With its Old World apartment buildings and brownstones, its coffeeshops, bookstores, and bakeries, the Upper West Side of Manhattan is not usually thought of as a hotbed of avant-garde creativity. Camille Henrot, a French artist whose bronze sculptures are currently showcased in a one-person exhibition at the Hauser & Wirth gallery in Manhattan, admits that the neighborhood was an unlikely choice. In the 11 years I lived in New York, I think I was on the Upper West Side maybe once, she says. But the moment I stepped into this apartment, I had a crush on the view.Her husband, acclaimed composer and sound artist Mauro Hertig, who performs as Xol Meissner, notes that the area, with its parks and quiet streets, is ideal for their two young sons and dog. Theres constant movement on the Hudson, he says. The view is great for the boys, especially when the big boats go by. Its like a megahighwaybut slow.Jesper LundMauro Hertig (left) and Camille Henrot in the living room of their Manhattan apartment with their dog Schoggi. To update the space, which had not been renovated in decades, a friend suggested Husband Wife, a firm known for its refined, elegantly detailed work. Its founders, Justin Capuco and Brittney Hart, knew that working with two such innovative talents might be challenging. Capuco says, For sure, we were intimidated. Hart adds, We had to navigate the differing needs and desires of a highly creative couple. But we are a creative couple. So we understand the nuances of that.We had to navigate the differing needs and desires of a highly creative couple.They all struggled with how to adapt the layout until the designers proposed the dramatic idea of transforming the living room into the boys bedroom and play area, and tearing down walls to create an expansive living room, dining area, and open kitchen. To address Hertigs fear that at his heightsix feet, five incheshe might feel a bit claustrophobic in the space, the designers pointed out that softening the angular beams and posts with gentle curves would give the illusion of more height and air.Now a curved sofa seems to snuggle into the corner of the living room, the perfect spot from which to enjoy those killer views. Next to it sits a unique fireplace designed by Adam Charlap Hyman. The co-founder of the ELLE DECOR A-List firm Charlap Hyman & Herrero met Henrot years ago, when both were featured in an exhibition, and he was inspired by the famous tile fireplace that Robert Winthrop Chanler designed for Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in 1917. Even the kitchen is unexpected. The cabinetry swoops and curves, the bronze hardware was cast in shapes that resemble punctuation marks, and the counters are higher than standard to accommodate Hertig, who says, proudly, I do most of the cooking.The designers also collaborated with Charlap Hyman to create for the boys a magical room that evokes the folksy charm of a Swiss cuckoo clock, complete with a mysterious grotto straight out of a Hardy Boys novel.Tour Camille Henrot and Mauro Hertig's Manhattan ApartmentColor was another challenge. Camille and Mauro originally wanted more dramatic colors, Hart says. Hertig adds, We completely underestimated the light. Now the main areas are painted in a warm, peachy cream. But vivid shades do appear. A guestroom has vibrant red walls and curtains; the adjacent bath features sage porcelain tiles. The pale pistachio primary bedroom has its own burgundy bath with a fossil stone counter. We call it our vampire bath, Henrot jokes.Throughout, custom pieces mix with vintage furnishings, many from Henrots mother, an artist she credits with inspiring her sensibility. In her work, which deals with bodies, beasts, and the primal bonds between mother and child, Henrot moves from film to sculpture to painting. Similarly, she sees no rigid distinction between her art and items she creates for her home. Just as she works in bronze for her sculptures, she also uses the material for decorative objects including hardware and the living rooms impressive cocktail table, her first furniture design. She also designed the rooms rug, based on one of her watercolors.Jesper LundThe primary bedroom is painted in Sprout by Sherwin Williams and the artwork is by Mai Thu Perret.Small niches throughout showcase her sculptures, and the walls are hung with her own art and pieces by friends like Elizabeth Jaeger, Misha Kahn, and Greg Carideo.The result is an apartment that serves day-to-day practicalities even as it celebrates the ineffable and magical. Brittney and Justin were ideal partners, Hertig says. Hart adds, If there werent a deadline, we would still be collaborating. This story originally appeared in the March 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBE