific to the owners,” she adds. “Bringing together a mix of some of our favorite old items with the new gives our home its own character.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Sterling McDavid
Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan
The Space: A 4-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom duplex apartment in a historic building built in 1912.
LIVING ROOM
Neutral tones act as a museum-worthy backdrop for rotating artwork.
“The goal with this room,” McDavid says, “was to create the perfect, serene space to rotate artworks in our collection.” Currently on display is a Rodin bust and an Annie Leibovitz coffee-table book (on stand). When they have guests over, the designer asks them to turn to a page in the coffee table book that inspires them.
LIBRARY
These two antique tapestries were once owned by McDavid’s parents.
This space is really the heart of the home, serving as a playroom (with hidden toy storage behind the sofa), movie theater, and late-night cocktail lounge. McDavid’s parents owned this pair of tapestries, making them extra special additions. Vintage Finn Juhl chairs sit ready to support the activity of the moment.
McDavid and her husband describe themselves as avid readers, so having a room for their collection of books—including some first editions—is particularly exciting.
DINING ROOM
A custom travertine table is a work of art itself.
An antique mounted wallpaper panel by Joseph Dufour depicts a wine harvest, making it the perfect addition to this inviting space.
KITCHEN
Shaker cabinets give the cook space a European feel.
With only one window overlooking a courtyard, the kitchen doesn’t get much natural light. To brighten the space and give it a European feel, McDavid placed antique mirrors behind the breakfast banquette and chose a simple cabinet style, swathed in White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
BREAKFAST NOOK
A quaint, bistro-inspired spot perfect for family meals.
McDavid wanted the kitchen to feel interactive, so she installed an extra-long custom banquette so her young kids could watch while she and her husband cook.
POWDER ROOM
A vintage vanity anchors the space.
McDavid wanted this tiny space, mostly used by visitors, to feel special, so she tapped artist Bob Christian to paint a chinoiserie-inspired mural. A modern Ethnik Living mirror amps up the artistry.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Super busy lives call for a serene place to rest.
“My husband, Carey, and I had one goal for our bedroom: to feel like we were in a French hotel room,” McDavid says. Hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper offsets the bed, layered with warm textures and ivory tones.
SON’S BEDROOM
The artwork above the bed was given to McDavid as a teenager.
McDavid worked with Missouri-based carpenter Brian Bauer to create the ultimate car bed for her son. The headlights turn on, and there’s a steering wheel near the front to make it as realistic as possible.
DAUGHTER’S ROOM
Extra square footage means more room for play.
The only request the designer’s two-year-old daughter, Maya, had for her room was “birdies,” so McDavid wrapped it in an avian-themed wallcovering from Scandinavian Wallpaper.
About the Designer
After a career at Goldman Sachs and a stint with the renowned Parisian architecture firm Projectiles, Sterling McDavid opened her eponymous design firm in 2014, where she specializes in luxurious residential design. Though she’s based out of Manhattan, she works with clients across the country to bring an elevated perspective to their unique visions.
