This past weekend, my boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary by visiting the Morgan Library and Museum. We could have spent the entire day in the three-story East Room, the space that still houses John Pierpont Morgan’s collection of rare printed books. There are secret doors in each corner that lead to the upper levels, and the bookshelves are inlaid with walnut. The architecture reminded me of the apartment Athena Calderone, founder of EyeSwoon, and her husband bought last year in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood.

Its wood-paneled walls, coffered ceilings, and other rich details—added to the circa-1908 building in the 1920s—are a departure from the interior designer and Live Beautiful author’s former Brooklyn home. These days, Calderone is on an Art Deco kick (she even collaborated with Beni on a rug collection that’s partly inspired by her new home’s architecture), so we asked her to share a few things that are fueling her newfound aesthetic.

—Lydia Geisel, home editor

Current Mood - Today’s Guest Editor: Athena Calderone

What I’m loving right now: Lacquer. I am deeply attracted to the glam of the high-gloss finish.

Why I love it: Its sheen feels sensual and evocative of a bygone era. In fact, lacquerware has an incredible history, with origins in China as far back as the Neolithic period around 10,000 B.C. Aside from its elaborate decoration, I am fascinated by the labor-intensive process of this traditional art form, which requires collecting resin made from the highly toxic sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree and then building up thin layers that harden to form a waterproof surface. While lacquer objects appear delicate, they are actually quite solid and sturdy, allowing for these pieces to last a lifetime and imbue their elegance into a space for years to come.

Photography by Ludovic Balay

Photography by Romain Laprade; Courtesy of @Studioutte

Where I’ve spotted it in the wild:

Architect Eileen Gray’s perfectly designed black lacquered wood Brick Screen.
On the walls of Paris’s Hôtel Château d’Eau, designed by Necchi Architecture (above left).
At the “Sala D’Attesa” exhibition by Studioutte during this year’s Milan Design Week (above right).

I’d recommend it to someone who also likes…and appreciates 1920s design.

My shopping criteria: French 1920s or ’30s lacquer pieces are always on my radar.

Photography by Adrian Gaut; Produced by Kate Berry

Photography by Chris Snook

Three real-life ways I’d try it:

A lacquer-finish side table in jewel tones like bordeaux red or deep green.
Lacquered wood. It combines the beautiful warmth (and character) of wood with a more formal, high-gloss finish.
A vintage console or even a small vintage jewelry box, which you can find on Etsy.

It looks great with…pewter or nickel.

Things to consider:

Because lacquer is so reflective, incorporate it as an accent rather than the main event.
With any material, always make sure you are balancing it with items of contrasting finish and patina. Since lacquer is slick and shiny, pair it with a wood grain or a vintage ceramic.
Similar to marble, lacquer will inherently scratch. My biggest piece of advice would be to embrace the natural wear of the finish—it adds a lived-in feel.

If money, time, and space were no object, I’d…Invest in the aforementioned striking and elegant Brick Screen by architect Eileen Gray for my home!

My elevator pitch to skeptics: You only need to look back at the beautiful Paris homes of Yves Saint Laurent to see why lacquer needs to be resurfaced and considered again.

How I see it evolving: When I was in Milan for Salone del Mobile, I saw studios using lacquer finishes in deeply rich forest greens and oxblood reds. It seems that the design world is beginning to take notice of lacquer’s elegance and beauty. I see lacquer entering the design zeitgeist in unexpected and innovative ways.

What’s the next…

Paint color you want to use (and why?): I’ve been attracted to butter yellow lately, either as a paint color or in unexpected applications, from shiny lacquer to glass, and creamy yellow onyx.
Decor item you’re on the hunt for: I’m currently seeking a vintage travertine table from the 1930s that has been elusive thus far.
Vintage score of your dreams: A parchment Jean-Michel Frank screen.
Design destination on your bucket list: I’ve never been to Belgium.
Home project you’d like to tackle: Organizing my basement, since it currently absorbs everything from my former Brooklyn townhouse, Tribeca apartment, and Amagansett home.
DIY you might actually do: I’m loosely considering repainting the cabinets in our Amagansett kitchen.
Trend you hope makes a comeback: I happen to love upholstery on walls. Funny enough, my childhood bedroom had it, and now I am exploring it for a current design project. Feels like a full-circle moment!
Design risk you’re taking: I am expanding my design studio and designing a bespoke furniture line.
Project you’re working on: I am building out a Tribeca HQ for the design studio as well as the EyeSwoon team that will also serve as a content kitchen, event space, material library, and overall creative hub. Stay tuned!

Courtesy of Lareu & Gonzalez

Photography by @eyeswoon

What’s the last…

Thing you bought for your home: A beautiful Art Deco metal and glass chandelier at auction.
Post you saved: This stunning entrance hall, designed by Georges Boisselier circa 1930–32, in a Paris mansion.
Account you started following: Camilo González, cofounder and creative director of Lareu & Gonzalez (above left).
Photo you snapped: A sneak peek into my Tribeca home reno (above right).

Late last year, I moved into a circa-1910 row house with warm, welcoming vibes. I’m leaning into its naturally lived-in feel with layers on layers and patterns on patterns. Piglet in Bed’s duvet covers, pillows, sheets, towels, and table linens come in so many delightful colors and prints. It’s hard to narrow it all down, but below are a few styles I’m feeling for my home. All month, Enthusiasts can shop full-priced items 20% off with the code DOMINO20. —Lindsey DeSimone, senior marketing manager