All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
When Harry Josh isn’t styling the luscious locks of Gisele Bündchen or Cindy Crawford, he’s usually hosting friends in his newly remodeled West Village apartment. Building a warm, welcoming space to entertain pals (some of whom are also his supermodel clients) was the chief objective in the gut renovation of his early 19th-century home, which he totally reconfigured to facilitate convivial meals and cozy hangs.
“I have a very active social life,” Harry admits. “I have people constantly visiting and I throw dinner parties and game nights, so it was really crucial to have lots of communal living areas, while the bedrooms could take a back seat.”
Harry opened up the main floor to create a generous kitchen and dining zone, which he infused with a charming European countryside aesthetic. Dusty blue Shaker-style cabinets are paired with vintage knobs, a black farmhouse sink, and a custom steel range hood. An L-shaped marble counter offers plenty of room for prep work, while a wood-panel backsplash is outfitted with a wall-to-wall spice rack. “I use all of those spices because I cook so many different [types of] cuisines, from Indian to Thai to Mexican to Italian,” Harry shares. “[All of those cuisines] have their own set of four or five spice staples.”
Above the existing green tile fireplace hangs Harry’s beloved collection of worn copper cookware, while antique water jugs sit on an old wood bench by the hearth. Nearby, interior designer Kristen McGinnis curated the open shelves with Akio Nukaga ceramics, a vintage Japanese vase, Hedeki Takayama wood bowls, and Go Takagi serving stands.
“My intention was making it look like it had history,” Harry explains. “I have an Italian cupboard from the 1800s and lots of old items that make you feel like they’re worthy of [you just] standing there and just observing. It was my goal that, when people come over, they would never be bored because they would always be walking over to a counter and looking at all my little things. It’s a mini museum, if you will.”
Harry invested in a long, reclaimed wood dining table that seats up to 10 in order to accommodate his frequent guests. It’s surrounded by a set of metal café chairs with DIY patina. Since he found them to be too shiny upon arrival, he left them out in the rain for a week to develop rust. The result is an authentically aged finish that complements the overall vintage vibe.
By contrast, Harry’s bedroom—which he relocated to the lower level to create a huge living space upstairs—is neutral and contemporary. It’s layered with soft textures, from a beige upholstered bed to flax linen sheets from Libeco and a rose-colored RW Guild throw, to encourage relaxation and rest. A Charles Baker Strahan artwork is situated on the wall.
“When I sleep, I like things to be incredibly calm, so it’s a big departure from the rest of the rooms, which I designated for entertaining,” Harry reflects. “I like it to be quite angelic and simple, so that there’s a real peace to the room.”
On the top floor, Harry replaced the massive primary suite with a comfortable TV room primed for movie nights and Netflix marathons. It’s stocked with two tan vegan leather sofas, Homenature striped pillows, and a Belgian bouclé blanket. Potted plants, books, and framed family photos pepper the floating and built-in shelves.
Beyond the black French doors is the pièce de résistance, the whole reason Harry purchased the place: the patio. “I’d been eyeing this particular unit because I always wanted an outdoor space,” he shares. “I was already living in my dream apartment. It was perfect, except for one thing, which was a ginormous sun-drenched terrace. So when this became available, I jumped on the opportunity.”
Now, Harry has the rooftop he always imagined, complete with a barbecue, a produce garden, an alfresco dining table, and an inviting weather-resistant sectional. He can host indoor-outdoor gatherings when it’s warm enough and always step out for a breath of fresh air. Who wouldn’t want to come over?
