NY-great fun and challenging to renovate and restore apartments in the city. First of all you need great trades who know the ropes and patients clients. We have done 4 in the past 3 years. They all were very different and spectacular.
Columbia Circle is avant garde, lacquered walls and fabulous views of Central Park.
Park Avenue – a mixture of styles and art. The neat part was how much space and function I was able to create in 2,000 sq. ft. Three bedrooms, large living room and dining room with an angled kitchen that had seating, super storage and a laundry alcove with sink, cabinets, ironing board and 3 full baths.
Single mom; eat in kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, plus a den, living room and dining room. The space looks 3 times larger and so inviting. The realtor commented on the value that was added.
Local Designer
Creates 3 totally different 2,000 sq ft NY apartments from Central Park West to Park to 79th St. A testament to her philosophy of interpreting her client’s individual tastes and functional requirements. The projects run from total gut to modest renovations to just furnishings. Every scenario was unique, well planned and completed with excellence.
Project I
A 3 bedroom apartment with breathtaking views of Central Park – client pied a terre world traveler
Objective – to create a very sophisticated contemporary pied a terre space with neutral background to not conflict with the strong international art work
The apartment had no architectural elements, had blonde hardwood floors and basic NY travertine marble bathrooms
Implementation
We kept the foot print intact
Gutted the bathrooms
Master Bath
All new elegant marble floor, new vanities, mirrors and lighting
Den/Bathroom
Removed the tub and put in a white Carrera shower with black stone floor and European style vanity
Powder Room
Created a tray ceiling, dramatic wall covering and lovely chandelier
Kitchen
We gave the kitchen cabinets a face lift
Installed new ½” concrete counter and a pearlized concrete back splash
Throughout the Space
Large scale plaster crown moldings were installed
New hardwood floors throughout, stained in a rich dark walnut
The piece de resistance was very soft pearl gray lacquered walls were applied to public spaces
A proper lighting lay out as well as sconces
Furnishings
A mixture of textures and shapes all in shades of gray
Custom area rugs in contemporary patterns of tone on tone
Square glass dining table ready for 8
Very narrow mirrored buffet for scale and function
Fabulous crystal chandelier
The view is flanked with large scale silk plaid panels
The master bedroom is subtle blue and cream with a seating area by the window
Den/bedrooms is the media room in rich charcoals with a pull out bed and a desk for the office needs
A Wonderful pied a terre to retreat to
Project II
3 bedroom on Park Avenue – client downsizing to Manhattan
Object to create a permanent residence that will fill their needs for their vast collection of art. Their closet needs and their entertaining needs and family guests. The apartment had not been upgraded since the 70’s. Needless to say we had to strip it to the bones. It had no closet space, the bathrooms and kitchen were awful. It had some nice molding detail and some good doors that we tried to keep. Everything had to go except the fireplace wall in the living room.
Goal – to have 3 full bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, a great working eat in kitchen as a bonus I found room for a laundry area zazaam.
Implementation –
“inches” mattered on this project
Living Room – created a whole new fireplace surround in limestone almost to the ceiling which gave great scale to the space
Added more detailed and large scaled crown, taller bases and a dado as well as wonderful millwork to conceal the heating units
Replaced the hardwood flooring, but kept the original herringbone pattern in a medium walnut
Foyer – expanded and look with marble and 2 flanking closets with an over scaled archway into the living room – created coffers to give definition
Dining Room – added moldings and dado
Created a closet which houses their buffet and dining storage with antique mirrored walls
We needed to be able to expand their exiting dining table for entertaining which we achieved
Master Bedroom created much needed closet storage as well as a concealed niche for valuables
Master Bath incredible space for 2,000 sq ft – double sinks, shower with benches and niche, double medicine cabinets – great lighting
Powder Room/Full Bath
This tiny space with its rich brown wallpaper and mosaic floor and Italian vanity with custom mirror completes this full bath
The shower is bronze glass with etched door and the back wall is antique mirror shared with the master shower (I said “inches mattered”)
Den/Bedroom
This is the home office and of course we needed more closets, so we built cherry paneled closets while opposite is a pull out sofa for guests
Third Guest Room
This is of course NY style small, but has its’ own full bath and built in storage – perfect for when baby comes
Kitchen
The best for last – this is where we went totally contemporary. The client is a cook and loves to do the holiday cooking. We were able to create a very expanded kitchen with lots of storage and dining for 2 with the use of angles
We did a fun European hutch
We have a pantry, plus built in wine, plus 2 dishwashers, 36”cooktop, double ovens, etc.
Very functional and the colors of white and slate blue are great
Laundry Area
At the end of the kitchen are the washer and dryer with a small counter with a sink and overhead cabinets and a built-in ironing board. Do you believe it?
Furnishings
There is a mixture of items they wanted to bring from the dining room furniture to lots of art and accessories. They lean more towards the Ralphy look but have an edge of being comfortable with contemporary. I had great fun making this all work. I used some large scale fabrics for the windows for the living room and master bedroom to visually expand the space. The living room is rich reds, burgundy, camels, creams and navies, while the dining room had a wonderful neutral damask wallpaper and linen cream fabrics with accents on the windows while being grounded with a navy and burgundy rug.
Project III
3 Bedroom apartment on East 79th St. Client is a single mom with 2 darling children and 2 dogs.
Object – to furnish her new apartment from scratch and make a new beginning for her and her family. The apartment had been upgraded within the last 2 years and it was done well with architectural details and quality bathrooms with an eat-in kitchen plus a separate den.
Goal – to create a today sophisticated look that is practical and livable for a young family.
Living Room/Family Room
We created a larger feeling to the space with the use of an overstuffed modular that will seat a gang. We added benches for extra seating and a huge cocktail ottoman as well as a man size comfortable chair.
Foyer/Dining Room
This works as 2 functions – the foyer table expands to seat 8-10. We used stools placed around the base for seating for 4 and had two fabulous chairs flanking the mirrored storage chest. She has instant seating for 6.
The large scale painting adds drama and the mirror is an expander.
Den/Guest Room
This is a great room as home office and hang-out space with a pull out sleeper sofa which really makes a 4th bedroom. All in 2,000 sq ft.
Kitchen
Has a banquette and seating for 4
Daughter’s Room
We replaced the carpeting and gave her a low contemporary look with mirrored vanity, fun chair and dramatic art.
Son’s Room
This room needed nothing but paint and we used his existing furniture.
Master Bedroom
We put a king size bed, large dresser, night stands with a his chest and a double dresser, and a comfy chair for reading.
Furnishings
Living Room – has a rich loden green with creams, browns and taupe.
The floors are stained darker which pops the cream background area rug.
The mixture of woods and styles complement it all
The windows are dressed in a circle and square silk panels
Cream woodwork and sage green on the walls
Kitchen – Carries the sage green color while we replaced the banquette with an artsy commercial fabric and added a glass table with a bench and desk chair in iron.
Den
Has browns and rich gold leather
Fun place for the kids to hang
Daughter’s Room
Is white, fray and teal
She thought she could do the room herself, but is so pleased with the outcome
Master Bedroom
This space is very soothing in soft camels, dark case goods, upholstered headboard and a contemporary crystal chandelier.
Everyone has their own space so they can be together or not
A very inviting space that makes you smile and feel welcomed