The ‘Vampire Diaries’ alum’s model wife first announced the news of their marriage in a July 13 Instagram post
Credit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty; Clement Pascal/Architectural Digest
NEED TO KNOW
- Paul Wesley and Natalie Kuckenburg renovated their downtown N.Y.C. loft with architect Jack Wettling and designer Alan Eckstein
- The space features vintage pieces and Brazilian-inspired details, reflecting Wesley’s love of aged items and Kuckenburg’s heritage
- The couple first met at a New York City bar and got engaged last summer before marrying in a civil ceremony earlier this month
Paul Wesley has put down permanent roots in New York City with wife Natalie Kuckenburg!
The newlyweds opened the doors to their renovated, two-story loft in downtown N.Y.C. in a July 23 feature for Architectural Digest, just weeks after Kuckenburg, 26, revealed she and Wesley, 44, had tied the knot in an intimate civil ceremony.
According to the outlet, the real estate move was a “spontaneous purchase” for the couple, and they worked with architect Jack Wettling and designer Alan Eckstein to outfit their space with pieces they both love in this next chapter of their lives.
Wesley — a New Jersey native who always viewed N.Y.C. as his “playground” growing up — is a longtime enthusiast of all things design, per the outlet. In addition to his city abode, the Vampire Diaries alum also has homes in Los Angeles and Austin.
Credit: Clement Pascal/Architectural Digest
The transformation of the home, which boasts arched windows and a private roof deck, began with a gut renovation that Wettling oversaw, followed by the design makeover led by Eckstein.
This included incorporating many vintage pieces as Wesley notes, “I’ve always appreciated things that are aged and have a story.”
As for Kuckenburg, having her Brazilian heritage reflected in the walls of her new home was something she leaned into during the renovation.
“I definitely don’t come from a design background, but I’m half German, half Brazilian,” Kuckenburg told the outlet. “Paul and I did a trip to Brazil and brought a lot of details from there back to the apartment — combining the texture of the white brick with the wood and little pieces that give it life.”
One of her favorite spots in the whole abode is the sofa, as she loves to cuddle up there with the couple’s dog Greggy. The rescue pup even made a cameo in their wedding photos that Kuckenburg shared earlier this month.
Credit: Clement Pascal/Architectural Digest
While the exact timing of when the lovebirds officially started dating is unclear, the two were first linked in November 2022 when they were spotted together in Italy. Wesley later revealed how the pair first met during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark, noting their first encounter went down the “classic” way at a New York City bar.
“That’s rare these days, I guess, because everyone’s, you know, meeting online and all these dating apps,” he said of meeting Kuckenburg in an East Village bar. “It was just like the classic, pretty girl at a bar. There was a little look, and I was like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna go for it.’”
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“It was nice because we had a mutual friend,” he added of the meet-cute. “Because otherwise it’s very awkward … it was kind of more of an introduction.”
The two got engaged last summer, announcing the news in a July 19 Instagram post at the time alongside a photo of Kuckenburg’s sparkling new ring.
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