Quantcast
what i love | Feb 3, 2025 |
Dani Arps’s soothing assortment of gold-flecked marble, patinated bronze and braided wool

In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.

Dani Arps’s soothing assortment of gold-flecked marble, patinated bronze and braided wool
Dani ArpsMelanie Acevedo

To Dani Arps, nothing’s more delicious than neutrals. In residential and commercial spaces alike, the New York–based designer and co-CEO of Artisan often layers an array of vanillas, creams and oatmeals punctuated by the occasional shot of black, plus touches of soft but invigorating hues like sage blue. Cozy in winter, cool for the summer, the color combination is undeniably luxurious, discreetly dynamic, but never overwhelming.

“Off-white, taupe, sage and black: I love a tonal palette and the idea of representing all the variations of one shade across different materials,” says the designer. “It creates a richness and interest through texture.” In her flat lay, that translates to laser-patterned cowhide, ultraplush corduroy and insanely thick alpaca. Weathered bronze finishes, sturdy oak flooring and sconces stacked with raw-edged leather disks anchor the heavenly hues, while an abstract objet d’art and quirky matte coffee mug add sculptural intrigue. For a guarantee of good company morning, noon and night, just gaze upon the breathtaking portrait of a dapper gentleman in a double-breasted suit—all-white, of course.

Together, the elements suggest a sophisticated interior that feels inviting, not intimidating. The calm atmosphere, Arps contends, is conducive to both focusing on work and relaxing, feet up on a mohair-clad ottoman. “I could literally live in this palette and never get bored,” she says. Below, she shares the thoughts behind each of the choices in her mood board.

Dani Arps’s soothing assortment of gold-flecked marble, patinated bronze and braided wool
A flat lay by Dani ArpsCourtesy of Artisan Alliance

1. CAY ALPACA RUG IN CHALK BY MIKSI
“The most luxurious rug imaginable. Like walking on clouds.”

2. CALACATTA VIOLA MARBLE IN HONED FINISH BY BAS STONE
“So stunning in person. I recently used it as a 6-inch border around the baseboard and floor-to-ceiling behind the mirror and sink in a powder room. The purple and gold veining delivers a punch to the palette.”

3. MOHAIR extreme FABRIC IN LICHEN BY MAHARAM
“You have to be a bit careful when using browns because they can absorb a lot of color in the room and risk being visually heavy, but as a throw or upholstering a pouf, this mohair would provide a counterweight to the paler shades. Plus, the feel of the fabric is super rich.”

4. OBJET D’ART FROM INDUSTRY WEST
“Generally, I tend to choose lighter fabrics, woods and finishes, but I always like to balance them with hits of black to ground the palette. I especially love doing this with art. The shape of this piece is atypical and cool—in between masculine and feminine and kind of abstract. It makes me happy when I look at it.”

5. BARKLEY L. HENDRICKS PRINT FROM THE STUDIO MUSEUM HARLEM
“Within the past few years, there’s been a huge reawakening of interest in Black art and specifically Black portraiture. Obviously, most people can’t afford a Barkley L. Hendricks painting, but they can still get postcards and prints at museum gift shops. I can imagine a full-size print hung above a mantel, mounted in a natural wood frame: narrow, no more than 1 inch, so that the art dominates and the frame picks up on the oak flooring. Representing Black artists in residential spaces is a wink to the culture—and it supports the museum in the process. As a resident of Harlem, I’m really excited for the reopening of the Studio Museum this fall and the possibilities for future collaborations there.”

6. MAIN LINE FLAX FABRIC IN UPMINSTER BY CAMIRA
“This flax fabric contrasts well with the mohair. Neutral in palette but light and warm-toned with an appealing texture, it makes a beautiful base material.”

7. DUNE RUG IN ROCK STONE BY MIKSI FOR RADNOR
“If you spill water or wine on this stunning patchwork rug, it just rolls off because it’s natural cowhide. Distinguished by its lasered pattern, it’s an investment piece but extremely durable.”

8. STONEWARE MUG IN MATTE BLACK BY LOLLY LOLLY CERAMICS AT SSENSE
“When you’re sitting at home drinking your tea or coffee, you likely won’t immediately wash the mug and put it away after one cup in the morning. It’s going to sit on your table or desktop for refills throughout the day. So it might as well look like a sculpture. The ceramicist, Lalese Stamps, did this cool artistic experiment a few years ago called the 100 Day Project, producing an original mug design in as many days as a creative challenge to herself. In matte black, this mug is the most saturated item on the mood board, but the handle gives it a sense of whimsy.”

9. LINEAR RUG IN SOFT GREY BY CICIL
“Cicil is a woman-owned company that prioritizes sustainability. Its products are organic and made in the U.S. I support all the tenets behind this brand, but also, the rugs are just really gorgeous—like this woven design, which uses cotton stitching to connect braids of wool-wrapped jute.”

10. PELL WALL SCONCE BY STUDIO LUDDITE
“Studio Luddite offers high-end-looking fixtures at super affordable prices. I was shocked by how luxe the finishes are—they’re a steal! This particular sconce features bronze framework and stacked leather disks that read so rich against a Calacatta Viola slab wall.”

11. UNLACQUERED BRASS FINISH BY PETRA
“This finish is from Petra’s Block knob, which has an intriguing shape. As cabinet hardware, they add an amorphous touch.”

12. EMPIRE FABRIC IN BALTIC BY WEITZNER
“The muted sage color of this performance fabric fits well as an accent to the neutral, tone-on-tone selections. With its velvety texture and touch of sheen, I see it upholstering a chic little armchair.”

13. OIL-RUBBED BRONZE FINISH BY APPARATUS
Apparatus offers this finish for its sconces, but I’d like to use it for cabinet hardware or kitchen fixtures. It feels weathered in the most welcoming way.”

14. ARCHITECTONICS2 FIELD TILE IN COBBLE MATTE SOLID BY WATERWORKS
“The color of this tile is calming, and the matte finish gives it a handmade appearance. There’s variety in each individual piece. Installed all together in a bathroom, the overall effect is artisanal and interesting.”

15. BARE, EUROPEAN OAK FLOORING BY THE HUDSON COMPANY
“I just love white oak. I think it’s elegant. It’s timeless. I love it in wide planks, and I love it with knots so that it has some character. This is solid wood, not a composite: You can refinish it a million times, and it lasts forever.”

16. ABBEY ROAD ONYX MOSAIC IN VANILLA BY ARTISTIC TILE
“The lines of this mosaic tile can make a space feel larger, and the color is not monochromatic—it contains multiple variations. Paired with the plaster, the result is a range of whites represented across two different materials. It’s that tone-on-tone vibe I find so luxurious.”

17. PALLADIOM KEYPAD IN WHITE BY LUTRON
“This sleek keypad syncs with your lighting, letting you set and name whatever scenarios you want. From the labels on the buttons to the finishes, it’s completely customizable.”

18. PLASTER WALL FINISH IN WHITE BY SENSO
“Plaster is trendy right now, but ultimately it’s timeless. Even if you’re just going for a plain white wall, do it in plaster: It adds another layer of warmth and luxury. This one is super soft, super minimal, but it looks amazing.”

19. MANE ATTRACTION HAIR-ON-HIDE TEXTILE IN AUTUMN BY HOLLY HUNT
“For a commercial lounge project, I purchased a quantity of affordable chairs, then upholstered them in hide. All of a sudden, they looked like a million bucks! As with the objet d’art, I like the idea of balancing masculine and feminine elements with this textile. Think of a chair with an elegant, rounded silhouette: Hide upholstery gives it a bit of unexpected roughness that still feels so luxe.”

20. WYATT CORDUROY FABRIC IN MUSHROOM BY SCHUMACHER
“A good corduroy brings so much dynamism to upholstery. A chair could feature the fabric vertically on the back and horizontally on the arms. The lines add a playful graphic element on top of the plush texture of the fabric.”

Want to stay informed? Sign up for our newsletter, which recaps the week’s stories, and get in-depth industry news and analysis each quarter by subscribing to our print magazine. Join BOH Insider for discounts, workshops and access to special events such as the Future of Home conference.
Jobs
Jobs