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Alfredo Paredes Creates a Modern Library Around an Electric Pat Steir Painting

The designer pairs one of the artist’s vibrant Waterfall canvases with a calm, neutral palette

By Jacqueline Terrebonne
Room design with modern sofa, abstract painting, wooden furniture, red chair, blue rug, and pendant light.
Alfredo Paredes designed a room around a painting by Pat Steir. The background is Plummett by Farrow & Ball. Photo: Courtesy of Lévy Gorvy, Ingo Maurer, Maison Gerard, Okha, Sacco Carpet, Hollywood at Home, March, 1stdibs, and Monc XIII.

Alfredo Paredes, the longtime design guru behind Ralph Lauren’s home collection as well as the brand’s restaurant and store interiors, has launched his own namesake studio. His flexibility with styles and eye for nuance will give a singular vision to a range of upcoming projects, including a private residence for a celebrity couple on the Baja California peninsula, a penthouse in Chelsea, and an upcoming furniture line with EJ Victor launching in 2021.

“Pat Steir’s work brings such electricity into a room,” says Paredes on selecting the artist’s Vibrating Blue and Red Waterfall as his source of inspiration. “This one has a hot vibrancy that I imagined in a sunny library with a calm, neutral palette for a modern Hollywood Hills home.” 

A person wearing glasses and a dark sweater sitting at a table with framed art in the background
Alfredo Paredes. Photo: RICHARD PHIBBS
Abstract painting with red paint dripping over a blue background with hints of gold speckles.
Photo: TOM POWEL IMAGING, COURTESY OF LÉVY GORVY

Vibrating Blue and Red Waterfall (2016) by Pat Steir from Lévy Gorvy.

Red leather armless chair with a metal frame, brass accents, and upholstered seat, viewed from the side.
Photo: COURTESY OF MAISON GERARD

Jacques Adnet armchair from Maison Gerard. 

“The Adnet chair is such a classic. It gives the space some vintage feel.”

Modern three-tiered ceiling lamp with white shades and a contrasting red decorative ring suspended from a white fixture.
Photo: COURTESY OF INGO MAURER

Floatation chandelier by Ingo Maurer. 

Curved modern beige sofa with smooth upholstery and dark wooden round legs on a white background.
Photo: NIEL VOSLOO, Courtesy of Okha

Repose sofa by Okha. 

“The pieces I chose have organic forms so that the painting really sings.”

Square blue woven rug with thick braided texture.
Photo: COURTESY OF SACCO CARPET

Rug by Sacco Carpet. 

“This navy rug grounds the space. It’s made out of swimsuit fabric, woven-polyester-yarn strips, so it is spongy on your feet but won’t dry out or mold.”

Large brown ceramic bowl with subtle decorative rim, set against a plain white background.
Photo: COURTESY OF MARCH

Stoneware bowl by Christiane Perrochon from March. 

“I find calm in the neutral palette. I’m Zen, and I like colors flowing together.”

Blue ceramic table lamp with a white fabric lampshade on a white background.
Photo: Courtesy of Hollywood at Home

Lamp by Natan Moss Ceramics from Hollywood at Home. 

“I love ceramic lamps where the glaze is dripping. I just buy them to own them. They look mid-century but are not.”

Round wooden coffee table with natural grain patterns and rustic finish.
Photo: COURTESY OF 1STDIBS

Monolith cocktail table by Kaspar Hamacher from 1stdibs.

Wooden dining table with a long, minimalist design and two sturdy, T-shaped legs on a white background.
Photo: COURTESY OF MONC XIII

Trestle table by Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co. from Monc XIII.

“I love the simplicity of this dining room table. It can also be customized in a desk size.”

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2020 issue in the section The Artful Home: Center Piece. Subscribe to the magazine.