Inside Designer Johnny Li’s New York Studio

Li&Co.’s New York studio in London Terrace Gardens blends pre-war American architecture with regional Asian influences, giving the Hong Kong-born design firm a place to call home across the Pacific

London Terrace Gardens, a residential complex in Chelsea, New York, occupies a full block on Manhattan’s West Side, right next to the High Line. Built in the 1930s and developed by Henry Mandel with architects Farrar & Watmough, at the time it was to be the largest apartment building in the world. With its high ceilings, black-and-white subway tiles, eagle-headed gargoyles and sweeping views of the city, it’s a classic example of pre-war American architecture. 

When Johnny Li, co-founder and managing director of Hong Kong-born design studio Li&Co. Design Limited, decided to move back to New York from Hong Kong, he rented an apartment in the block as a transitional space. ‘It was meant to be our pied-à-terre,’ Li says. Instead, it has become Li&Co.’s main design studio, and this year the team finished a complete transformation of the interior space.

‘I vividly recall studying the historical design of the London Terrace Gardens complex during my architectural studies,’ Li says. ‘I wanted to celebrate its unique design by creating a visually inspiring, yet comfortable haven from the buzz of the city.’ To achieve this, Li drew inspiration from his studio’s roots in Asia. The 55-square-metre apartment opens with a Japanese style genkan, a traditional entryway designed for the removal of footwear, which leads into an open-plan living and dining area, contained by six floor-to-ceiling semi-transparent bamboo-weave mesh screens.

Much of the furniture is designed by Li&Co.’s own brand, Yiline, including a dark walnut sideboard with decorative brass handles crafted by Bangkok-based designer Alexander Lamont, and armchairs upholstered in a shredded paper and metallic fabric by Japanese textile specialists Hosoo, which Li describes as ‘a modern makeover of the classic slipper chair frequently used in Peking operas’.

But even with these regional nods, Li insists the space is not simply about the meeting of East and West, but rather an entirely unique amalgamation of all the different influences that make up Li&Co.’s creative DNA. ‘I have a particular soft spot for designing a modern home that celebrates a unique sense of place,’ he says. ‘And here, I felt that it was most important to maintain a connection to the history of the building. I think you can still feel the spirit of London Terrace Gardens.’

Text by Katherine Ring
Images by Frédéric Lagrange
Styling by Philippa Brathwaite