Client Stories:
Room for Connection for Award-Winning Artists Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad
client: Jon Batiste & Suleika Jaouad
location: Brooklyn, NY
design consultant: Alexis Williams
What Jon Batiste & Suleika Jaouad Wanted
For Grammy- and-Oscar-winning musician Jon Batiste and his wife, Emmy-winning journalist and author Suleika Jaouad, their 19th-century Brooklyn brownstone renovation was a deeply personal labor of love.
The home’s natural arches reminded Suleika of her Tunisian roots while the high tin ceilings and moldings echoed homes in the Garden District of New Orleans where Jon grew up. And so “Tunisiana” – a mash-up of their two backgrounds – was born.
Carrying this melded style into their dressing room, the couple wanted a shared walk in closet to not only house their wardrobes – including Jon’s sequined stage suits – but one that also offered a place of reflection and connection. The room’s centerpiece John Derian “tête-à-tête” chair, an S-shaped couch consisting of two seats facing opposite directions, sets the tone beautifully.
HOW CALIFORNIA CLOSETS DID IT
The layout of the primary suite required a thoughtful design to ensure a seamless transition between rooms. Giant French doors open from the bedroom into the bathroom, with another set on the opposite wall that opens into the dressing area.
Since Jon wanted “a piano in every room,” the walk in closet’s dual wardrobes were designed around this important feature. Custom cabinets flank both sides of the room, with top molding that not only provides a finished esthetic but also cleverly hides the sloped ceiling.
Open shared hanging areas accommodate longer, more elegant clothing, while closed cabinets conceal double-hang sections for everyday wear. Floor-to-ceiling angled shoe shelves hold the couple’s elaborate collection – with Jon needing slightly more space than his wife!
To organize and protect jewelry, watches, and other accessories, Everstyle drawers were added and lend a luxurious boutique feel. A shared vanity space offers get-ready utility as well as whimsy: a vintage record player, Jon’s Grammy, and sentimental personal items for both of them are on display.
Every year we like to pick a theme and this year’s theme was family and freedom.
final result
A plaque on the front of Jon’s Schiedmayer celesta piano in their dressing room reads “Family & Freedom.” Together, Jon and Suleika bring these values foward with lightness and love – a home they can truly call their own.
Design Details
Finish:
Primary Finish: Linen
Doors and Drawers: Shaker Linen
Drawer Box Material: Linen
Counter: Linen
Note: finishes vary by location, inquire with your local California Closets showroom for current finish availability
Metal:
Customer Supplied Hardware
Additional Accessories:
Poles and Accessories: Oil Rubbed Bronze Round Mast
Valet Pin ORB
Everstyle Jewelry Drawers in Matte Oyster Aluminum
Tilted Shoe Racks with Matching Toe Caps
Clear glass shelves
Everstyle drawers with gold metal details
Mirror bottom on drawers
Moldings and Details: Custom Base Molding and Fascia Trimmed to Ceiling
Note: product availability may vary by location
Meet the team
Alexis Williams
Design Consultant
