Mason Gooding’s Home: Where History Meets a Bold New Chapter

TL;DR: Actor Mason Gooding teamed up with designer Roth to renovate his apartment. They kept the soul of the old space—like diamond windows and brass knobs—while adding bold, personal touches like a purple kitchen and a vinyl record nook.

The Big Idea: Old Bones Staying Put

When you move into an old place, people often say "tear it down and start fresh." Designer Roth heard that advice, but she said no way to one special feature.

• The Diamond Windows: A broker suggested replacing the living room windows with the diamond pattern. Roth was horrified. She knew a modern copy would never feel the same.
• The Brass Doorknobs: She also kept the original glass and brass doorknobs throughout. They’re small, dainty, and totally unexpected—like jewelry for the doors.

Important Point: Preserving original architectural details (like windows and hardware) keeps the "soul" of a home alive. Replicas often lack the patina and craftsmanship of the real thing.

A Fresh Start with a Nod to the Past

For Mason Gooding, this apartment isn’t just a crash pad—it’s a fresh start. But he loves that the past lives here, too.

"A lot of what I love about this house is encapsulated in the idea of the past making its way or reinventing itself into the future." — Mason Gooding

The Secret Souvenir: A Single Tile

During the renovation, they found hand-painted kitchen tiles from a previous resident (probably a painter!). They featured bowls of fruit and teddy bears.

1. Gooding couldn’t save them all.
2. He chose one tile with lemons.
3. He tucked it away in storage—a tiny time capsule to remember the lives lived there before him.

The "Analog Nook": Vinyl Over Vodka

Roth saw a cozy spot under the historic dining windows and thought: Perfect bar cart location!

Gooding had a different vision. He doesn’t drink much, but he does collect rare vinyl records (especially Frank Ocean).

How the Nook Came to Life

1. The Pivot: Gooding explained his passion for records.
2. The Design: They built custom shelving to display the prized covers and store the rest.
3. The Vibe: It’s a dedicated "analog" corner—a physical connection to music history in a digital world.

"I like having a relationship to the past or to the analog, and I feel like a record player is a great signifier of that." — Mason Gooding

Important Point: Design works best when it serves your actual habits, not a generic ideal (like a bar you won’t use). A "record nook" beats an empty bar cart every time.

The Fearless Kitchen: Aubergine Dreams

Kitchens are often safe—white, gray, wood. Gooding’s? Deep, glorious purple.

When Roth sent photos of aubergine kitchens, Gooding didn’t flinch. He was "fearless" and "ready to do anything bold."

The Recipe for the Bold Kitchen

• Cabinets: Painted in Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal No. 222 (a rich, brownish-purple).
• Backsplash: Clé zellige tiles (handmade Moroccan tiles with gorgeous color variation).
• Countertops: Viola marble (stunning veining that picks up the cabinet color).
• Hardware: From MG & CO (the finishing jewelry).

Important Point: Cohesion comes from a tight material palette. The purple cabinets, the veining in the marble, and the variation in the zellige tiles all speak the same color language.

A Place to Land

Gooding travels constantly for work and visits his girlfriend in Austin. But this apartment? It’s his anchor.

"I have a physical manifestation of [myself], and that means a lot to me." — Mason Gooding

It’s the spot where the diamond windows catch the light, the lemon tile waits in storage, the Frank Ocean records spin, and the purple kitchen waits for a midnight snack. It’s history and future, shaking hands.

Summary: Key Takeaways

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

1. Why didn’t they just replace the old windows?

The diamond-pattern windows are original architectural details. A modern reproduction would lack the authentic "wavy" glass, the patina on the muntins (the dividers), and the specific craftsmanship of the era. They are the character of the room.

2. What are "zellige tiles" and why are they special?

Zellige (pronounced zil-eej) are handmade, hand-chiseled clay tiles from Morocco. No two are exactly alike—they have beautiful variations in color, texture, and thickness. That "imperfect" look gives the kitchen backsplash depth and soul that factory tiles can’t match.

3. Is "Brinjal No. 222" just… purple?

It’s a complex, sophisticated aubergine. Farrow & Ball paints are famous for their depth. Brinjal has brown/gray undertones, so it changes dramatically with the light—looking moody and dark in shadows, but rich and vibrant in sun. It’s a neutral acting as a color.

4. Why save just one tile?

Renovations often require removing old materials (like a full tile backsplash) for plumbing, electrical, or layout changes. Saving the whole thing wasn’t practical. Saving one is a curated act of preservation—a portable artifact rather than a fixed installation.

5. How can I apply this "past meets future" vibe in a rental?

• Keep what you can: Don’t paint over beautiful original hardware (ask landlord first!).
• Curate "souvenirs": Frame a piece of original wallpaper, a paint chip, or a photo of the space before you moved in.
• Zone for hobbies: Dedicate a corner to your analog passion (records, books, plants, tea).
• Bold accents: Use peel-and-stick wallpaper or a painted bookshelf for a "Brinjal" moment without risking your deposit.

Inspired by the Architectural Digest feature on Mason Gooding’s home, designed by Roth.