Exploring how a New York interior designer lives at home, Josh Greene’s Upper East Side apartment offers a personal expression of more than a decade of accumulated ideas. Located in Lenox Hill, the home gave Greene an opportunity to approach his own space with complete creative freedom, drawing together furniture, materials, patterns and objects that had remained in the back of his mind while designing for others.
The apartment presented Greene with the freedom to reconsider each space rather than respond to a recent renovation. Knowing the challenges involved in renovating an apartment in New York, the interior designer sought to create a home that would feel distinctly different once complete. Central to how a New York interior designer lives at home is a considered furniture plan, which Greene establishes at the beginning of each project. In the living room, multiple seating areas are arranged around the fireplace, creating an environment intended to feel comfortable when friends visit.
Despite Greene’s interest in pattern, the living room developed into a comparatively neutral space, affectionately described by the designer as his ‘peanut butter palace’. Texture instead becomes a defining element, layered throughout the apartment with varying degrees of intensity. A Moroccan rug brings softness to the living room, while wall coverings introduce subtle depth and tactility. Greene’s own wallpaper designs also feature throughout, allowing his professional practice to become part of the home’s material character.
Material experimentation further reveals how a New York interior designer lives at home. In the bedroom, a light specialty plaster was developed with Greene’s painter, while the kitchen mosaic incorporates four different types of marble. The bathroom takes a more expressive approach, with marble tile extending from floor to ceiling. Rojo Alicante marble introduces a rich red tone, bringing an unexpected colour to the room.
Lighting was equally important to the renovation. After reworking the apartment’s electrical system, Greene introduced sconces above the living room fireplace and connected lamps to switches, establishing a layered combination of new and vintage lighting. Pieces collected or remembered over time also found their place, including living room lamps Greene had admired for years but had never found the right client project for.
This freedom to revisit unrealised ideas is fundamental to how a New York interior designer lives at home. Rather than designing for another person’s needs, Greene could select pieces, fabrics and finishes according to his own instincts, allowing the apartment to become a reflection of his current life rather than a demonstration of a singular design language.
For Greene, the greatest achievement is ultimately personal. The apartment feels representative of who he is now, shaped by years of professional experience yet grounded in comfort and everyday use. From quiet mornings spent sitting in the living room to gatherings centred around the fireplace, the home demonstrates how a New York interior designer lives at home through texture, material, memory and the freedom to create entirely for oneself.
0:00 – Introduction To Lenox Hill By Josh Greene
1:19 – Layering Texture Through Finishes And Materials
2:25 – Creating Atmosphere Through Lighting
4:15 – The Privilege Of Designing Your Own Home
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Photography by Tim Lenz.
Interior design by Josh Greene.
Styling by Josh Greene.
Filmed and edited by O&Co Homes.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: New York, New York, United States
The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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