Julia Haart's NYC Apartment Is As Unorthodox As Her Life—Tour Her Stylish Tribeca Home

Forbes

2 days ago

Julia Haart is a true force of nature. The entrepreneur and fashion designer might be known for her Netflix show, My UnOrthodox Life, but what's truly unorthodox about her is her incredible sense of interior design. While fans and viewers got a glimpse of it on television, there's a lot they didn't see. It's also changed since filming concluded and her ex-husband, Silvio Scaglia moved out.
Located in Tribeca, Haart lives in a six-bedroom, six-bathroom home—with two additional powder rooms—spanning approximately 8000 square feet across three floors. While the condo is massive by Manhattan standards, it was the outdoor space that truly drew her in: an additional 3687 square feet spread across three levels. She tells me, 'I don't know any other apartment that has that. Most just have a rooftop. I have outdoor space on every level.'
There's also a jaw-dropping view of the Statue of Liberty. 'I can wave to Lady Liberty every morning.'
And while the h0me is ultra-luxurious and sophisticated, the entrepreneur and reality star reveals it's just as comfortable as it is chic. 'I wanted something that makes people smile, that feels unexpected and cozy. I believe houses are meant to be lived in. I don't want anything covered in plastic. I believe that between fabric and feelings, feelings should always win. I never want someone to feel bad if they spill wine or something. It's all okay.'
Here's a look inside some of the most noteworthy spaces in Haart's home.
The Bedroom Closet
While Haart is perhaps on her fourth act as the designer of the shapewear line Body By Julia, her fifth act might just be as an inventor. As someone with a large designer wardrobe, a regular closet bar simply wasn't enough. 'One of my favorite parts of my house is a closet I invented with an Italian company. It's like a dry cleaner or like what you see in Clueless, but totally different—my own invention. As far as I know, it's the only one of its kind on the planet,' says the designer.
She would also like to make her closet system commercially available at some point in the not-too-distant future.
On the other side of the closet is a Lazy Shoesan, which is a large rotating platform that makes it easy for her to choose her footwear for the day. 'I also created a shoe Lazy Susan. Lazy Susans have been around forever, but I made mine just for shoes. It's really fun.'
The Kitchen
Haart values her kitchen above all other rooms, except for maybe her closet. With a stunning view of the Hudson River (which is present throughout the home), it features a mix of modern and contemporary finishes. With open shelves, marble floors, and appliances by Sub-Zero, Miele, La Cornue, and Wolf, it's luxury refined.
One of the most noteworthy features is a sculptural hand-blown light fixture by Jeff Zimmerman. Simply showstopping, Haart notes the piece is one of her favorites. 'I love it because it makes me think of Superman's cave—you know, his thinking cave with all the ice skulls and that whole vibe. That's what it reminds me of, and I just love it.'
Haart was just as intentional about the art she chose for the walls, a painting called Ha Ha Ha by Mel Bochner. 'I love it because it just makes me cheerful and smile. I think there's enough gray in the world, so having a whole painting that's basically laughter and joy in my kitchen—it's fun.'
Lastly, she has a head-turning cutlery bouquet by artist Anne Carrington. 'I love it. It's my favorite piece,' says Haart.
The Dining Room
Featuring bold red walls, this room is unique and modern. With a handmade ceramic fireplace by Brooklyn artist Peter Lane, it's the perfect spot to gather. Haart also designed the wood dining table herself.
The Den
One of the biggest transformations in the home after Haart's former husband moved out was the den, which previously served as his office. Now, she uses it to relax and catch up on television with her 'ridiculous' 102-inch screen. She was thrilled to change it up. 'I moved a Haas Brothers couch from my bedroom in here, added some Gucci chairs, a table, a fridge, a freezer, and munchies on top. It's perfect for watching.'
While the room used to belong to her least favorite person, it now holds furniture from one of her favorite brands. 'I'm obsessed with Haas Brothers. Their stuff is so playful and whimsical. I've got a Haas Brothers table, chairs, side tables—tons of pieces. Even the couch is theirs.'
What's Next For Julia Haart
Haart is super busy working on a variety of Body by Julia launches for fall, including sculpting shirts, tanks, and bodysuits that double as stand-alone ready-to-wear pieces or seamless layers under blazers and dresses. This fall debut will be followed by a revolutionary swimwear collection in December, combining shaping performance with the brand's signature color and print technology.