Who is Will Ferrell?

Film actor and writer Will Ferrell launched his career doing standup comedy and won his first major television role on Saturday Night Live. Many TV authorities rank him among the most talented and influential performers to have graced the show’s esteemed cast list.

Ferrell skipped the usual forays of SNL alumni in TV sitcoms, instead moving straight to Hollywood filmmaking. He’s best known for his roles in “Elf” and “Anchorman.” Ferrell did eventually segue into TV sitcoms, filling the void created by Steve Carrell’s departure from the cast of “The Office.”

The actor also writes. His one-man show, “You’re Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush” earned the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2011 and a Tony Award–nomination.

Ferrell married auctioneer Viveca Paulin-Ferrell, with whom he has three children; Magnus, age 17, Mattias, 15, and Axel, 12. Because parents’ careers require travel and a bi-coastal existence, the couple owns two homes – one in Los Angeles and one in New York City. They also own a vacation home in Lough Sheelin in Mountnugent, Co. Cavan.

Where Does Will Ferrell Live?

Let’s delve into the amazing New York City apartment the Ferrells share with their three children.

The 2.800-square-foot contemporary loft in downtown Manhattan began as a Victorian-era printing factory. Converted to an apartment before the Ferrells took possession in 2010, the home had stayed true to its roots. Its dark, industrial tones needed lightning up, so the couple hired interior designer Shawn Henderson.

Henderson went to work removing cherry built-ins, glass partitions, and slate wall tiles that overpowered the space and made it a bit dreary. Revamping the bathrooms and kitchen, the interior designer replaced the slate with granite and zinc. The roomy kitchen now features fossilized-granite counters and when they cook, a mottled zinc backsplash protects the wall behind the stove. Its cabinetry received a satin-finish lacquer.

Although the factory used high-quality materials, such as maple floors, those dark woods don’t lend themselves to family life. Henderson whitewashed the floors to create a brighter, airier look without removing the historic flooring.

Rather than forcing a major renovation, the interior designer found ways to work around the quirks of the once-industrial space. Henderson used the factory’s cast-iron columns and exposed-brick arches to divide the vast area that the couple uses as their living room. This offers the space a human scale and created a play area for the couple’s then small children.

Henderson used the couple’s own collection of 1940s and 1950s Scandinavian and American furniture, curated by Paulin-Ferrell, to furnish the space. He created conversational groupings between the cast-iron columns to provide intimate settings for private conversations. To create ambiance and help heat the immense space, he installed a faux electric fireplace/heater in one wall.

The eat-in kitchen offers both a breakfast nook that seats four and a dining table that seats eight. This roomy seating accommodates the couples’ frequent family guests for meals.

The couple kept some of the factory’s built-ins, such as the floor-to-ceiling bookcases in what now serves as the master bedroom. They received matching white paint along with the walls to create a unified space. Storage cabinets beneath the row of windows also received the same flat white paint, offering space for personal items and creating a window seat that overlooks Manhattan.

The original factory’s design left many crannies and crevices to fill and hallways aplenty. The couple utilizes these to display art and knick-knack collections.

Specifications:

Bedrooms: Three

Bathrooms: Two

Square Feet: 2,800 square feet

Price: unknown

Will Ferrell Address: Manhattan, New York City, NY

Photos: Will Ferrell House

Perusing these photos might make you wish for an equally opulent home, but you don’t have to live in Manhattan or hire a celebrity interior designer to get the look of the Ferrells’ apartment.

A few artful slipcovers can revamp your existing furniture to an updated look. Configure the furnishings to create intimate conversation areas.

Add a portable or in-the-wall fireplace or blue flame heater to create the ambiance of a log fire. The couple uses room-sized rugs to add warmth and softness to their whitewashed floors. Their high-traffic areas, such as the foyer, hallway, and bathrooms use laminate or tile flooring. With a few small changes and additions, you can update your home in a similar manner.