The Art of Living: Somerset House Reimagined

How did Somerset House come to life, and what was your founding vision for the studio? 

Alan: Somerset House came to life in early 2020. I had a lot of furniture and no real place to store it, so I pitched a group of developers a revenue share arrangement for one of their properties in Williamsburg. And they went for it - that's how Somerset House started. The founding vision was to be an elevated antique shop and that quickly grew into an interior design studio and rental business. It's a healthy mix of furniture from different geographic regions and eras that kind of forms our work.

What was your background before founding Somerset House? Did you have formal training in interior design? 

Alan: I was a fashion designer for almost 15 years. As a fashion designer I ended up wearing so many hats. I'd work on production, fashion show production, styling, photographing, etc. Fashion taught me to learn many jobs and be as proficient as possible in a variety of things. Also I had side hustles like DJ'ing and interior work. The interior work built up over time. All of my training and education in interior design has been from real life experience.

How does the new showroom in Long Island City differ from your location in Manhattan? What elements did you intentionally carry forward? 

Alan: It's so much more grand, higher ceilings, bigger windows, and more of an open space. The new space is the culmination of three or four years of work and building up to this, so it's the result of a lot of love and passion. The Noguchi pendants bring warmth and bridge the gap between the high ceilings and the floor, keeping things grounded. We've carried over the element of curved wood walls from our old space. We're working in a very similar color palette as well.

Tell me about the designers you're currently showcasing at Somerset House. Are there any new names you're particularly excited about? 

Alan: We're showing some of our dearest friends' work, Clement Pascal, Loup Sarion, Rafael Prieto, Joe Henry Baker, Dana Arbib. In terms of vintage designers, we have a couple impeccable pieces by Axel Einar Hjorth that we are excited to show. 

What do you want guests to feel when they step into the new showroom?

Alan: I want them to feel that there's some magic in here. We've worked really hard to create something that feels like a home but also like a bit of a fantasy. I always want the space to feel warm and approachable. The best compliment I can hear is "Oh, nothing looks too precious."

Which materials and color palettes are you most drawn to right now? 

Alan: Blues, reds, black and brown. And now we are sprinkling in green whereas it used to be the predominant color for us. The basis for all of our schemes is creamy warm colors and varying wood tones, and we experiment with new colors from there.

If you had to choose just one design movement as your favorite, what would it be and why? 

Alan: The secessionist movement, early 1900s Vienna. It's so modern even though it's over a century old. Everything from that era just looks so modern and chic.

What advice would you give to someone who loves vintage pieces but wants to keep a contemporary aesthetic? 

Alan: Lamps are so fun in the vintage world. For example if you have a living room with lots of contemporary pieces, a really great lamp will go so far in terms of soft lighting and character.