From the moment Marcus Samuelsson made history as the youngest chef
to receive a 3-star rating by the New York Times, life for the Somali-born,
Swedish-raised chef and co-owner of Scandinavian restaurant Aquavit (and
co-owner of a sushi restaurant named Riingo) has been one never-ending
flurry of TV shows and cookbooks. Eighteen months ago, the 36-year-old
Samuelsson made a decision to relocate from his midtown apartment to a
newly renovated Harlem condominium complex where he could, in his
own words, put himself first. “I’ve always wanted to live in Harlem,”
Marcus confesses. “There’s something special about being a person of
color and living in Harlem.”
As a world-renowned master chef, Samuelsson is known for
uniting international influences with traditional fare to create
tasty culinary masterpieces. This knack for creativity and
innovation weaves its way not only into his cuisine but also
throughout his living space. “Modernism, traditionalism and
timelessness can always fit when I do a project,” says
Samuelsson of his 2100 sq. ft. loft-like penthouse duplex,
which at first glance appears more “downtown” than west
Harlem.
The duplex’s lower level—like some of the Scandinavian
dishes Aquavit is well known for—is sparsely decorated. Its
three bedrooms are accentuated only by abstract art on the
walls and windowsills. The penthouse, in sharp contrast, is a
decorative bonanza, where a bright orange rug looks as natural
against the polished wood floors as the sleek, black metalframed
chaise lounge. Hoisted in the center of the back wall
hangs a black-and white-framed work by Harlem based artist
Sanford Biggers. A visually stunning image of a gnarled,
elongated black fisted afro-pic, it is a piece that Marcus is
quite proud to own. “I like to look at things,” he explains.
“I select pieces that make me want to look at them on and on
and on.”
Every item in Samuelsson’s home tells a story.
On the walls, interspersed among the work of local
artists, are Samuelsson’s own creations: mixed media
collages fashioned out of magazine and newspaper
clippings. One utilizes a controversial 1970 LIFE
Magazine cover from which Angela Davis peers
unapologetically. In a more recent work—a commemorative
collage—Samuelsson remembers the
innocent lives lost on 9/11. The role that politics, art
and fashion play in Samuelsson’s decor is perhaps
made most evident in his dining room, where the
chairs are decorated as collages, with subject matter
ranging from Kate Moss to Rosa Parks to the fallen
soldiers in Iraq.
Samuelsson’s duplex is an amalgam of art and design
indicative of a new Harlem that is redefining how it
utilizes space. As Marcus approaches his second
anniversary there, the ever-industrious chef considers
his home a work in progress and is in the process of
making plans to enhance his already impressive 800
square foot terrace. “I have big drawings for this
place,” he says, “but you have to do one space at a
time.” You can already sense Marcus’s creative juices
flowing as he beams charmingly and says, “It’s going
to be nice.”
