Vogue India July 2016

been making my collection for 10
years,” he beams.

BODY OF WORK
The couple retreats regularly to
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metal columns and the Empire State
Building looming through the window.
But even here, the dining table dou-
bles up as a space for Ruben to paint.
“We had the table made,” he says. “It
had to be big enough for me to unfurl
paper on, and be heavy enough for me
to lean against when I’m
painting, without moving.”
Quirky yet personal, their
space has grown organical-
ly, just like the numerous
plants that inhabit this
home. “They were all
tiny when they came
in here,” says Ruben.
“But this is like living
in a giant green-
house.” The centre-
piece is a kumquat
plant, a gift from

http://www.vogue.in VOGUE INDIA JULY 2016 231

their friend, designer Alber Elbaz.

“We make jam from the kumquats,”

says Isabel. “We tell everyone that

we’re the only people in the world with

Lanvin jam.”

Besides being their home and studio,

the penthouse has also served as an

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couple held numerous events for the

Broadway jazz show After Midnight,

for which they created the Tony-nomi-

nated costumes, curtains and graphics.

The original artwork and mood boards

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boards in the living room, while their

collaborative glass projects for Dale

Chihuly’s glass school in Seattle line

up some other surfaces, and manne-

quins that Ruben designed for Ralph

Pucci stand in the stairwells and

hallways. “Nothing here is really deco-

ration,” says Isabel. “It’s all work in

progress.” Q

Ruben’s

paintbrushes

and artworks

can be spotted

all around—from

the kitchen to

the bathroom

The ceiling is

fi lled with props

from Isabel’s

runway shows

The memorabilia-fi lled

kitchen boasts of an award in

the shape of a champagne

bottle with their portraits

‘Linangea’

chair,

Fornasetti,

3,23,880

‘Ventana’ single-

tier chandelier,

Jonathan Adler,

66,430

Wall

hanging

pendant

lamp,

Tresorie,

6,195

GET THE LOOK

Add a touch of Toledo whimsy with

these unique picks

‘RAR Eames’

plastic

armchair,

Vitra,

37,350

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