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Great design transcends eras, and nobody knows that better than interior designer Dan Fink. In one of Fifth Avenue’s grandest buildings, Fink recently completed work on an apartment that stands as a master class in Art Deco, applying the movement’s core tenets of exceptional craftsmanship, luxurious materials, and refined simplicity—principles that are as valid today as they were a century ago. He also thoughtfully wove in items from other periods ranging from the Georgian era to the modern day.
“I love how the pieces are from different periods, yet they all speak to each other,” says Fink, who has previously worked on such projects as the dancers lounge at American Ballet Theatre and Rick Caruso’s L.A. garage. This harmonious blend illustrates the way the apartment serves as a living example of Art Deco’s role as a transitional bridge toward modernity.
The Manhattan home embodies what Fink calls “the crossroads of everything I love.” He says, “This project expresses my philosophy that beauty in design can be found by using exceptional materiality with simplicity of form and with great care.” His palette of lacquer, cast glass, polished nickel, metallized plaster, classical marble, goat parchment, French-polished walnut, and lush fabrics in muted hues transforms each space into an elegant composition that captures the Art Deco period’s trademark sophistication and reminds us how modern it can feel.
“We believe that the principles that defined Art Deco are relevant today in the pursuit of making rooms of elegance and lasting beauty,” Fink says. This sanctuary stands as compelling proof.
Vestibule
An elevator vestibule previews the glamour within. Cold metallized plaster by Atelier Premiere creates patterns that play with angles and lines, building rhythm and movement toward the ceiling in a classic Deco sunburst motif.
Lounge
Ceiling: Bronzed wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries on the ceiling adds light to the space. The contemporary chandelier from Bernd Goeckler employs classic Deco materials in a clean, sculptural form that echoes the brass throughout. Walls: Rich, French-polished walnut paneling with brass inlay envelops the lounge. “I love walnut for its warmth and the linearity of the grain,” Fink says.
Bath
Inspired by a bath in Paris’s Villa Windsor, this polished, nickel-framed bathroom features Arabescato marble throughout. “I mirrored the room for light and glamour, and to create a sense of scale.”
Bedroom
A bedroom corner features a lacquered screen with mother-of-pearl inlay by Yolande Milan Batteau, a chair from Jonas, a side table from Karl Kemp, and a glamorous 1970s sconce from John Salibello.
Kitchen
“In most Art Deco period apartments, the kitchen was purely utilitarian. But there can be glamour in utility,” Fink says. Lacquered cabinets are paired with polished nickel hardware from Nanz.
Study
This walnut-paneled study, which mirrors the adjacent lounge, features a cantilevered desk built into custom millwork, with a walnut top and a bronze leg. “I wanted to make this room really fitted, like the Orient Express.”
Dining
Table: A custom table creates a dramatic statement of luxury, paired with chairs that honor the era’s refinement. The Georgian mirror from Hyde Park Antiques serves as an elegant historic counterpoint. “It isn’t from the period, but it anchors the room with pride of place.” Ceiling: The ceilings feature a custom rock glass fixture and mirrored “pools,” while a partition of divided windows separates the living and dining areas and enhances the apartment’s sense of scale and light. Rear columns: Fink repurposed vintage lucite and steel columns from the 1970s as torchieres in Deco fashion, echoing both the custom sconces and the fluted details that create visual rhythm throughout the room.
Living
Walls: The lacquered paneled walls framed by antique mirroring are inspired by a San Francisco penthouse by Jean-Michel Frank. “I wanted to give the room a glamorous optical effect while also bouncing the skyline and park views across the space,” Fink says. Benches: The client wanted a place to perch and chat during parties, so Fink placed cowhide-upholstered benches on either side of a parchment coffee table. Screen: Checkerboard, a common Art Deco motif employed often by Deco master Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann (and seen in Kyoto’s Katsura Imperial Villa), is used in this Mu//Katsura screen by Yolande Milan Batteau from Bernd Goeckler. “It adds a sense of sculpture in a decorative way.”
This story appears in the October 2025 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW
Special Projects Editor William Li is the founder of art consultancy Armature Projects and the Emmy-nominated co-host of Lucky Chow, a series about Asian food and culture on PBS.
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