The Bedroom: Csoke uses the striped ottoman from the Inside for books and Livia Cetti’s paper Green Vase geraniums. “I can’t keep a plant alive for anything,” Csoke says. The convex mirror and plaster eye are from West End Antiques Mall in Richmond, where Csoke went to college.
Photo: Annie Schlechter
For the first couple years after Scott Csoke moved into their railroad apartment, it had the same generic off-white walls of any rental. But when the artist was painting a gallery in Richmond, Virginia, for their first solo show, it made them think, Why not bring that idea home? “I kept talking myself out of it,” Csoke says. Not only would the work have to be painted over when they move out, but Csoke shares the apartment with a college friend, and while she trusts them as an artist, she was a little nervous about how it would turn out.
But in late 2023, Csoke says, “I just walked to the hardware store, bought a can of pink paint, and began in my bedroom.” They started on a small area of the wall between a closet and the door. The idea was to invent some history by creating trompe l’oeil plaster molding. Blocking it out was done spontaneously, without rulers or tape. The whole thing was meant to evoke the style of fashion illustrator Christian Bérard. “People have done this style since,” Csoke says, “but I just did my own little wonky spin on it.”
Once satisfied with the bedroom walls, Csoke added white accents to the red dresser, before moving on to the kitchen, where the pink paint gave prominence to the framed art and hanging pots and pans — then on to the living room. By the end of the week, all that was spared was their roommate’s bedroom. She was happy with the new look, but felt she already had enough going on in her room.
Csoke’s own bedroom doubles as a studio — their work has been shown at Alexander DiJulio and Sargent’s Daughters — where they have an easel tucked into the corner. As small as that space is, it works perfectly for most of their canvases, though it helps that Csoke doesn’t mind putting their paint tray on the bedspread.
The red dresser is from Scott Csoke’s previous apartment in Bed-Stuy. “It was white, but I knew it wanted to be red,” they say. The painting above it is by Donald Robertson.
Photo: Annie Schlechter
The Living Room: The red chair is from Cure Thrift. The art was inspired by a childhood obsession with handwriting. “When I was younger, I would obsessively write I’m not gay to really try to push that down.”
Photo: Annie Schlechter
“I knew I wanted to find a cute settee for the space,” Csoke says. They found it in the blue velvet couch from West End Antiques Mall. Csoke painted the large bouquet right before their 30th birthday.
Photo: Annie Schlechter
When not in use, the television is covered in a canvas Csoke painted.
Photo: Annie Schlechter
The Inside striped ottoman has a counterpart in the bedroom, and the carpet is from Wayfair. “I try to mostly thrift or buy vintage,” Csoke says, “but sometimes you have to buy new for bright colors. If you want cute stuff you really have to look for it.”
Photo: Annie Schlechter
The Studio: Csoke’s work here is based on Baroque paintings of animals. “I love the silliness and the drama of those old paintings,” they say.
Photo: Annie Schlechter
Photo: Annie Schlechter
The Kitchen: The two matching plates on the wall are from the Tory Burch flagship on Mercer, which Csoke loves for its “amazing found objects.” The others are from John Derian, where Csoke works. “I will sometimes take home the broken plates and glue them back together.” The piece to the right is by Csoke, who painted the frame pink to match.
Photo: Annie Schlechter
The Gainsborough print is from RVA Antiques, and the Steiff animals from John Derian, West End Antiques Mall, and Quirk Gallery in Richmond. As for the Staffordshire dogs: “I love how silly they are, but they’re also this very serious collectible,” Csoke says.
Photo: Annie Schlechter
Csoke’s skirt is by Christopher John Rogers for J. Crew.
Photo: Annie Schlechter
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