Daphne Javitch and Pali Xisto Cornelsen On Living And Loving Well

Rip & Tan: How do the two of you usually choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Daphne Javitch: We don’t have a tradition. I think last year we got into an argument. Valentine’s is a lot of pressure!

Rip & Tan: What are your favorite memories or gifts you’ve received from years past?

Daphne Javitch: On my 40th birthday (peak Covid), Pali gave me 40 prints of family photographs.

Pali Cornelsen: Daphne always gives me great clothes.

Rip & Tan: What are the most prized mementos, and why are they so special to you?

Daphne Javitch: Three traditional ceramic serving bowls that we found vintage in a small shop in Puglia. They conjure memories of our travels and are something we use all the time for salads and popcorn.

Pali Cornelsen: A vase we found on our first (and only) Paris trip together that we saw from the street and then bought after we returned home. The store owner was coming to NY and hand-carried it, painted by a teenage Jean Renoir.

Rip & Tan: What gravitated you toward your wardrobe choices—the silhouettes, materials, details, or something else?

Daphne Javitch: This sweater feels luxurious but also huggable.

Pali Cornelsen: I gravitate towards a cozy sweater with a natural color.

Rip & Tan: Designing your own home is an incredibly personal and special experience. In what ways does your home reflect both of you, individually and as a couple?

Daphne Javitch: Our house reflects Pali’s tropical minimalist style (and insane design talent) and my highly particular Upper West Side client energy—the perfect combo!

Pali Cornelsen: Our home has a lot of windows, so light pours in and reflects on the walls. There’s also a calm that comes from being near the reservoir. The trees around the house give it a lot of life force. All those qualities were sort of half the “designing” of it. We’ve been collecting mid-century pieces for the last 15 years, so it wasn’t hard to make it work. The bold intervention of color in the sunken living room—the wall-to-wall carpet and matching curtains—is a reflection of our playfulness.

Rip & Tan: Daphne, as an Integrative Health Coach, wellness is central to your work. What does wellness look like for you as a couple?

Daphne Javitch: Being able to laugh during or shortly after a quarrel reflects our shared desire to recover. Continuing to amuse each other is revitalizing. We’re lucky to be very compatible in terms of lifestyle—we love the same food, being cozy, hosting friends, a clean kitchen before bed, watching Seinfeld…the little things that make up a life.

Rip & Tan: Are there any daily or weekly wellness rituals that you do together?

Daphne Javitch: Simple, home-cooked, family dinners. Sometimes we sauna together, but I like to stretch out in there.