The sofa Diana Viñoly designed was “inspired by one I saw many years ago in Paris,” she says. “I always kept a picture of it, and I copied most of the proportions.” It was built by the artist and furniture-maker Ethan Ames. “I was pressuring him a lot. He did it very fast. For somebody who is not a designer, that sofa should cost $13,000.” The zebra-striped chairs are by Alvar Aalto, the rug from Odegard.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY THOMAS LOOF