O-N finds new life for a historic paper factory, now a colorful residence in New York

West Village Blues

West Village apartment by O-N

Channeling a vintage modern feel in a repurposed paper factory, Davis Owen and Irene Chung, cofounders of O–N, have thoughtfully tailored the West Village Apartment to their clients’ distinct style. Large wooden beams punctuate the wall to the left of the entryway and gesture to the building’s history. One beam is marked with the number 54, perhaps demarcating a former loading dock.

West Village Apartment with blue tiles
Blue tiles by Heath Ceramics inform the interior (Naho Kubota)

This hall is lined with storage: floor-to-ceiling closets to the right and a length of cabinets to the left that, among other things, house the family’s extensive board game collection. The wall curves to a halt at the living room, indicating how far your street shoes can go.

The living room of an apartment by O-N
The interior includes a statement sofa by B&B Italia (Naho Kubota)

On the other side of the curve is the star of the show: a rounded blue banquette cradling an onyx geode table, which pays homage to the client’s impressive crystal collection: She described the piece as “a dream come true.” The striking wall features Heath tiles from San Francisco, and the seating’s wooden base is stained with blue linseed oil, a process undertaken with support from expert Thor of Danish brand Linolie & Pigment.

Blue tiles and fabric wrap a banquette from O-N
The banquette is wrapped in Silas fabric by Raf Simons for Kvadrat (Naho Kubota)

A blue kitchen in west village
The kitchen features soapstone countertops and open shelving (Naho Kubota)

The rest of the crystal collection is displayed across from her luxe, gold-wallpapered closet. “Play is a really big part of our design process,” said Chung. She and Owen recount sharing their clients’ enthusiasm while sourcing vintage furniture and exploring material possibilities to accommodate their unique needs. “They’re pretty big collectors, so we kept [the wall space] pared back to showcase their art,” Owen added.

The hallway with blue millwork by O-N
A run of blue millwork lines the entry hall (Naho Kubota)

A gold-clad closet from O-N
The closet is clad in luxe, gold wallpaper (Naho Kubota)

The kitchen features soapstone countertops and open shelving, which are as beautiful as they are functional. O–N’s clients love to entertain: The family once hosted 60 baby shower guests comfortably thanks to the flexible sectional couch, which doubles a makeshift playpen to keep their puppy and baby separated.