11/03/2026
I’ve been impatiently waiting for my muse, Athena Calderone, to unveil her extraordinary new Tribeca home and, as expected, she has exceeded every expectation.
What was once an early 1900s executive suite for the Borden condensed milk company has been masterfully reimagined into a deeply cultivated living space that feels both historic and utterly personal. The apartment, occupying an entire floor of an august Tribeca building, still carries the bones of its past herringbone oak floors, soaring 13-foot ceilings, and richly panelled walls.
Before Athena’s transformation, the residence belonged to the legendary French architect Thierry Despont, whose remarkable career included restoring the Statue of Liberty and renovating the Ritz Paris, while designing interiors for cultural figures like Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, and Bill Gates. His imprint remains in the apartment’s quiet grandeur and architectural rigor.
With a reverence for that history, Athena approached the home not as a reinvention but as a careful evolution. Walls were subtly shifted, axes clarified, and bespoke millwork integrated to create a more natural flow between rooms. Storage dissolves into panelling, openings are thoughtfully framed, and the apartment’s spatial rhythm unfolds almost like a gallery.
The interiors themselves feel like a dialogue between eras. There are references to Art Deco elegance, moments of early modern restraint, and a sense of European sophistication that runs throughout.
What I find most compelling is how the home balances restraint with opulence. It is refined without feeling precious. Layered, soulful, and deeply considered. Every detail feels intentional, every material chosen with care.
Athena’s new chapter and latest design language brings a feeling of deeply cultivated evolution of the aesthetic she first introduced to the world through her Brooklyn townhouse.
And it is nothing short of breathtaking.
“Thank you, Athena, for your consistent inspiration.”
