Ariana Rockefeller's New York Apartment Pays Tribute to Her Grandparents
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When the Collection of David and Peggy Rockefeller hit the auction block at Christie’s in 2018, it quickly shattered records as the highest-selling personal collection ever, grossing over $835 million. Notable in many respects, the sale also pulled back a velvet curtain of sorts, offering a rare glimpse into the home life of one of America’s most storied—and famously private—families. From David and Peggy’s Upper East Side townhouse in New York City to the family’s distinguished Riding Point in Seal Harbor, Maine, suddenly we could see for ourselves what it looked like to live as a Rockefeller.
Be it a narrow city dwelling or 75-acre Pocantico Hills estate, perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic of the Rockefeller homes was a certain rustic yet rarified aesthetic—a particularly Northeastern style of American understatement that happened to be trimmed not just with fine art and objects but the finest. It should come as no surprise, then, that aspects of this philosophy are on display in the Manhattan pied-à-terre of David and Peggy’s granddaughter Ariana Rockefeller, who enlisted the help of designer CeCe Barfield Thompson to fashion a comfortably luxurious abode in a pre-war co-op in New York City's Upper East Side.
For the younger Rockefeller, a lifelong equestrian who exited the professional arena to house and ride horses in Holland when not modeling for Select Models Milan, the guiding vision was a home away from home. One of the references on her mood board was the Palace of Versailles, where she spent time in 2019 when her father, David Rockefeller, Jr., was presented with the inaugural Versailles Award for American Philanthropy in memory of his grandfather, John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
In a nod to this French connection, Thompson enswathed Rockefeller’s bedroom in Pierre Frey’s Madame Elisabeth print, which, according to the label, is named after the sister of Louis XVI and evokes the chiné à la branche dyeing technique that was in fashion at the end of the 18th century. Not only are the walls done in Madame Elisabeth, but so are the curtains and a canopy bed that was inspired by French silhouettes.
To keep it from feeling too 18th century, Thompson designed a custom set of Jean-Michel Frank–style bedside tables in a ceruse finish. The composition of the room is rounded out by a Federal-style mirror that was part of her grandfather’s collection and now hangs over a contemporary French desk she uses as a vanity.
“I spend a lot of time there, especially before getting ready to go out for events," Rockefeller says. "I’m a little shy, so having a personal, cozy space is important to me.”
Her beloved pink is almost everywhere. But there are exceptions. Take, for instance, the chartreuse green in the living room. She immediately gravitated toward this particular shade for a pair of chairs covered in French damask with a chunky bullion fringe. The green appears again in pillows on the sofa and the cushion of a Louis XVI–style bench, above which hang two American etchings from her grandparents’ collection. "We used a lot of textures to keep it from feeling too sweet or too traditional," Thompson says.
Meanwhile, the living room was laid out with entertaining in mind, anchored by an intimate seating arrangement around the fireplace and with benches and chairs lining the perimeter. As such, it’s perfect for a small gathering of four that can expand easily. “Ariana loves to have cocktails before events she hosts,” Thompson says, “She’s very philanthropic, and she’s also a very supportive friend, hosting trunk shows for friends from all over, so those were certainly important things to take into consideration with space planning.”
For Rockefeller, the apartment is a sincere reflection of who she is: light, playful, feminine. Take, for instance, a pair of tiny porcelain tigers that she inherited from her grandparents’ estate. Of all the impressive family heirlooms on display, it’s these smaller tokens she selects when asked to name a favorite. “They’re so cute and so little and remind me so much of my grandfather,” she says.
Her grandfather also watches over her in the library that doubles as an overnight guest room. Here, against walls that Thompson painted in a high-gloss aubergine as a way of reflecting light inside the interior-facing room, hangs a black-and-white portrait by Chuck Close of David Rockefeller, Sr. Without realizing it, Thompson had summoned even more memories of Rockefeller’s grandparents with the color itself. “The lacquered aubergine was CeCe’s idea,” Rockefeller says, “and it really does remind me of my grandfather’s library office in his New York townhouse.”
Other personal treasures adorning the library include her book collection, horse medals from her days as a competitive show jumper, armorial porcelain from her grandparents’ collection, and a pillow on the daybed that was needlepointed by her grandmother. A discreet embellishment back in the dining room pays homage to Rockefeller’s beloved equine companion, an Irish Sport Horse by the name of Stuart.
If you look closely at the de Gournay St. Laurent chinoiserie wallpaper, you’ll spot a mural portrait of Stuart that’s been subtly incorporated into the outsize blooms of the exuberant garden scene.
Rockefeller credits Thompson with striking a calibrated balance between the traditions of her family’s past and personal attributes that make the home decidedly Ariana. “I did learn that I do love having a gown closet,” Rockefeller confides.
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