Bastian

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A trove of just-so classicsand distinctivecollectibles, mensweardesignerMichaelBastian'sNew York City aoartment sharesthe same seamlessblend of casualand formal as his edgy-preppy,all-Americanclothes. Designer Michael Bastian is on a mission to perfect men's sportswear. "I try to create something modern and luxurious, but also a little broken-down and familiar," he says of his namesake brand. "There's nothing better than a l0-year-old, navy cashmere sweater you wear so often that your elbows start to peek out." That affection for tried-and-true staples a little rough around the edges also comes to life in his 600-square-foot West Village apartment. An avid scavenge4 Bastian has been salvaging treasures, quite literally, from other people's trash for 20 years. Take, for instance, the oil landscape painting above the mantel, which he spotted in a Dumpster while on a lunch break. Or his taxidermy hawk, nicknamed Peanut, unearthed at a Paris flea market and brought home in a garbage bag pre-9/11. Each object's storied past reinforces the lived-in quality of his decor (not unlike that cashmere sweater). But Bastian's domain is far from frozen in time. Plush furniture and black-and-white photography by contemporary artists like Deborah Turbeville help keep the arrangement in the now. To pull it all together, Bastian chose a macho yet earthy palette, with traditional menswear-influenced materials as pillows on the sofa, a wingmen-herringbone houndstooth-covered armchair in the bedroom. He also injects an equally less obvious thread of modernity into his fashion line: Grandpa tweeds are recast as hip, slim-cut suits and sold as separates for optimum mixing and matching.

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strong,masculinebones "I approached my home the same way a guy should his wardrobe," Bastian says. "You invest in a few items, and other pieces-modern elements, humorous bits-just find their way in." A good backdrop, like a good physique, doesnt hurt, though. Bastian took full advantage of his perfectly square 14', sun-drenched living room to establish an intimate conversation haven. His "Volvo of a sofa," scored during his prefashion days installing home collections at PoIo Ralph Lauren, was swathed in rugged natural suede; across from it sit two tickingstriped, thrift-shop club chairs (which he's reupholstered no fewer than six times-"I'd rather refurbish than buy brand-new," he explains). Down the hall in his office (opposite), formerly a proper dining room, a hefty chrome desk is paired unexpectedly with a beachy teak chair and plain wicker baskets for storage. Tattered, muted tribal rugs layered over sea grass anchor each vignette. soFA FABRIc (similar to shoro?l) "sensuede" in Cappuccino $91.99/yard, calicocorners-com for stores CIIAIRFABRIC Classic ticking in Black $6.5O/yard, waverly.com for stores x-BENcH (sinrilcr to shoun) From $169.95 ballarddesigns.com PATTERNEDRue (similar to shor0ll) 4' x 6' lranian kitim $499 ABC Carpet & Home (212) 473-3OOO CHAIR (similar fo shoutt, right) "Abacus" $495 jaysonhomeandgarden.com

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CHAIR TeaK classicteak.com DESI{ (sirndldt .'to shown) "Irig" $149 cb2 ,com LAMP (simil&r ta shown) Pl ati num - gl az ed c er am i c $1,815 c hr i s topher s pi tz m i l l er c om fot stores POSTERRobert Longo " Er i c ," bi r dfi near t.c om for other works by artist MAGAZINE RACK Steel " Bl ow U p" $107 al es s i .com foT stoTes PATTERNEDRUG l s i i r r i l c r to n- hor ( '[)6'x 9'R us s i an Kazak $849 and sEA-GFAss RUG (rl11clerpntt?n1ed ?'ug) $4slsquare yard, ABC Carpet & Home (212) 473-3OOO WALL PAINT ValsPar Si gnatur e C ol or s i n Si m pl y Gr ay #WV370O6. lowes.com for stores

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a senseof humor (\Mithsplashesof red) Much like the cheeky phrases woven in reverse on his puilovers, Bastian's interiors are rife with surprising elements. He revitalized the formerly white shelves of the kitchen cabinets with a rousing crimson, then filled them with a high-low cache of dollar-store champagne glasses,hand-me-down fine china and Tiffany candlesticks. More playful moments in the bedroom: A toile curtain depicting Lafayette's arrival in North America fosters the illusion of an extla-wide window hidden behind the headboard, and an Audubon print of an lcelandic falcon "divebombing" a rival energizesan adjacent wall. On the floor, the Navajo rug introduces that just-right red Bastian's so fond of, which also shows up on accent pillows, a tumbler of carnations ("a cheap but underappreciated flower," he says)and the bathroom's medicine cabinet. "It's really all about creating this happy little squirrel nest," Bastian adds. "To not be traveling and indulge in my own tailored-to-me surroundings-that's the biggest luxury."

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dressedman What will we see in the fall line? "lt's about what it means to be a man in New York City today, trying to find himself in a sea o f p e o p l e . I 'm a l s o l a u n c h i n g a m e n 's collection for Bill B l a s s i n S p r i n g '0 9 that will be more uptown and buttoned-up-like the big brother to my younger, more laid-back guy." Whose fashion sense do you admire? "1'm always impressedby kids who fearlesslythrow on whatever they like.I remember this one little boy who wore a Batman costume top-well after Halloween-under a red down vest with corduroys and work boots."

'!ohn F. Kennedy Jr. had the best natural American style. He knew how to mix in the unexpected without it looking contrived."

A stack of ' 8Os GQs i n the hallway is a test am ent to Bastian' s "if ther e 's no r oom , m ake r oom" appr oacn.

"Frank O'Hara's poetry captures the quintessential New York experiencel 'm a huge tan;' "Selected Poerns" $19.8o AMAZON.COM

fl'te collu;lton A sumptuous cashmere cap for the kid at heart. "Monkeg" hot $s6o

EED "Costa Del Sol" $5,695 r alphlaur enhome.com for stoTes HOUNDSTOOTHCHAIR FABRIC "Mar tin" $7. 75l yard, waverly.com for stores ToILE CURTAIN (sintik]f, to shoun) cotton "Del i c es des Quatres Saisons" $85/ yar d, pier r edeux.com RUG (similar to shOu'n) I' x ll' Indian kilim $999 ABC Carpet & Home (212) 473-30OO WALL PAINT Valspar Signature Colors in Colonial Beige #WV4OO O 1, lowes,com for stores opposite page: CABINETPAINT (similar to sllolD?l) Dressage Red #TH41, ralphlaurenpaint .com for stor es

T A K E A V IDEO TOUR OF MICHAEL' SMANLY ABODE AT dolnilromag.coltr/go/bostiatt.

The standard hunting jacket gets a jolt from safety-orange corduroy. Technicol nAlon $2,19s A Norwegian pattern reincarnated as a sporty, zip-up cardigan. Brushed alpoco slDeater $98o GOTO MICHAELBASTIANNYC ,COMFORINFORMATION.

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