“Then we hit upon the fact that we were a few blocks from Canal Street , where they have colored plexiglass, which is a wonderful product,” he adds. “It refracts the light so that even if it's a gray day, the room is warm.”

   In addition to light, Jayne puts a premium on comfort—or, more accurately, luxury. The furniture is as eclectic as the objects. There are an American sideboard and bow-front chest, four lovely early –19 th - century English chairs and two amazing Chinese root chairs – “I bought them because they were big,” says Jayne, who is 6 feet 7 inches tall. But none of it would work if the space weren't anchored by the custom-made oversize sofa and pair of club chairs covered in a nubby tobacco wool. “I always think it's important to have upholstery with a beautiful silhouette,” Jayne says. Equally important are beautiful fabrics—there is chartreuse silk on the Chinese chair seat cushions, and a rich buttercup-yellow woven floral on the daybed in the office. “It is,” he says, “sometimes hard to make an argument for luxury,” and the cost of it, to clients. But when he is his own client, there is no such problem.

The 19 th -century bed, top left, has been Jayne's since he was a child. The purple rectangle painted on the wall helps anchor the bed visually. In the dining room, above, 20 th century chairs by Jean Prouvé contrast with the 19 th -century table and English chairs. The painting is by Michael Hossner. Jayne used mirrored plastic on the wall behind the 19 th century sideboard, top right, which holds a bust of George Washington and a pair of 18 th century Viennese porcelain vases. The sconces are by Belinda Eade.