"From the sidewalk of their Greenwich Village   building, the residence of Bessie and Oliver Corral is understated yet ideally located. Once inside the light-filled two-story condo, we are no longer in typical Manhattan—we are immersed in the world of Arjé. Through curated textures, materials and shapes, the handcrafted home brings the Arjé ethos to life. Inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle and the couple’s global roots, Bessie and Oliver founded the brand together in 2017, bringing their design perspective to a larger audience."

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Credits: Words By Danielle DeBoe Harper, Photographed by Joe Schmelzer, Styled by Edward Gallager, Video DP Neil Lett, Produced by Tiempo Studio for Moen.

Moen: Thank you for inviting us into your home. I feel so fortunate to experience this space in person. It’s so special. When you began the project, how were you hoping it would make you feel at the end of the renovation period?

Arjé: When we began the project, we had already launched ARJÉ from our apartment back in 2017, where our home served not only as our living space but also as a showroom and studio. It was an integral part of our brand's story, and we always held a vision of aligning our home with the essence of our brand. We constantly daydreamed about transforming our living space and making it truly reflect our aesthetic.

During the first three months of the Covid pandemic, we found ourselves in London with our family, away from our space. It was during this time that we made the decision to turn those dreams into reality and create meaningful changes (in our world and home) upon our return home. Our primary objective was to create a home again and remove our studio and showroom from our living space and create our dream living environment. Our initial vision for the renovation was to create a simple arch that would connect the kitchen to the dining room. The dining room, with its abundant natural light, had previously functioned as our work studio/office, while the kitchen lacked windows and natural light, making it feel dark and enclosed. Since we spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and entertaining, it was essential for us to open up the space, allowing it to feel more open and spacious. Our plan was to address this issue and subsequently give the entire space a fresh coat of paint and redecorate, with the ultimate goal of infusing warmth and transporting a slice of the Mediterranean to our beloved NYC home.

While we were in London, we took long walks and discussed how we could evolve our brand into a full lifestyle offering - a dream we had cherished since day one but thought would take years to realize.

When we returned to New York City in June 2020, we embarked on the project with enthusiasm. Little did we know that the project would evolve beyond our initial intentions. From the humble idea of creating an arch and doing some painting, we ended up undertaking a complete renovation that lasted 18 months. This endeavor marked the beginning of a new direction for our brand and purpose. We personally took on the renovations, learning along the way and doing everything by hand, despite having no prior experience. The thrill of learning, doing, and achieving was an incredible feeling. Throughout the renovation process, we lived in the space, which made our days physically demanding. However, in the evenings, we would open a bottle of wine and let our creativity flow as we designed, tested, and experimented with ideas. It truly felt like we were working on a blank canvas, where any dream could become a reality. Our unwavering goal throughout the project was to create a space that exuded warmth and transported anyone who entered to the Mediterranean, offering a special sanctuary amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City.

Moen: Follow-up question: Did you feel that way at the end?!

Arjé: Absolutely! We truly felt that way at the end of the renovation project. Although the scope of the project expanded beyond our initial vision, we always held our constant goal of creating a space that exuded warmth and transported you to the Mediterranean. Keeping this goal in mind throughout the entire process was crucial and helped inform and guide so many decisions even as things got harder and we were met with challenges. We are so happy with the result and feel that we have achieved our desired outcome of creating a special sanctuary within the heart of New York City.

Moen: I have so many questions about your home but let's first back up a little and learn a bit more about you two! As I understand it, neither of you are native New Yorkers. Where did you grow up and how did you land in NYC?

Bessie:I grew up in London and from a young age, I had a strong desire to work for Donna Karan. It was a dream that had been brewing in my mind since I was just 9 years old. Despite my initial inclination to stay in London and attend Central Saint Martins, my parents encouraged me to pursue my dreams and move to New York City. I vividly remember my mom telling me that if I truly wanted to work for Donna Karan, I needed to be in NYC and allow fate to work its magic. And it did! Moving to New York City and studying fashion design at Parsons ultimately paved the way for my dream to become a reality.

Moen: I’m a designer and married to an architect. When I think of our respective aesthetics, myself drawn to historical details and my husband a very contemporary architect, I think of he and I as a Venn diagram. We come at design from different points of view but find our sweet spot in the middle. The result is eclectic. From the consistent (and not at all eclectic) aesthetic you two have so brilliantly defined here, I suspect that your respective aesthetic preferences really overlap. Do you feel like your design preferences share a lot in common?

Moen: What influences your design aesthetic?

Bessie: My design aesthetic comes from a deeply personal place. It is rooted in my Mediterranean background and the connection I have always felt with the world around me. Growing up in London with Turkish parents (and Spanish heritage), my summers in Turkey and within the Mediterranean were filled with rich experiences that shaped my aesthetic sensibilities and have become the foundation of my creative expression. Throughout my life, I have always been drawn to the human body and its connection to design. I am fascinated by how design can shape our experiences and emotions. It has been a constant pursuit of mine to create spaces and pieces that evoke a particular feeling, that resonate on a deeper level. Whether it’s through color choices, incorporated textures, or the careful curation of elements, I strive to create environments that engage the senses and create a sense of connection.

Oliver: My design aesthetic also stems from a genuine place; growing up with my grandparents, I developed a special connection to the art of craftsmanship and a profound respect for the cycle of nature. They were completely self-sufficient and took care of everything themselves, from tending to an orchard to building everything. This upbringing—ingrained in my DNA—has always influenced my aesthetic and design process, emphasizing a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, a holistic approach to design, and a love for the natural world and natural materials.

Moen: Where do you seek out design inspiration?

Arjé: Everywhere and anywhere! We don’t often “seek it,” we are always open to it. Travel is perhaps our most obvious source as every new environment allows us to see, think, and feel differently. But we can be inspired by anything—a color, texture, story, building, garden, meal, dream, meditation. We are most inspired when we have a sensory experience.

Moen: With taking on a renovation project yourselves, how much of the end result was known prior to beginning and how much evolved naturally as the project unfolded?

Arjé: In all honesty, the result of our renovation project was quite different from our initial expectations. As we shared earlier, we began with the idea of creating a simple arch between the kitchen and dining room, along with painting the walls and redecorating. However, once we started the project and opened that wall, we couldn’t help but let our imaginations run wild. It became a living project, where we embraced the opportunity to dream big and explore new possibilities, redoing every single corner of the home. We lived in and worked in the space at the same time, and the evolution of the design unfolded naturally as we allowed ourselves the freedom to experiment and push boundaries. It was such an exciting and transformative journey that exceeded our original vision and became the foundation for the new direction of our company.

Moen: Tell me about Arjé.

Arjé: Arjé is more than a brand—it’s a way of life and has always been an extension of our lives. We see it as a destination where thoughtful curation meets Mediterranean inspired living. We have established three strong tenets within our brand: Created, Curated, and Collaborated with Arjé. We bring together our personally-crafted pieces alongside handpicked works from talented makers and artists from around the world, and partner with creatives in different fields to create unique products. We strive to elevate everyday experiences with intention and beauty, inviting you to slow down, savor the moment, and celebrate the art of living. It’s an ever expanding world that grows as we grow and evolves as we evolve. It’s our passion and our business. We are so fortunate to have the most incredible clients that grow with us through each expansion we have embarked on.

Moen: I understand that you designed quite a few pieces of furniture in your home. Everything feels perfect for the space. What was your process and did you have any prior furniture-making experience?

Arjé: Thank you for your kind words! We had no prior experience in furniture-making before embarking on this project. We are completely self-taught in this regard. Oliver, with his background as a patternmaker, played a pivotal role in guiding the process. He applied the same principles he learned in creating clothing to the process of building furniture. During a “break” in our renovation process—as we focused on the business side of building out Arjé HOME and taking a moment to re-align—Oliver began experimenting with furniture-making. He utilized his equipment and skills to start building the pieces we had sketched out. Initially, we had planned to take our sketches to a wood workshop to create prototypes, but we ended up creating all the first prototypes ourselves. It was an incredible, hands-on process. We learned as we went along, making adjustments and refinements to achieve the desired designs. It was a true labor of love, and we’re thrilled with the results. Designing and making our own furniture allowed us to have complete control over the aesthetics and functionality, ensuring that each piece was tailored perfectly to our space. Overall, the experience of designing and creating our furniture was a deeply rewarding one, and now serves as the foundation of our brand! At our studio in Dumbo, we are producing furniture, working on custom commissions, and creating our new furniture collection.