{"id":254835,"date":"2025-04-28T17:09:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T21:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/?post_type=id_project&p=254835"},"modified":"2025-05-02T11:45:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T15:45:31","slug":"east-harlem-townhouse-gordon-espinet-and-lamill-design","status":"publish","type":"id_project","link":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/projects\/east-harlem-townhouse-gordon-espinet-and-lamill-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore An East Harlem Townhouse Shaped By Color And Collaboration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"living
Tonal upholstery and sculptural seating play off the historic fireplace, grounded by a color-blocked rug.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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April 28, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n

Words: <\/span>Hayley Arsenault<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photography: <\/span>Ashok Sinha<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Explore An East Harlem Townhouse Shaped By Color And Collaboration<\/h1>\n\n\n

Color takes the lead in measured ways inside an East Harlem townhouse owned by Gordon Espinet, a longtime creative force at MAC Cosmetics, and his partner Jonathan Ledoux. Saturated hues are layered through finishes and forms; a deep blue gloss anchors the dining room, tile accents enliven the guest rooms, and sunlight threads through the length of the home, linking each space with a warm, intuitive rhythm. The design was spearheaded by Melissa Miller and Helen Lazic of LAMILL Design<\/a>, whose creative history with Espinet traces back to their shared backgrounds in the beauty industry\u2014Miller\u2019s at Est\u00e9e Lauder, and Lazic\u2019s alongside Espinet at MAC\u2014where a collective visual shorthand was cultivated over years of collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGordon and Helen both worked at MAC for many years,\u201d says Miller. \u201cGordon was the SVP of make-up artistry and training, and Helen was the VP of the store design department. As they were both under the same creative umbrella, their aesthetic sensibilities inevitably meshed.\u201d Miller, who was VP of retail store development at Est\u00e9e Lauder, collaborated with Lazic on the development of all freestanding stores and their openings for close to 18 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating A Tranquil Yet Playful East Harlem Townhouse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Tonal upholstery and sculptural seating play off the historic fireplace, grounded by a color-blocked rug.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From the outset, the design process was built on trust and familiarity. \u201cThe clients had very clear ideas of what they wanted their space to feel like,\u201d says Miller. \u201cThey leaned towards having a tranquil and playful space with simple, clean details, and open and lit spaces.\u201d The couple also wanted a home that could support entertaining, showcase artwork and collected furniture from their travels, and feel connected yet layered. Color played a defining role, with Espinet leading its placement throughout. Drawing from his years in makeup artistry, he introduced vibrant accents in thoughtful doses\u2014balanced against wood, neutral finishes, and natural light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the renovation, the house was portioned into small, light-starved rooms. \u201cWe wanted to open up the spaces so that they were linked by the light coming from the front and back of the house so that the new spaces would feel united and lend to the feeling of a single-family home,\u201d Miller explains. The narrow footprint limited the number of partitions, so transitions between rooms were defined instead by texture, material, and color\u2014soft lighting and wood in the kitchen, high-gloss paint surrounding a full-width sliding door in the dining room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glimpse Interiors Defined By Texture + Color<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"dining
Wrapped in deep blue from ceiling to wall, the dining room gains contrast through a large-scale painting and sculptural lighting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Terracotta walls and a vintage record collection define a corner for listening and lounging.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Upstairs, the approach was similarly calibrated. Each room carries its own mood, tailored to different levels of privacy and use. The guest rooms are more open and expressive, with lively tile accents and visual connections to the hallways. The back library and primary suite feel more introspective\u2014designed as retreat spaces with quieter, more focused energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lighting, too, was deeply intentional. \u201cThe owners were very specific about the lighting,\u201d says Miller. \u201cWe went with a very low number of recessed lights and focused on the strategic placement of the decorative pendant fixtures and task lighting.\u201d She adds: \u201cThey wanted it to be complementary and background to the finishes and architecture.\u201d With entertaining in mind, the team also established a series of zones throughout the home\u2014each suited to gatherings of different scales, but still unified by natural light flowing in from the north and south ends. The home is at once open and attuned\u2014shaped by history, filtered through light, and expressed in color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside An East Harlem Gem Transformed By Creative Synergy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"kitchen
Warm wood finishes and restrained lighting shape the kitchen, designed as part of an open layout that connects to the dining room\u2019s deep blue backdrop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"closeup
Joan Crawford Lips Coffee Table by Jay Spectre is a fun nod to Gordon Espinet’s time at MAC Cosmetics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"bedroom
Soft lighting and tonal textures create a calm, inviting atmosphere in the bedroom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"geometric
A geometric stair runner and global art pieces reflect the owners\u2019 extensive travel and love of color.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"bathroom
Bracketed by glass dividers, the bathroom stuns with its minimalist nature.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n