Somsack Sikhounmuong, creative director of Alex Mill and one of fashion's most beloved figures, has opened his Queens apartment for an intimate home tour that showcases his unique approach to collecting and decorating. The apartment, photographed by Kate S. Jordan, reveals a carefully curated space where every item tells a story of travel, career milestones, and personal discovery.
"I have a lot of stuff," Sikhounmuong admits with characteristic humility, "but each piece reminds me of a trip I took or where I was in my career when I found it." His living room exemplifies this philosophy, painted in Benjamin Moore's Manchester Tan and anchored by a Paul McCobb table sourced from Modlivsup and a sofa from ABC Carpet & Home. The space features a glossy orange Radilum standing lamp, pillows collected from travels to Hawaii, France, and Italy, plus vintage textiles discovered in Portland, Tokyo, and Paris.
The apartment's aesthetic centers on what Sikhounmuong calls "blending styles." He explains, "I love mixing industrial pieces with romantic things that have texture. If a room was all one or the other, it would be a lot less interesting to me. That tension is good." This philosophy is evident throughout, from the checkered Kat & Mouche rug paired with a Marc Hundley tripod lamp to the Hawaiian quilt draped over his dining table.
One of the most meaningful pieces is a photograph by Jamie Hawkesworth hanging above his sofa. "I bought it as a gift for myself after I got a big promotion at J.Crew," Sikhounmuong reveals. "I'm an out-and-about kinda person, but when I'm home, I'm hanging by myself, and 95% of the time I'm on the couch." The living room also features furniture from Rett of Happy Medium, including a chair and console, complemented by John Derian pillows and a Mattias Vriens pedestal.
Sikhounmuong's approach to travel shopping is methodical yet spontaneous. "Before a trip, I'll research one must-visit store that's off the beaten path," he explains. "Then, once I get there, I'll ask the store person for a few of their local recommendations. This often unlocks a bunch of incredible places I never would have known about, and it doesn't require too much prep beforehand." This strategy has filled his home with unique finds, including ceramics he's made himself, marble fruit from John Derian, and objects from Alaska.
Post-COVID, Sikhounmuong discovered ceramics as a new hobby. "I took some classes on the wheel, but I was horrible. I left thinking, 'I don't know what's wrong with me.' Then I tried hand building and never looked back." His ceramic pieces now share space with collected treasures on what he calls his "table of memories" by Marc Hundley. The apartment also showcases his longtime passion for collecting vintage clothing, including a beaded and embroidered bullfighter jacket found on eBay.
The dining corner features BDDW stools and a Xenomania tablecloth over multiple layered rugs. "Over the years, I've brought home a lot of smaller rugs instead of one big one. I like the layered look better, and, honestly, underneath some of the rugs are more rugs that I just don't have room to store anywhere else," Sikhounmuong admits with a laugh.
His collecting habit began early. "In fourth grade, our teacher had magazines for people to cut up and paste with. My sister and I would rescue them and take them home because we thought they were too great to cut. I don't know why kids that age would ever be thinking that, but we were." Today, he owns every issue of Vogue since 1995, preferring vintage publications over digital inspiration. "Pinterest is great, but you often see the same batch of images over and over. When you open an old book, none of those images are even on the Internet."
The kitchen maintains the apartment's eclectic spirit with a Hugo Guinness print and an Atelier Saint André Perrin bowl. Sikhounmuong jokes about single living: "Someone needs to come up with a store that sells groceries for a single person because I've never, ever used all the parsley. If a recipe has more than five ingredients, I'll probably skip it." Despite his casual approach to cooking, he treasures the small mementos on his refrigerator, stating they're among the few things he'd save in a fire, along with his passport.
The bedroom showcases his thoughtful approach to color, with one wall painted in Benjamin Moore's Steel Wool. "I sleep better in dark bedrooms, but I felt nervous about painting my entire room in a dark color. So, I painted one wall. It's just enough." The space features another Hawaiian quilt from Honolulu, a Cafiero Select lamp set, and prints by Hugo Guinness and Deyrolle, plus a custom nightstand by Sean Biloski of Iron Oaks.
Sikhounmuong's philosophy extends to art display, with many pieces deliberately left on floors or stacked casually. "Not all my art is hung up. Some of that is laziness, but some of that is intentional. When you put something on the floor or stack it behind something else, you're taking the white gloves off. It's not unkempt, it's just more casual. There are a lot of ways to make a home feel inviting, and that's one of them." This approach reflects his broader design philosophy of creating spaces that feel lived-in and authentic rather than perfectly curated.
Beyond his professional life and home design, Sikhounmuong reveals his playful side through elaborate costume parties. "Last year, a bunch of coworkers and I dressed up as Marie Antoinette's cakes for Halloween. We made our costumes in the office," he shares, describing another occasion where he and a friend went "all out" while other party guests wore simple accessories like cat ears. This attention to detail and commitment to creativity clearly influences every aspect of his life, from fashion design to home decoration.
