Inside BILT Rewards founder Ankur Jain and former WWE wrestler Erika Hammond's home in NYC

Asthetique designed a soulful sanctuary full of pause, personality, and quiet sophistication, where every detail invites you to slow down and stay a while.

https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/inside-bilt-rewards-founder-ankur-jain-and-former-wwe-wrestler-erika-hammonds-home-in-nyc/ 

*Image Caption: Enveloped in warm plaster, the lounge is a sunset oasis with breathtaking views of the skyline. Grooved smoked Murano glass sconces shimmer on the walls, casting a soft halo over the On the Rocks sofa by Francesco Binfaré for Edra, a glossy NR 2 Liquid Metal Coffee Table, and cloud-like pouffes upholstered in sumptuous sheepskin. Gari Markarian*

The glittering nuptials of BILT Rewards founder Ankur Jain and former WWE NXT performer Erika Hammond before the great pyramids of Giza, in April 2024, was a spectacle so lavish it could have woken the pharaohs. But when the festivities were complete, and the newlyweds returned from their honeymoon in the Maldives, it was almost as if they shed their ceremonial splendour and assumed the same placidity as their mummified witnesses—no procession, no pyramid suite, just two sun-kissed mortals with a taste for the quiet life. In New York City, no less. By the time they reached out to Julien Albertini and Alina Mehrle of New York City-based design practice, Asthetique, to breathe life into a space for their next chapter, they had an outline of a brief. They imagined something serene and sophisticated, while also serving as a backdrop for their art collection. “We were inspired by the idea of youthful serenity—spaces that feel elegant and polished, but still have this fun, modern energy that really reflects Ankur and Erika’s vibe and everything they’ve built together,” says Albertini, who worked with Mehrle to develop a design language for the West Village apartment that evoked the idea of a sanctuary.

*Image Caption: The pocket between the dining room and guest room keeps the sun close.*

*Image Caption: The living room basks in the afternoon afterglow.*

 Understated Luxury

The thing about designing a home for a couple, especially one as creatively distinct as Jain and Hammond—he breathes technology, she’s a former beauty queen and the founder of STRONG by Erika, a boxing-inspired fitness app—is finding a way to hold a mirror to who they are individually, and who they are together. As Mehrle explains, “Ankur and Erika represent the perfect fusion of intellectual sophistication and dynamic energy. As a tech visionary, Ankur brings a methodical, forward-thinking approach to everything he does, while Erika's background as a former WWE performer and fitness entrepreneur adds an element of strength, determination, and vibrant personality to their shared aesthetic.” A good point of departure, she and Albertini decided, was somewhere at the intersection of Scandinavian minimalism—with its clean lines and muted palette—the Japanese philosophy of zen, and the crisp neutrality of modern art gallery spaces.

*Image Caption: Even with just one artwork, the dining room could easily pass for a gallery, thanks to a striking painting by French artist Thomas Labarthe, also known as Toma-L, created specially for Jain and Hammond. A circular travertine table and elegant Murena chairs by Lazzarini & Pickering provide a sculptural, neutral counterpoint to the colourful composition.*

Open Spaces

Though the home is all of 3,100 square feet, it feels larger, thanks to its airy layout, clever use of light, and a restrained material palette that lets each space breathe—and serve as an overture to the next. For example, a mirror multiplies the splendour of the luminous hallway, whose soaring ceilings and painting by Puebla-based artist H.G. Schiavon set the tone for the home’s quiet drama and sense of considered elegance. The lounge follows suit, with hushed plaster walls framing the views like golden hour postcards, and, come sundown, basking in the glow of the otherworldly Murano glass wall sconces. For every outward focal point, the designers introduced an inward one—or three—as in the case of the cloud-like On the Rocks sofa by Francesco Binfaré for Edra, the glossy NR 2 Liquid Metal Coffee Table, and the dream-inspired pouffes upholstered in sumptuous sheepskin, all thoughtfully placed within the same room.

The kitchen is anchored by a grey stone island, its milky veining offering a dramatic contrast to the sculptural Pedro stools in a soft, creamy hue.

*Timber millwork softens the kitchen’s hard lines and Stygian palette, adding warmth and texture to the otherwise moody, monolithic space.*

*When guests visit, the office masquerades as a guest bedroom, thanks to a Murphy bed that hides in plain sight.*

Tour De Force

Albertini and Mehrle don’t like to pick favourites, but they make an exception in matters of art. “The dining area’s really special; it’s got this amazing piece by French artist Toma-L that he created just for Ankur and Erika,” says Mehrle. “It captures their whole vibe: bold, fun, full of life. Toma-L puts it best himself when he talks about his work and what it means to connect with people through art: ‘If there has to be a concept, mine is to not have one. But by saying this, it’s clear that I create one. I reserve the right to paint without having had any ideas before starting the piece. In other ways, I paint freely with the only objective being to finish the act I have started.’” This element of whimsy reverberates around the home, expressed not only through art, but furniture too. It’s there in the curvilinear travertine dining table and Lazzarini & Pickering’s Murena chairs, and again in the Murphy bed in the guest bedroom, Albertini’s own design, that hides in plain sight. Where the designers pared back the palette, they let form and personality take the lead: in the primary bedroom, a Muskoka bed and amorphous bench bring softness and sculpture in equal measure. “This space embodies the restorative qualities that Ankur and Erika sought, offering a perfect retreat after a busy day,” says Albertini—capturing, in essence, the home’s quietly confident soul.

The main bedroom is a tranquil haven, wrapped in soft grey walls and anchored by just the essentials: a bed by Muskoka, a custom bench, and travertine side tables. “This space embodies the restorative qualities that Ankur and Erika sought, offering a perfect retreat after a busy day,” says Albertini.

Dark, brooding, and dramatic, the theatre room is a moody cocoon built for all seasons—perfect for movie marathons, midday naps, or disappearing from the world entirely.

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Additionally to the Architectural Digest article is information about the primary bedroom artwork:

To further elevate the tranquil haven of the primary bedroom, the designers and owners selected a soft and dynamic textural abstract painting by Nashville artist Angela Simeone. This carefully chosen artwork adds a refined and chic layer, propelling the room's design forward while seamlessly complementing the soft grey walls, Muskoka bed, custom bench, and travertine side tables, ultimately enhancing the restorative retreat that Ankur and Erika envisioned for unwinding after bustling days.