In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
John Stivale and Steven Graffam are fascinated by faceting. The duo behind New York design firm Stivale Graffam Home gravitate toward dimensional pieces that can interact with the light in a room. “Faceted details help reflect and refract light, while adding interest to a space,” Stivale tells Business of Home.
The pair’s current flat lay provides an excellent case in point. The mood board brims with architectural accents, including a brass Sputnik sculpture and credenzas with angled door fronts, that bring depth and drama to the scheme. “The varying elements in this composition are equally classic and glamorous,” says Graffam. “They walk the line between rigidity and softness.”
A sophisticated blend of high-contrast motifs—a crisp black-and-white color combination, a mix of glossy and matte finishes—ultimately draws the design together, while a range of natural materials and neutral tones grounds the palette. “These seemingly disparate components balance each other out visually,” explains Stivale. “And together, feel extremely chic.”
Here, the designers break down the details, from an art-deco-style sconce to an antique dog figurine.
1. DANDY STOOL IN SHAGREEN WITH BRONZE-PATINA BRASS BY KIFU PARIS
“We love this stool in an antique-finished natural shagreen. Its shape is minimal yet sculptural, and provides a luxe texture to complement the other design elements in a space,” says Stivale.
2. ALAIN CREDENZA BY ELK HOME
“This credenza is perfect for either a living room or a dining room. The book-matched blond oak veneer on the cabinet door provides warmth and a sense of depth, and accentuates the faceted detail of this piece, while the rigid geometry feels incredibly modern,” says Graffam.
3. CHIANG MAI DRAGON FABRIC IN SMOKE BY SCHUMACHER
“The large-scale graphic nature of this print is dramatic and packs a punch,” says Stivale.
4. VINTAGE PEARLS
“These pearls are not only a cherished keepsake and memory of my late grandmother, but the opalescent finish is also a source of inspiration for new designs. I’ve always loved how the light interacts with the finish of the pearl—it’s subtle but glamorous,” says Stivale.
5. FACETED MURANO FUME GLASS BLOCK AND BRASS MIRROR BY VENFIELD
“This mirror is clean and modern, but references classical Italian glass mirrors from Murano or Venice. We are always inspired by the concept of facets and how these can be incorporated into the home to both reflect and refract light,” says Graffam.
6. CLIC HH BRACELET IN NOIR MAT BY HERMÈS
“Fashion has always been a major source of inspiration, both for the products we design and develop, as well as the interiors we create,” says Graffam.
7. ELON SIDE TABLE BY LORIN MARSH
“This side table is beautiful and functional. The high-gloss Macassar ebony frame is luxe, and the brass inlays provide an architectural geometric detail that is very refined,” says Stivale.
8. ADAMO & EVA FABRIC IN PETROLIO BY DEDAR
“This beautiful velvet in a rich peacock color is a great complement to a tonal interior. This one is so plush but equally hardworking,” says Stivale.
9. ANTIQUE MINIATURE STAFFORDSHIRE DOG FIGURINE
“This antique figurine is just strange enough that it always feels right at home,” says Graffam.
10. SUN DOME PAPERWEIGHT BY JOHN DERIAN
“John Derian is a go-to shop for us to source whimsical and unique accessories for our clients. The unexpected decoupage elements in his pieces perfectly juxtapose the clean lines often used in our designs,” says Graffam.
11. MIDNIGHT AMBER SCENTED CANDLE BY STIVALE GRAFFAM HOME
“Our signature candle, hand-crafted in France with the finest essence of amber, sandalwood and vetiver is seductive and addictive! It always sets the right mood,” says Stivale.
12. VINTAGE BRASS SPUTNIK SCULPTURE
“We purchased this sculpture at a flea market in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sputniks are always a design staple,” says Graffam.
13. PRESERVED BOXWOOD BALL BY MILLS FLORAL
“A great trick to add some foliage to any space is using these boxwood balls from Mills Floral. They come in so many different sizes and are freeze-dried, so they will stay beautifully green all the time,” says Stivale.
14. VIVIAN SCONCE BY ARTERIORS
“This sconce has a slight nod to deco but feels completely relevant today. The way the metal holds the textured glass feels like jewelry,” says Graffam.
15. RENOIR WALLCOVERING IN ROME OVERALL BY PHILLIP JEFFRIES
“This metallic-leaf wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries is a favorite! We love using this on ceiling applications to give a bit of sparkle and glamour to an oft-forgotten part of the room,” says Stivale.
16. CANYON DINING TABLE BY DAKOTA JACKSON
“This dining table feels like stacked rocks, carefully cantilevered on one another. Dakota uses only the finest of materials, and this table is just sublime,” says Graffam.
17. TETON FABRIC IN WINTER WHITE BY HOLLY HUNT
“The never-ending search for the perfect ivory boucle may finally be over! This fabric is luxe, plush and durable—it hits all the right notes,” says Stivale.
18. ISTRICE LIGHTER BY SELEZIONI DOMUS FIRENZE
“This large table lighter by Italian brand Selezioni Domus is the perfect finishing touch to a well-styled coffee table,” says Graffam.
