Located in a renowned residential skyscraper rising high above Manhattan, this stunning 77th-floor apartment is tailored for the most discerning tastes. The 3,000 square-foot residence features 12-foot ceiling heights. Floor to ceiling windows flood the interiors with natural light and provide breath-taking views. Designed by interior designer Mark Cunningham in collaboration with architect Michael Gilmore, this contemporary luxury apartment ensures a high level of comfort and style.
The home’s layout was reconfigured to better suit the new owners, a fashionable young couple. The apartment was gutted, and its three bedrooms were reduced to one. They were seeking an elegant, but informal space that would beautifully display their vast art collection. A mostly gray color scheme provides the perfect backdrop for the art which includes works by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, and David LaChapelle.
High-rise Contemporary Luxury Apartment
The living room of this contemporary luxury apartment features an impressive collection. A Jean-Michel Basquiat painting dominates a wall with a Marilyn print by Andy Warhol opposite it. Mark Cunningham bespoke designed the sofa upholstered in Rive Gauche mohair from Holland & Sherry. A pair of Willy Rizzo lamps stands at each end with a vintage nickel-plate-and-glass cocktail table by Michel Boyer. Custom club chairs covered in grey Huddersfield wool from Holland & Sherry complete the group. A vintage red leather-and-wood table by Andre Sornay stands on one side. The room gathers on a silk rug by Sacco Carpet.
The living room flows into a sleek library crowned with a 400-pound steel lighting fixture by Maison Charles. The room includes a steel sculpture by Alexander Liberman and artworks by Andy Warhol.
In the entry, a vintage mahogany console by Andre Sornay stands beneath a tar-and-spackle painting by Donald Sultan. A ten-foot-long Italian light fixture by Barovier e Toso hangs above.
Iconic Andy Warhol images of corporate logos and Elizabeth Taylor line the mahogany-paneled media room walls. Mark Cunningham custom designed the sectional covered in sapphire Biarritz cotton-cashmere from Rogers & Goffigon. Cunningham also designed the wool-and-silk rug by Sacco Carpet. A 1970s glass-and-steel cocktail table by Paul Legeard centers the room.
A lofty kitchen stands in the center of this contemporary luxury apartment. Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup cans hang above the sleek custom cabinetry with marble counter-tops and hardware by Nanz Company. Stainless refrigerators by Sub-Zero.
Two original bedrooms merged to form a grand master suite with a sitting area. A painting by Christopher Wool hangs above the custom sofa in the seating group. A metal-and-acrylic armchair by Paolo Pallucco and Mireille Rivier stands on the side. Romo fabric lines the walls. A 1930s Bakelite-and-steel desk by Donald Deskey holding a Willy Rizzo lamp groups with French chairs in the center. Mark Cunningham bespoke designed the leather and metal bed. A dot painting by Damien Hirst hangs with a large photograph by David LaChapelle.
The contemporary luxury apartment includes an elegant paneled dressing room and sleek marble bathroom.
That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.
Mark Cunningham completed this apartment for the couple. He also completed for them, a Tudor style mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, which you can see here:
Mark Cunningham established his eponymous design firm in 2005. Today, the firm’s curriculum vitae is diverse in scope and scale, comprising luxury residential interior projects, hotel design, architectural consulting, and commercial concepts domestically and abroad. Mark has come to be known for his masterfully layered interior compositions and singular approach to space and style.
Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments. What do you think of this fabulous apartment?
Interior design firm Cullman & Kravis reimagine a classic Park Avenue apartment with a transitional design update. Ellie Cullman first completed the design of the residence over fifteen years ago. Now she had returned to freshen up the place with a more modern look. There was no physical renovation of the spaces. The clients wanted to keep most of their cherished antiques. The rooms were already well proportioned and arranged. The furniture plan remains classic and good. To update things, the designer made many smart changes to the existing design elements that ultimately resulted in a fresh whimsical glamour.
The walls, ceilings, and trim were refinished with either high gloss glazes or over-washed with a metallic finish. Sofas and chairs were reupholstered with simpler, monochromatic textures. One-color woven fabrics and those with unusual textures feel more modern. The new fabrics and trim included those with metallic and iridescent threads to add spark and new glamour. The fresh fabrics together with the lighter palette infused the apartment with a feeling of sleek modernity.
New lighting and light fixtures continued the quest to brighten the place. Larger lamps, brighter bulbs and simpler shades really make a difference. New recessed art lights replaced wall mounted picture lights creating a more gallery-like feeling. This artful mixing of classic forms and contemporary elements created a comfortable opulence that’s easy to live with.
PARK AVENUE TRANSITIONAL DESIGN
In the living room, Venetian stucco walls and a high-gloss silver leaf ceiling create a sleek canvas. Custom sofas covered in a Kravet chenille group with custom wood framed chairs upholstered in a Rogers & Goffigon fabric and club chairs in a leopard print by Taffard Fabrics. The room gathers on a Sisal rug by ABC Carpet & Home beneath a 19th-century Empire-style chandelier. An abstract painting by Canan Tolon hangs above the Louis XV-style fireplace mantle flanked by a pair of gilded Biedermeier consoles and 19th-century Italian mirrors. A Regency sofa table and Biedermeier center table anchor the seating groups. A 19th-century Japanese lacquered chest stands in the rear opposite the piano. Curtains in a simple fabric by Coraggio include jeweled embroideries by the Paris firm Lesage.
Ochre and white marble with black cabochons in a diamond pattern cover the floor in the entry. A contemporary painting hangs above a marble-topped Napoleon III console. Bronze lantern by Price Glover.
Bark paper applied in a running brick pattern covers the walls in the dining room. A grand Baroque-style Austrian chandelier hangs beneath the high-gloss gold leaf ceiling. Gold trimmed ebonized chairs upholstered in silver faux shagreen surround a circa-1910 English dining table. A painting by Robert Rauschenberg hangs above a black-lacquered Japanese cabinet from the Meiji period, with inlaid silver and gold-lacquer medallions. The red lacquer Leleu sideboard stands beneath a gilt-framed mirror and bronze-ormolu wall sconces. A sisal rug by ABC Carpet covers the floor while curtains of silk from Kravet frame the windows.
In the honey-stained-pine paneled library, golden pearl-coated paper lines the back of the bookcases softly reflecting the light. A custom sofa covered in a Kravet fabric gathers with club chairs by Robert Allen on a leopard carpet by Beauvais. The sculpture in front of the window is by Eric Fischl. Bookcase harmony is achieved with a mix of open and closed arrangements, including books and objects of different shapes and materials.
A striking red bench stands beneath a blue LED artwork at the end of a long hallway.
The master bedroom includes walls upholstered with pale cream ottoman silk finished with bronze nail trim. Silk carpet covers the floor while silk curtains with Lesage embroidered cuffs frame the windows. Embroidered linens dress the upholstered bed trimmed with antiqued mirror.
A vibrant-hued study holds a custom daybed and chair upholstered with an over-scale abstract zebra fabric from Pierre Frey. A photograph by Tim Davis and print by Damien Hirst adorn the walls. Carpet by Stark.
That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.
Be sure to see the other projects by this leading design firm:
Cullman & Kravis Associates is known for providing the highest quality of design excellence and personal service since 1984. The goal of the design firm’s most recent work is to redefine the traditional interior. Their designs have been edited, clarified, and strengthened with new materials and palettes to achieve a “modern traditional” aesthetic. With this fresh approach, the point of view is contemporary while still respecting the 30-year history of the company. Antiques of all periods and origins are used alongside modern artworks, custom made furniture, and exceptional textiles to create dynamic interiors that are complex and layered-always comfortable and never overly formal.
This is my second project from Elissa Cullman and Tracey Pruzan’s latest beautiful book- From Classic to Contemporary: Decorating with Cullman & Kravis. The design firm infuses traditional interiors with a modern perspective, embracing historicism and referencing a wide range of cultures and contemporary design motifs. In From Classic to Contemporary: Decorating with Cullman & Kravis, Ellie Cullman and Tracey Pruzan explore the lessons from modernism that add a new and welcome dynamism to the firm’s most recent projects, both traditional and modern. You really must get it! It is a must read. Absolutely Beautiful!
Interior Design: Ellie Cullman and Lee Cavanaugh ofCullman & Kravis
Photography: Eric Piasecki
Thank you so much for reading along with me today. Let me hear from you in the comments. What do you think of this Transitional Design Update on Park Avenue?
For our design inspiration today, we have a classic Park Avenue apartment with Art Deco inspired interiors highlighted with contemporary art. The full-floor 6,000 square-foot residence is located within a 1931 luxury residential building designed by renowned architect Rosario Candela. Interior Designer Penny Drue Baird, owner of New York and Paris based Dessins, collaborated with architects Ferguson & Shamamian to completely strip away, and rebuild the interiors in a style that honors the building’s Art Deco era heritage.
The award winning, much acclaimed designer creates unique atmospheres filled with architectural detail, warmth, and sophisticated worldly charm. Her eclectic style is displayed here with Classical architectural elements highlighted by Deco-inspired furnishings mixed with Mid-Century modern pieces gathered with an impressive collection of contemporary art. Every room features details designed by Dessins. Wall paneling, exquisite moldings, ceiling medallions, fireplace mantles, custom furnishings, all working together in perfect harmony. Come learn and be inspired by this highly personalized home, completely tailored to realize the client’s fantasies.
ART DECO INSPIRED INTERIORS
In the living room, the classical architecture is punctuated with a gold-leaf-covered ceiling medallion. A pair of Murano glass chandeliers creates a soft golden glow. The Dessins custom designed, button-tufted sofa and deco-inspired armchairs gather with a pair of 1950s bronze torchiere. A series of contemporary artworks by Sherrie Levine display above the piano.
A pair of chaise gathers around the antique marble fireplace mantle. Yves Klein’s 1963 Table d’Or containing 3,000 sheets of 22kt gold leaf centers the arrangement. Roy Lichtenstein’s 1969 Mirror #1 oil and magna on canvas hangs above the mantle flanked by a pair of mid-century Murano glass sconce by Bernd Goeckler. Rashid Johnson’s 2011 Three Butters mirror work hangs on the left. Cindy Sherman’s 1978 Untitled Film Still #11 hangs on the right.
In the entrance gallery, marble covers the floors in a contemporary design by Dessins. The architects designed the bronze doors with decorative grilles. A pair of rosewood 1930s Art Deco bergères from Bernd Goeckler flank a mahogany and shagreen console, designed by Dessins and crafted by cabinetmaker Mark Luedeman, topped with a pair of vintage Murano glass lamps. Richard Prince’s 1989 acrylic and silkscreen Fireman and Drunk hangs above. Laurie Simmons 1990 Lying Perfume Bottle hangs across the way.
In the formal dining room, reclaimed oak in a herringbone design covers the floor. An Art Deco inspired bronze, and rock crystal chandelier by Mathieu Lustrerie hangs above. Upholstered dining chairs surround a Nancy Corzine table to create seating for sixteen, plenty of room for entertaining. A pair of antique onyx urns stands on either side of the fireplace. Joseph Kosuth’s 1967 Titled (Art as Idea as Idea) [Abstract] hangs above the mantle flanked by a pair of vintage Murano sconces from John Salibello. A button-tufted velvet upholstered niche holds a 1930s mahogany and rosewood sideboard by Jules Leleu. Curtains made with silk taffeta embroidered with velvet from Stark frame the windows. French ceramics by Emaux de Longwy.
The magnificent library features walnut paneled walls and decorative ceiling moldings. Damien Hirst’s 2007 Flumequine hangs over the Rosso Levanto marble fireplace mantle. A discreet door opens to reveal a bar. Antique volumes and an array of accessories line the shelves. Desk by Dakota Jackson and coffee table by Mark Luedeman.
In the master bedroom, a custom niche holds the silk upholstered, button-tufted bed dressed in French linens. Parchment and mahogany Art Deco inspired chest stand on either side, holding lamps by Barovier & Toso with custom shades. A mid-century flower lighting pendant by John Salibello hangs above. Voluminous French-blue silk curtains frame with windows. Display cabinets feature custom Verre eglomise mirror panels with a gilded lattice design from artist Miriam Ellner.
That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.
For more Art Deco inspired residences, be sure to see:
Penny Drue Baird is internationally renowned for her top-tier interior design and architectural detailing. She divides her time between her offices on Madison Avenue and in Paris.
Be sure to check out the prominent designer and author’s multiple Interior Design Books, where shares flexible, artistic solutions to fit her clients’ unique spaces and dreams. The rooms she creates are universally admired for their seamless weaving of past and present, and she is best known for creating designs that bring her clients’ tastes and preferences to life. These books are must reads for every design enthusiast.
Come see this serene full-floor residence within a coveted Pre-war luxury condominium conversion in Manhattan’s prestigious Gramercy Park. The spacious 4,200 square-foot apartment blends uptown elegance and downtown casual with a timeless transitional interior design completed by New York-based Bennett Leifer.
The home is ideally located above a quiet, tree-lined street facing the historic district’s exclusive namesake Gramercy Park whose beautifully landscaped greenery is accessible only to key-holding residents who live directly on it. The 1927 Georgian Revival building was redesigned into 16 full-floor luxury condominiums in 2012 by the notable architect Robert A. M. Stern.
The living/dining room spans the full 40-foot width across the front with four over-sized windows overlooking the park, plus another on each side. The building’s articulate shape maximizes the facade giving the apartment a total of thirty-four windows in all four directions filling the generously scaled rooms with an abundance of natural light and unobstructed views.
TRANSITIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN INSPIRATION
The designer made those views the main attraction here in the living/dining room. Draperies in Rubelli’s Eclissi fabric with double-tassel tiebacks frame the six windows. Susan Vecsey’s Napeague Bay, Montauk, 2012, hangs above the sofa which anchors the seating arrangement gathered on a rug centering the room. A pair of custom spoon-back occasional chairs and a pair of skirted armchairs flank the sofa on either side with a metal coffee table in the center. A bench by Mark Bankowsky completes the arrangement. A pair of carved rock crystal lamps adds a hint of sparkle to the room’s transitional interior design.
For the dining area, the designer grouped an oval dining table and velvet upholstered chairs with contrasting floral print backs. A pair of tall mahogany cabinets filled with pieces from L’Object gives the space a sense of formality.
From the keyed elevator, one steps into the grand entrance foyer. Stately marble floors immediately connote a sense of arrival. It is located right in the center of the apartment with private rooms to one side and the public rooms on the other. The foyer holds a stone console, directly across from the elevators, and a pair of Neoclassical benches upholstered in Stark’s Antelope Ax cut velvet. The scenes created on the walls are what define the mood. Pale scenes of pastoral landscapes soften the formality of the marble and stone. The designer created the effect using digitally printed mural paper by artist Susan Harter in a translation of traditional trompe l’oeil for the 21st century. It appears quite charming.
From the foyer, a wide gallery leads to the public rooms. The peaceful mural paper continues through to the entrance of the living room. Rift and quartered white oak floors laid in attractive traditional designs cover the floors throughout the apartment. With no immediate neighbors to cause concern for privacy, the large windows remain uncovered to create an even greater feeling of vast open space and to foster a sense of a connection with the world outside.
Leifer decided to give the traditional library/study a twist and made it the most color vivid room in the home. An antique brown leather chesterfield sofa groups with velvet wing-back armchairs and a glass-topped industrial-style coffee table. The velvet that upholsters the chairs also forms the draperies framing the windows and pillows on the sofa. The attractive lighting fixture is the perfect summation for this room’s transitional interior design. A side door gives access to the kitchen.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of the light-filled kitchen with its furniture-grade cabinetry, marble counter-tops, and designer appliances. But I do have the informal eat-in breakfast area. A pair of double doors open to the formal dining area to make serving and casual entertaining equally easy. For the breakfast area, a pair of classic button-tufted armchairs upholstered in cerulean velvet pair with a simple round table.
Here, the designer transformed one of the home’s four bedrooms into a very nice double office which I love for it inspires me. An earthy color palette creates a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Neoclassical style desks pair with attractive little upholstered scroll-back chairs. The tailored draperies and contemporary style tufted chaise balance the more traditional pieces and give the room a greater air of sophistication. The alabaster lamp and bust complete the Neoclassical styling.
The powder room features a black Onyx sink, backsplash, and floors. The walls are finished with a custom silver gold wash.
The super spacious master bedroom features six large windows. The photo only shows a portion of the total. The ivory walls and window treatments provide a calming neutral background for the button-tufted upholstered bed with gold lion paw feet. The rich wood tones ground the light and airy space. A button-tufted wing-back chair and a marble-topped Empire side table hold the corner. A pair of velvet stools, topped with damask cushions center the room. On this side of the photo that you can’t see, Leifer created a sitting area that continues the transitional interior design.
The master bedroom suite includes two full bathrooms and generous closets and dressing space. The luxurious Italian marble bathrooms have heated floors, a spacious regular shower, a steam shower, and a free-standing soaking tub.
The three remaining bedrooms all have en-suite bathrooms and ample windows for endless views. Leifer kept the design of the residence quiet and calm to honor the location and heritage of the neighborhood. Gramercy Park is loved because it is a small quiet pocket within the city, offering a respite from all the action. It has a private and secluded feel, though it is only minutes away from everything. This calmer pace, of course, doesn’t come cheap. These homes surrounding the park command some of the highest prices in the city. So, it was only natural to create within what those who wish to pay the premium to live here most want.
The owners of the sixteen residences in the building enjoy the privacy of a boutique condominium without having to sacrifice the service and amenities. There are 24-hour doormen and a full-time concierge and staff. The building includes two roof terraces, a spa and fitness center, and many other perks to make life here beautiful.
Bennett Leifer Interiors creates timeless environments that are true collaborations between themselves and their clients.
That concludes our design inspiration for today, dear friend.
To see more transitional interior design, be sure to check out:
Bennett Leifer Interiors is an award-winning New York-based design studio known for blending sophisticated color palettes, historical references, and whimsical concepts to design uniquely tailored interiors. The firm creates livable, elegant, and artful designs which have grown to include private residences, model residences, collaborations with developers, executive suites, and brand campaigns.
Thank you so much for reading along with me. Be sure to let me know what you think of Transitional Interior Design: Gramercy Park. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.
This refined contemporary design private residence, located within the New York City landmark building Marquand on Manhattan’s prestigious Upper East Side, was completed by Miami-based interior designers Britto Charette. The Beaux-Arts Revival style building built in 1913 on Madison Avenue and 68th Street along Central Park was recently restored and now serves as a luxury condominium building offering gracious prewar space along with every amenity for contemporary living.
The 3,500 square foot apartment acts as a pied-a-terre for the owners, an energetic and entrepreneurial couple who have trusted Britto Charette with their multiple other homes as well. They wanted the design of this residence to be sensitive to its classic heritage but interpreted with a refined contemporary design to provide them with a peaceful refuge in the city. The designers took full advantage of the restored buildings wood paneled walls and architectural details, combining them with the couple’s favorite pieces, custom built-ins, and contemporary furnishings.
REFINED CONTEMPORARY DESIGN INSPIRATION
A monotone color palette accented with soft blue and copper achieved the owners desire for refined contemporary design. The expansive double volume living room arranges into two seating areas. Specially commissioned fabrics upholster the furnishings from Baker. The round coffee table is by Minotti from Domus Design Collection. The chandeliers above are from Ralph Lauren, while the rugs below are by Jan Kaph. The print is by Michael Dawkins. A sculptural bronze fireplace screen by John Lyle stands before the sculpted travertine marble fireplace surround.
In the library/study, Britto Charette custom created the wall of built-in shelves for the owners to display their photos and personal collectibles. The leather top desk is by Baker.
The look is crisp and clean in the dining room which is open to the sleek custom kitchen complete with Gaggenau appliances. The long, horizontal marble top table reflects the design of the LED chandelier by Jean Prezel suspended above it. A bench on one side and modern style chairs provide seating for the table, all from Domus Design Collection in New York. The mirror and art are from Michael Dawkins.
The home’s family room articulates the livable ease and serenity behind refined contemporary design. The room is visually calm and edited and still super functional making it the perfect escape from the busy city. A large leather sofa includes auto/electrical reclining functions. Britto Charette custom designed the sleek and sophisticated black credenza beneath the wall mounted television which elevates the room’s overall look. Britto Charette KINSA porcelain shines on the bar.
A central gallery hallway connects the public and private spaces. A series of contemporary Corbin Bronze Ballerinas gloriously punctuate the classic design of the white oak paneled walls, ornate ceilings, and Parquet de Versailles finished floors.
The master bedroom suite is a dream offering loads of neutral, understated elegance. The upholstered bed is by Giorgetti with nightstands by Baker. Framed photography by David Charette hangs above the bed. A chandelier by Visual Comfort hangs above, with a rug from John Kaph below. Marble and onyx complete the master bathroom.
The master suite also includes a gorgeous walk-in closet/dressing room custom finished with white and mirrored walls by Ornare. An island provides storage for jewelry and accessories while a high-top desk serves as an organizational area.
There is a total of four bedrooms, and four bathrooms, plus a powder room. The building includes white glove doormen and concierge services, as well as a fitness center among their amenities. Britto Charette’s refined contemporary design has made this pied-a-terre the peaceful escape the owners were seeking.
That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.
To see more projects completed by Britto Charette be sure to check out:
Miami designers Jay Britto and David Charette, of Britto Charette, have won Interior Design magazine’s 2016 Best of Year award for their revelation in glass called PUQUIOS. Britto Charette, along with more than 2000 entrants from 38 countries, vied for the coveted title awarded in 130 product and interior design project categories.
The designers captured shimmering light in PUQUIOS, their stunning new glass accessory inspired by Nasca wells—ancient rock-lined spirals that adorn Peru’s most mythic landscape. Scientists believe the funnel-shaped wells created pressure to move water. The designers chose glass as the perfect vehicle to evoke a feeling of “pressure” when viewing PUQUOIS. Pressure to move toward it, to touch, and to enjoy the piece from every angle. From a distance, mercury appears to float within the glass, but as your proximity to the vessel changes, so does the vessel’s exquisite coloration. The amorphous solid is available in ethereal hues of rose and phosphorescent yellow. 12”X5” Dimensions are approximate. Each handcrafted piece contains subtle differences.
We are so excited and happy for Britto Charette and congratulate them for their win of 2016 Best of Year award for PUQUOIS. They really are stunning. The designer’s artful and unique home accessories have garnered multiple awards through the years. Be sure to check out the website to see their other items as well.
We thank you so much for reading along with us and want you to know how very much we appreciate you all. Thank you!! Let me hear from you all in the comments! I want to know what you all think.
Today’s design inspiration comes from a charming Chelsea mercantile residence in Manhattan. The pre-war condo is within the much-sought-after, prestigious Chelsea Mercantile Building. New York-based interior designer Jenny Wolf completed the simple yet elegant home for a newly retired couple moving back to the city. She meticulously renovated the interiors of the 2,000 square-foot residence with no detail spared.
The condo features tall ceilings and oversized windows providing an abundance of natural light throughout. Wolf modernized the floorplan with a more functional flow. The living room and dining room now form one open, continual space that flows into the kitchen. A soft, primarily neutral color palette and a multitude of textures accentuate the light and airy design. The designer created a calm urban oasis for the couple. The refined mixes easily with the casual for a home that is both beautiful and comfortable.
Wolf emphasized the high ceilings with the addition of crown moldings throughout the apartment. Here in the main living room, a coffered ceiling with light blue inset panels draws the eye up where a wood-and-wrought iron Rouleau chandelier suspends. A deep sofa from Lee Industries and a wing chair with nailhead trim from Hickory Chair group with a wrought-iron coffee table by Lillian August for Hickory White.
A pair of custom swivel chairs by Lee Industries upholstered in a Quadrille fabric flank a reclaimed-wood coffee table from Noir. A damask applique from Cowtan & Tout forms the pair of custom pillows. The lamp is by Ro Sham Beaux.
Wolf used an antique farm table that belonged to the couple and designed the dining area around it. She had the wooden top stained but had the lower portion distressed and painted with a blue-green milk wash to tie it in with the colors from the kitchen. A custom dining banquet by Lee Industries anchors the table on one side. Custom dining and side chairs upholstered in fabrics by Cowtan and Tout complete the seating. The furnishings gather on a sisal rug below with a spare wrought-iron chandelier above. A collection of decorative plates by Astier de Villatte hang on the wall.
The couple is passionate about cooking and entertaining. They had a good idea of how they wanted the kitchen to lay out. The design team was able to take their lead and ultimately created for them exactly what they wanted. Wolf redesigned the cabinetry and extended it all the way up to the ceiling to provide for extra storage. Honed Carrara marble forms the countertops with white milk-glass for the backsplash. The appliances are top-of-the-line stainless steel except for the fantastic final touch. A beautiful La Cornue oven pairs with a custom stainless-steel hood with antique brass rivets designed by Wolf. The brick wall behind looks distressed with shelves made with reclaimed wood and antique brackets creating an aged look. The center island includes a breakfast bar with custom barstools by TK Collections. The lights suspended above it are by Currey & Company.
The design team transformed the apartment’s long entry hallway from dark and dull to dramatic and inviting. A high gloss, lacquered Venetian plaster on the ceiling reflects light into the windowless space, in addition to adding unexpected color. Framed mirrors, along with antiqued mirrored panels on the doors keep the light moving and sparkling through as well. Schumacher’s Imperial Trellis wallpaper covers the walls. The series of black-lacquered lanterns are by Oomph.
The delightful powder room features hand-painted Chinese scene wall-coverings from Gracie. A vanity with bamboo detailing by J. Tribble continues the theme, as does the mirror frame. The fixtures are from Waterworks and the contemporary sconces are from Currey & Company.
The master bedroom features custom bedding from Leontine Linens in New Orleans. Three layers of Kravet fabric make up the custom draperies. The charcoal velvet bench at the foot of the bed is by Hickory Chair. The side tables are by Vanguard Furniture and hold gourd ceramic lamps by Festoni.
The master bathroom features a clean contemporary design in gray and white. Carrara marble forms the counter-tops with full height frameless mirrors above them. The floors display a mosaic design. The fixtures are from Waterworks.
That completes our tour of this renovated residence within the 100-year-old, limestone-clad luxury conversion Chelsea Mercantile Building.
For another residence completed by this designer, be sure to see:
Jenny Wolf is a New York-based interior designer focused on all aspects of residential interiors. The talented designer offers a lively fresh take on traditional design ideas. Jenny creates homes for her clients that feel stylish, comfortable, and full of life. She works to weave personalities with possessions, creating individualized interiors that suit her client’s personal style and desires.
Dakota Willimon is a designer and project manager at Jenny Wolf Interiors. Dakota collaborated with Jenny on the design of this Chelsea Mercantile residence. Be sure to check out her website for more information on this talented designer.
So, what do you think of Chelsea Mercantile Residence: Jenny Wolf? Let me hear from you in the comments! I hope you enjoyed today’s design inspiration.
Thank you so much for reading along with me today, my friend!
This 2,800 square-foot residence has been created from a full-floor loft space within a landmark 1898 Beaux Arts building in downtown Manhattan. The spacious interiors, designed by the New York based Architect and Interior Designer Garrow Kedigian, feature a look of layered luxe. The structure reflects the designers signature streamlined classic design principles, while bold colors, rich textures, and contrasting elements create a lively and theatrical design.
The art-filled home was created for cozy living and entertaining with great style. The inspiring interior design includes an eclectic mixing of mid-century Modern furnishings, an array of sumptuous fabrics and upholstery, and an assortment of both antique and new custom contemporary pieces. There is also a bit of Eastern influence and a touch of Bohemian flair. The effect is very inviting, very intriguing, and makes you wish you were on the invitation list for the owners next fabulous gathering. That is what makes it our design inspiration for today. Let’s take a look around!
CREATED FOR COZY LIVING AND ENTERTAINING WITH GREAT STYLE
THEATRICAL DESIGN INSPIRATION
The grand foyer sets the tone for the rest of the apartment’s theatrical design. The dramatic space has been composed as a library/sitting area inspired by the late Brooke Astor’s famous library in her New York duplex. A custom created, high-gloss deep eggplant color covers the paneled walls and bookcases. Gilded accents highlighting the edges of the bookcases allow the room to sparkle.
Ebanista velvet with contrasting welt and banding cover the custom sofa tucked between two bookcases, with pillows in fabrics by Schumacher and Donghia. The chair is a custom Art Deco-style, tall barrel-back design with a gilded wooden frame by Charlene Asdourian, covered in a Donghia velvet with contrasting trim. A wool and bamboo silk carpet by Tufenkian covers the floor. A Scheherazade Pendent by Odegard made with Fortuny silk suspends above a contemporary free-form center hall table by DesignLush. Interesting books, curious objects, and personal mementos fill the shelves making the room all the more intriguing. The painting and sculpture are the homeowner’s own artworks.
EASTERN INFLUENCE AND BOHEMIAN FLAIR
The foyer provides entry into the long, double volume L-shaped living space gathered into two seating areas. The first being an intimate and more formal grouping composed of two customized Donghia Toulouse sofas upholstered in a classic diamond-velvet by Nancy Corzine, and a Nancy Corzine Rateau Bergere armchair upholstered in Chartreuse Chamois by Quadrille. The cocktail table in the center was the homeowners dining table before, now cut down for this new use. A custom Sun Pendant lighting fixture by Paul Ferrante hangs above.
“The architecture is what sets the tone and tells you what you need to do with a space.”GK
The homeowner has an expansive and ever-revolving collection of artworks. The apartment has expansive windows and few large wall areas on which to hang the art. So, the brilliant design solution was to suspend the artwork from adjustable brass chains before walls of silk drapes. The lustrous silk panels with contrasting Bergamo banding along the bottoms drape most of the living area’s outer walls. They were left by the residence’s former owner, interior designer Jamie Drake.
The second seating area situates in the building’s front corner with excellent views in both directions. A large richly colored velvet Gustavian-style sectional sofa casually groups with a couple of upholstered armchairs. A custom-created coffee table centers the space. I love the pair of tall cathedral candle-sticks.
The dining area is positioned in the alcove off the far end of the living area. Here Kedigian presents a contemporary design in contrast to the more formal and traditional seating settings of the living spaces. The custom dining table features a bespoke cubist inspired base, conceived as a series of interlocking grid forms of bronze iron finished with gold leaf, completed with a glass top. Clarence House silk covers the Mid-century Modern dining chairs. The Profiles Marseilles sideboard cabinet features doors in polished unlacquered brass, each with nine circular openings. Bleached goatskin parchment with an off-white lacquer finish covers the main body, which sits on splayed legs with brass sabots. The painting above it is by Elliot Osgood, with the other art being the homeowner’s own. The designer finished the maple floors throughout the apartment with a dark stain.
Rich reds give the master bedroom a sophisticated worldly appeal. An assortment of linens with custom bed pillows dress the tufted upholstered and ebonized wood framed bed. The intricately embroidered drapes draw the eye up and emphasize the ceilings height.
In the guest bedroom, Venetian plaster designed to mimic leather hide covers the walls. The bed comprises a custom headboard by Albert Vitiello, linens by Schweitzer Linens, a coverlet by Bunny Williams Home, and an assortment of pillows. The silk curtains include contrast banding by Cowtan & Tout. The mirror is from the previous owner. A bespoke carpet from Mark Nelson Designs covers the floor.
Here in the statement making powder room, Kedigian lined the walls with custom wall drapes for the most theatrical design effect yet. He added crown molding and placed the drapery poles discretely behind it. The client’s art hangs with brass chains. A 19th-century Swedish Mirror hangs above the custom pedestal sink from Urban Archaeology. This feels very New Orleans French Quarter to me, very decadent. Love it!
That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.
For more dramatic Manhattan residences, be sure to see:
Garrow Kedigian was born and raised in Montreal, Canada where he attended the prestigious McGill University’s Architecture program. After completing his formal education, Garrow moved to Boston, MA where he gained six years of experience at the renowned offices of interior designer William Hodgins—before deciding to take a bite out of the “Big Apple.” Garrow has been in New York since relocating in 2000. After working for several design powerhouses in New York City, Garrow established his own design firm in 2001. The designers classically trained architectural background is the foundation for most of his interior design work. He presides over multiple interior design endeavors around the world. His distinctive style is rooted in tradition but characterized by a contemporary flair.
Special thanks again to Garrow Kedigian and James who provided the photos and descriptions and last minute details. Thanks so much you guys!!
Thank you for reading along with me today. I hope you enjoyed the wonderful theatrical interiors of this Manhattan residence. I really loved the collected and layered effect achieved. What do you think? Let me hear from you in the comments!
Our design inspiration today comes from a warm and inviting downtown Manhattan apartment created for a bachelor and his teenage son. The residence features clean lines, Mid-Century Modern design furnishings, and vibrant Contemporary art. New York based interior designer Elena Frampton of Frampton Co completed the home with a comprehensive renovation and reconfiguration of two separate apartments into one. The owner and his son relocated from the Upper East Side to Bond Street in the decidedly edgier NoHo district. The designer created for them interiors fitting for their new location. Let’s take a look!
CLEAN LINES, MODERN FURNISHINGS, AND VIBRANT ART
A central hall opens to the public living/entertaining spaces on one end and the private bedrooms on the other. The building’s existing interior architecture creates loft-like conditions with its tall ceilings and windows. The designer captured and reflected this in the design of the public living areas. The family room, a living area, the kitchen and dining area, and other spaces are all within one large open space with each area defined by its use and furnishings.
MODERN DESIGN INSPIRATION
The living area furnishings gather before the fireplace on a wool Lepere rug. A tufted leather sofa pairs with two Louis Paolozzi modern design chairs upholstered in light blue linen centered by a John Vesey X-base glass-top cocktail table from Lobel Modern. A cobalt-blue Vistosi Murano glass chandelier suspends above.
Frampton created the sophisticated modern design kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry and dark gray soapstone for the back-splash. The homeowner did not want a formal dining table at all. So, instead the designer created the 13-foot island finished with a copper top. The owner saw the design at a local restaurant and asked the designer to replicate the look which really adds a lot of style to the space. The ovens are by Wolf and the barstools are from Roche Bobois.
A small study space is created just beyond the sitting area with a desk by Trau with a steel base and rosewood top. The polished-nickle lamp is by Karl Springer. All of the artwork throughout is from the owner’s previous home, Frampton had re-framed to integrate into the design of this new residence.
An area rug defines the family room on which it arranges. A custom walnut-and-brass wall with exposed media equipment continues the look created in the kitchen. The sofa is a Harvey Probber upholstered in a wool by Holland & Sherry. A pair of tufted chairs are upholstered in lavender flannel wool by Holland & Sherry. A lizard embossed cocktail table by Karl Springer centers the room. Violet wool covers a footstool by Angela Brown Ltd. Hand-dipped alpaca ombre drapes by Rosemary Hallgarten from ALT for Living frame the floor-to-ceiling, north-facing windows across this entire back wall.
Adjacent the family room, a leather upholstered wall completes the public living layout. The space acts as a games area and includes a classic billiard table.
To create more richness in the spacious master bedroom, the designer had the wall behind the bed finished with hand-applied blue-green plaster and dressed the windows in a similar hue. The leather-and-linen headboard, as well as the side table are both from Poltrona Frau. Periwinkle lamb’s wool covers a Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin chair and a stainless steel ottoman by the Bright Group in the corner. The fireplace is of bespoke design by Frampton. A chandelier by Kalmar composed of razor-cut textured glass sparkles above with a limited-edition wool carpet by Lepere below.
A little peek into the custom-finished master bedroom’s closet and the master bathroom where stone slabs mix with teak and mosaic tile. There is also a soaking tub, though not in view here.
For the son’s bedroom, he was very involved in the design process. The draperies are a linen with metallic shimmer by Pierre Frey. The large Lepere chair in the corner is upholstered in a blue wool from Osbourne & Little. An Italian Futurist chandelier from Kerson 20th Century hangs above it all. He has an en suite bathroom as well. There is also a third guest bedroom and bath, as well as a guest powder room.
That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.
For more modern design inspiration be sure to see:
Frampton Co designs and creates interior experiences. Commitment to design’s relevance to daily life and our human connection to the spaces we inhabit characterizes their approach. The studio maintains a diverse portfolio, from carefully orchestrated residences with signature details to contextually sensitive and lifestyle-branded commercial projects. Combining a distinct aesthetic sensibility with methodical implementation, their attentive client collaborations bring a unique voice to each project. Engaging balanced atmospheres, sculptural compositions, meticulous craftsmanship, dimensional palettes, and confident unexpected choices mark Frampton’s work. The client serves as inspiration as they turn aesthetic visions into joyous functional realities.
Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed this downtown Manhattan apartment with its Mid-Century Modern pieces mixed flawlessly with more contemporary design and custom works. Hopefully you picked up some design tips. Let me hear from you in the comments. What do you all think of this Modern Design?
New York-based architect and interior designer Garrow Kedigian spent five years searching for the right apartment. The moment he saw this one, he knew it was the one. A classic seven on Park Avenue on the fashionable Upper East Side. It wasn’t immediate. It needed much work, but its potential was clear. For our design inspiration today, we’re taking a look at the home the architect and designer created after six months of renovations and just in time to host 125 guests for a black-tie affair to celebrate his 40th birthday. This is the designer’s personal residence showcasing his streamlined Classic style.
Kedigian was born and grew up in Montreal, Canada. After completing his formal education at the McGill School of Architecture, he moved to Boston, MA where he worked for the renowned interior designer William Hodgins for six years. In 2000, he relocated to New York City and started his firm soon after that. His classically trained architectural background and time spent working with Hodgins, one of the Deans of American Interior Design, shaped his personal style which he describes as “Streamlined Classic.”
The apartment is located within one of the oldest remaining luxury residential buildings on Park Avenue, built in 1908. The Neoclassical building with Beaux-Arts detailing is full of prewar charm and includes gracious windows and high ceilings. It is a well maintained, full-service co-op with a total of twelve floors, his being the ninth. An additional detail of note, his L-shaped corner unit was occupied by Fred Astaire for twelve years during the late 1940s and early 1950s. What he liked most about the apartment were its balance and proper proportions. What he liked least was the fact that the place hadn’t been renovated since the 1950s and was in poor condition. He decided that was OK, though. He could envision what he wanted to do with the place, so he bought it and began the process of executing his vision.
STREAMLINED CLASSIC DESIGN INSPIRATION
Kedigian reconfigured some of the rooms a bit to create an entertaining enfilade along the south side of the apartment. The living room, dining/music room, and a library each open one to another for an open flow. A fireplace in the living room and the fireplace in the library punctuates each end. The designer paneled the walls here in the living room and added deep cove crown molding to accentuate the ceilings heights. Moldings also frame the ceiling beams. The walls finish with a high-gloss and each panel highlighted with a single gilded line around its perimeter. The fireplace mantle is French antique marble. Kedigian decided to use a Persian rug up-side-down to mute the tones.
Lee Jofa’s Spectrum Velvet with bullion trim covers the exceptional custom, tufted, upholstered banquet that anchors one corner.
Custom pillows made with a collection of fabrics from Holland and Sherry and Clarence House rest on the banquet. A digital blow-up of an Old Masters Renaissance fresco painting hangs behind it. Kedigian took a picture to a print shop and had them print it on canvas for him. A small set of side tables serve as a coffee table. At the end of the banquet, an 18th-century Dutch table holds a collection of mementos. A lantern purchased at Marche’ aux Puces suspends above.
An antique chair upholstered with a Hinson and Company Suede, along with one of the 19th-century dining chairs from the group that surrounds the table in the dining room gather with an English 19th-century pedestal table topped with an ebonized column lamp and other collectibles. An additional black frame added to the original frame enlarges the antique mirror above the mantle. A clever idea!
A bespoke designed sofa made by Albert Vitiello Decorators and upholstered in Chelsea Edition’s Diamonds anchors the room opposite the fireplace. Clarence House’s Neisha Crosland Fleuret Chevron upholsters the club chair. Both the living and adjoining music/dining room include multiple sets of French doors that open onto the buildings one and only Juliet Balcony.
A framed art project painted by Kedigian himself while in architecture school hangs above a vintage Tommy Parzinger campaign chair.
Fabric from Chelsea Editions with large-scale nail head trimming cover the walls in the dining/music room. The molding and wood trim is finished in ebony with a bit of brown. The display cabinets are original to the apartment. A velvet banquet trimmed with bullion fringe anchors one side of the dining area. The Mecox dining table with its gold finished wooden base gathers with 19th-century chairs upholstered in Schumacher’s Shock Wave.
The grand piano, a gift from Kedigian’s parents when he was young, stands on the opposite side of the room to leave a clear passage through. Its central location allows the music to filter through the entire enfilade of entertaining rooms. The passage way into the library was made a foot smaller than the passage from the living room. The difference creates a perspective and tricks the eye making the dining/music room appear deeper and the library appear further away.
Kedigian always wanted a library. To create one here, he converted a bedroom to complete the entertaining enfilade. He wanted to make sure it felt of contemporary and vibrant. After days of analyzing samples in the sunlight at various times of day, a custom palette of blue for the walls and a caramel/orange shade for the ceiling were created in a Fine Paints of Europe Brilliant finish. Embroidered fabric from Etro forms the curtains. A bergere covered in Pierre Frey’s Dune sits before the Mid-Century Modern desk. The lovely Louis XV fauteuil is dressed in its original blue velvet. The rug is custom from Stark. The painting above the fireplace is by Kedigian of an ocean scene in Maine.
Scalamandre’s Variegation Herringbone covers the sofa. Glant’s Liquid Leather gives the Neoclassical side chair a fresh look. Collections of old books and collectibles fill the library shelves except for one area where faux books mask a cabinet holding a television.
New crown and foot moldings line the main gallery hall along with custom storage, all painted in high-gloss black. Antelope-pattered carpet from Stark covers the floor.
In the master bedroom, a canopy bed holds center stage. To create a greater sense of height, the bed draperies, in Schumacher’s Malandros Stripe, attach directly to the bedroom ceiling above the French 19th-century antique bed.
The bedroom feels very much like New Orleans to me. This entire apartment feels familiar to me in that sense, being from the great Southern city originally myself. It’s very much like an apartment one would find in the French Quarter. Kedigian is of French descent in fact, and he sites his grandmother’s home in Paris as inspiration when putting together his apartment. So, of course they are similar and seem familiar.
That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.
For more residences completed with streamlined Classic style, be sure to see:
This Park Avenue residence was featured in House Beautiful Magazine. Garrow has honed the classic elegance of this prewar apartment, while restoring it to a former glory era, and was able to simultaneously infuse a contemporary undertone. The designer established his own design firm in 2001. He presides over multiple interior design endeavors around the world. His distinctive style is rooted in tradition but characterized by a contemporary flair.
Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed this tour of Garrow Kedigian’s personal Park Avenue residence with his signature streamlined classic design.
For our design inspiration today, we are taking a look at an elegant Fifth Avenue apartment located within a handsome prewar residential co-op building on New York’s Upper East Side. This residence serves as a pied-a-terre for a couple who wished to create for themselves a very special luxury home in the city. Their appreciation for classical design elements allowed for the creation of a home rich with architectural ornamentation and exquisite detail. These classical-inspired features include highly articulated ceilings and decorative wall treatments forming rooms with ordered and balanced compositions rendered in a subdued but sophisticated color palette. Bespoke designed custom furnishings and an array of period antiques combine with the owner’s significant collection of modern art in a seamless fusion of refined luxury.
New York-based architect John Murray, a noted master of the classical design tradition, created the three-bedroom residence by combining two original one-bedroom units. The relatively small 2,500 square-foot pied-a-terre doesn’t have the requirements of a year-round home, so space gave itself to design. The public rooms arrange as a series of enfilades with each room opening to one another creating a formal sense of progression. Ornate crown moldings designed as part of the paneled walls make the ceilings appear higher. Tall baseboards and chair rails placed low on the walls make the rooms seem proportionally taller. These and other such principles carry throughout the apartment expanding the volumes to their best proportions.
INSPIRING CLASSICAL DESIGN
New York-based interior design firm Cullman & Kravis brought together the homes furnishings and decorating details. In all their projects, the firm embraces a modern traditional design aesthetic.
By artfully mixing antiques of all periods and origins alongside contemporary works and bespoke designs, the results are always timeless and comfortable, just as they are here.
The living room’s paneling includes curved corners and other effects to create a graceful line around the room, as well as for the practical purpose of concealing various structural components. The design includes a highly stylized custom acanthus leaf molding that lines the room beneath the plaster cornice.
The fireplace features custom bronze work cast by P. E. Guerin. Its design has been integrated into the paneling of the south wall to create the rooms focal point. Note the gator leather with tack trim on the Klismos chairs. Hand painted and beaded silk forms the window draperies. Art by noted contemporary masters displays on the walls.
For the grand entrance into the apartment, a rotunda-shaped entry vestibule was created. The dome ceiling, highlighted with a stylized Greek key in gold, creates the perception of greater height. This space gives way to a rectangular gallery to one side and to a vaulted gallery down the center of the apartment leading to bedrooms.
A group of graphite drawings by Alan McCollum, 1989-1990 hang in a modern grid as per the artist’s instructions. To prevent any early notions that the place is period or overly formal, the design team installed simple art lighting in the vaulted ceiling.
Painted wood with leather panel insets ornamented with bronze stud work dress the library’s walls. The articulated ceiling incorporates a layering of banding that serves as a decorative organizer for the lighting. Corner details enhance the form of the cove ceiling.
How exquisite is this powder room? These are really quite glamorous interiors!
Here in the master bedroom, the custom plaster cornice features a repeated geometric design. Various geometric designs incorporate around the room; in the carpet, the glass panels of the very fabulous closet doors, and as trim along the bedding and draperies. The overall impression of the apartment is that it has always been here, and yet it is still very current. It is timeless. It is just as the couple wanted for their pied-a-terre.
That concludes our classical design inspiration for today, my friend. I hope you enjoyed Fifth Avenue Classical Design.
To see other homes complete by Cullman & Kravis be sure to see:
This residence is one of the beautiful projects featured in designer Elissa Cullman’s book The Detailed Interior: Decorating Up Close with Cullman & Kravis. Cullman & Kravis has a remarkable ability to see the whole picture and, at the same time, appreciate the smallest of its pieces and intricacies. Each of their rooms is a magnificent and elaborate tapestry—step back, and a stunning image emerges; look up close, and every stitch is perfectly aligned with its neighbor, every thread a mirror of a larger pattern. This focus on detail subtly influences every component of the residences they design, so that every room harmonizes with the architecture, the setting, the furniture, and the artwork. Hand-carved moldings subtly reflect the embroidery of a throw pillow. The form of an antique chandelier echoes the drape of the silk curtains. Complementary colors emerge in the needlework of a rug, the brushstroke of an abstract painting, the fresh flowers on a table. Each room appears as the quintessence of effortless grace and balance, while only the designers know the meticulous research and extraordinary passion that went into creating such a perfectly harmonious space. The Detailed Interior: Decorating Up Close with Cullman & Kravis reveals how the firm achieves this effect, and how readers can employ these details to endow their rooms with the same sense of elegance and poise.
Jamie Drake is one of the brightest lights in the world of interior design today. The New York-based superstar designer believes that the best décor expresses personality and place. He has created some of the country’s most glamorous interiors and has garnered the industry’s highest accolades. With his fresh, inventive style and his attention to detail, the designer creates luxurious interiors that are inviting and livable. For our design inspiration today, we look to Jamie Drake’s apartment in West Chelsea of New York.
Since launching his firm, Drake Design Associates in 1978, he has completed interiors for an impressive roster of high-profile individuals. Notable clients include the iconic Queen of Pop- Madonna, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Drake designs a range of products for some of the world’s most renowned manufacturers including home furniture, fabrics, rugs, faucets, and fixtures. His latest move saw him forming Drake/Anderson, a successful partnership with Caleb Anderson.
Today we tour his personal 3,000-square-foot Manhattan apartment. The two-bedroom corner unit, with a large open living space, perfectly suits the designer. Located within an unprecedented, stainless steel residential tower, it represents the best in downtown chic. Designed by Selldorf Architects in the heart of the gallery district, the apartment enjoys unobstructed views of the Hudson River. The tower was first to offer an En-Suite-Sky-Garage allowing each owner to park on their floor. An elevator, programmed to recognize your car, takes you up to your private garage.
The sophisticated interiors of Jamie Drake’s apartment include 16-foot ceilings, and full height Wausau windows that completely mute all street noise. The spacious open living area arranges around a central six-and-a-half-foot-square custom cabinet bespoke designed by Drake. The cube divides the space creating two seating zones.
One side of the cabinet holds a television. On this side, a 13-foot-long Jamie Drake sofa upholstered in Schumacher silk pairs with a Milo Baughman lounge chair upholstered in Christopher Hyland Mohair. Thomas Ruff’s Substrat 24 I hangs above the sofa. A pair of club chairs, and a Madame X ottoman, both covered in Rubelli velvet all gather around a marble and granite coffee table by the designer on the Haldis I rug from the Alpha Workshops Collection by Edward Fields.
On the opposite side, the cabinet houses floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. This side is for cocktails and conversation. Drake designed the L-shaped sectional sofa and cocktail table which gather with a 1960’s Hand Chair by Pedro Friedeberg. For fun, the designer mounted a faux antelope head with a bondage-style black leather mask by Michael Combs. Gold leafed floor lamps by the Alpha Workshops illuminate the space. Stacked vibrant photo art by Alexandra Penny bridge the two seating spaces.
Jamie Drake loves to have guests over for cocktails and often entertains large crowds. Generous space to the side of this seating area remains intentionally open. One needs a place for dancing when entertaining a crowd. The area opens out to the loggia, which holds even more guests. Venetian-plaster in a sidewalk gray completes the walls of the living room, with ebonized teak on the floors. Window drapery panels of lamb’s wool satin by Clarence House frame the floor to ceiling views.
A custom two-tiered island, comprising a 22k gold-leafed cabinet that runs parallel to a dark-gray-lacquer appliance wall, and a 17-foot-long white Corian counter with inlaid-gold-leaf-designs, that overlaps it at an angle defines the open kitchen. A pair of pendant lights in hand-blown amber glass and steel frames suspends from above. The second pic shows the view one sees upon entering the apartment. The large, framed portrait is by Chuck Close.
Alpha Workshops, a non-profit organization, completed many of the design details throughout Jamie Drake’s apartment such as the gold-leafing, the plaster finish on the walls, and even various items of furniture. The organization provides training and employment in the decorative arts to people with HIV/AIDS. Drake serves as chairman of the organization’s board.
Leather bar stools from the Bright Group gather around the end of the Corian counter creating an eat-in area. The home does not include a formal dining area or dining table. Drake does not cook and doesn’t entertain that way. The idea behind the kitchen design has it serve more like a glamorous wet bar versus an ordinary utilitarian kitchen. Drake designed the home to reflect himself and his urbane lifestyle. The open living space functions a bit like a chic cocktail lounge.
I must say, concerning the kitchen- this is exactly how I feel as well. I never cook and only use the refrigerator and microwave in my kitchen. Before marriage and my now shared home, I always placed a silver tea set on my range to mask it. My husband does cook and uses the kitchen though (a lot). I still rarely go in there except to get something to drink. Anytime he is gone for any length of time, I edit the counters and put everything away. My ideal kitchen is an unused kitchen with nothing at all on the counters except an occasional decorative item. We compromise on this detail. I totally understand and appreciate Jamie Drake’s apartment kitchen design here.
The master bedroom is the designer’s sexy interpretation of the gentrified neighborhood’s once-gritty streets made glamorous. He lacquered the walls a high gloss gray. Drake had the custom bed upholstered in vibrant coral color, crocodile patterned, hair-on-hide, with coordinating coral color, lacquered nightstands. High above the bed, recessed into a coffer, the ceiling is mirrored. The room includes a custom-colored abstract rug from the Archive Collection by Edward Fields, and plum Linen Cellophane Boucle drapes.
The designer finished the bathroom walls in Perky Peach Venetian plaster. He ebonized the drawer fronts of the vanity. The fixtures are by Boffi. A granite soaking tub completes the bathroom.
And here we have the signature en-suite garage. In Manhattan, a designated parking space is a super luxury. Having one right outside your high floor apartment was unheard of and the news of it created in this building had the city buzzing. Drake decorated the double-height space, installing an aluminum slatted ceiling at an angle. He suspended from it a sculptural chandelier designed by Ted Abramczyk for Ralph Pucci. One can’t park their Rolls Royce just anywhere. When the designer hosts big parties, he parks his car elsewhere and the space serves as a lounge for more guests. Drake entertains 30 to 50 guests several times each month and as many as 250-300 and more on several occasions. Jamie Drake’s apartment suits his entertaining style perfectly.
And last for our tour, the furnished loggia-terrace. The apartment also has another bedroom with an en-suite bath and a guest powder room. A Crestron system fully automates the residence with everything at the touch of a button. The place is brilliant and so personal. The residence fully embraces all that modern design offers and is perfectly gracious and inviting with a style that is witty and engaging.
“There is little that doesn’t inspire me.” JD
That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.
To see some more vibrant, very personalized interiors, be sure to see:
Jamie Drake is the man behind some of the country’s most distinctive, glamorous, and livable interiors. He is widely regarded as one of the first designers to popularize Modernism in interior design, beginning in the 1980s. The award-winning, famed designer is known for his fearless approach to color as well as his fashion-conscious sensibility. He is a legend in American Interior Design.
Drake/Anderson, led by award-winning designers Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson, creates sophisticated interiors that are luxurious, refined, and always have a touch of the unexpected. Dynamic eclecticism is the hallmark of the New York-based firm, whose work forges a perfect balance between timelessness and today. At the heart of every project is the belief that the best décor expresses personality and place. The resulting environments are inviting, delightful, and above all resolutely livable.
Interior Design: Drake Design Associates, now Drake/Anderson
Photos and info courtesy of Jamie Drake (and Whitney)
Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed today’s inspiring interior design! What do you think of Jamie Drake’s apartment? Let me hear from you in the comments.
Today’s inspiring interior design comes from the sleek and contemporary interiors of a luxurious pied-a-terre located in downtown, New York. The owner of this two-bedroom exceptionally finished apartment needed a place to stay while in the city. To handle the matter for him, he turned to his trusted interior designer with whom he has worked for years, the New York and Miami-based Michael Dawkins. With more than 20 years of design experience, Michael is a recognized master at bringing glamorous interiors to life for his discerning clients.
The interior designer selected, designed, and completely customized this apartment to serve as an elegant pied-a-terre. The owner purchased the unfinished two-bedroom apartment in the notable “Walker Tower” in Manhattan’s chic Chelsea neighborhood. Michael then took over and ultimately created one of the most attractive units completed at that time within the building. Using rich and moody colors and layers of luxurious finishes throughout, the designer created a very sophisticated design that is dramatic and sexy. The owner completely trusted Michael, who presented his plans to him once and he approved them. The next time the owner saw the apartment was when he walked into it completed. The entire project took a year to finish because the building was still under its conversion construction when the apartment was purchased.
Walker Tower is a luxury conversion of a 1929 Art Deco building designed by the architect Ralph Thomas Walker, who designed many of America’s great depression era skyscrapers. The building was transformed into luxury condominium residences that incorporate the building’s classic design details and include all of the conveniences of modern, upscale residential living. The tower was built before neighborhood height limits were enacted and therefore rises high above its surroundings and features stunning 360 degree Manhattan views. The highly coveted units quickly sold with some setting record highs for downtown prices. It is quite spectacular! The building is now home to many business and showbiz figures and others in search of the best.
PIED-A-TERRE DESIGN INSPIRATION
The pied-a-terre living room includes floor-to-ceiling velvet draperies that span the entire back wall which Michael used to emphasize the room’s height, correct the spacing, and frame and enhance the North facing windows. A nineteen-foot-long, espresso-colored, linen sectional sofa designed by Verellen anchors the room. Centering the room is what appears to be a collection of contemporary tables artfully grouped together, though it is a single piece.
A diptych commissioned for the apartment by the Miami-based artist John LaHuis hangs above the sofa. Each panel is 9′ tall x 4′ wide. The artist painted the panels as one piece and then cut them in half for framing. Some of the items here, such as the Spin Side Table, the hand-blown glass piece, and the Vertical rod on a stand are from the Michael Dawkins Home Collection.
The desk is a bespoke design with a steel base and bluestone slate top. It serves a number of purposes. Note that from this perch the owner has a view of the Empire State Building. The chair, a distressed leather copy of a 1939 original by Frits Henningsen, is from Jean de Merry.
The entry hall features custom French herringbone beveled oak flooring. The home also includes a Crestron Home automation system that controls everything throughout with just a touch of a button.
A collection of framed art and sculpture assembles in the entry.
Custom millwork features throughout the residence, along with custom eight-foot-tall stained oak doors. I love this look. Very structured and classy!
The space shown here is a sitting room off the entry hall. Dawkins furnished it with his “Modern chair with Mongolian fur” as well as his tufted bench, stone urns, and serving tray, all from his home collection.
The very fabulous kitchen includes custom cabinetry with marble countertops and center island. It has stainless Sub-Zero, Viking, and Miele appliances. The three mirrors along the wall reflect the cube design of the three light fixtures. This is a seriously chic kitchen and so very much my style!
Dawkins created a dramatic powder room.
Using luxury fabrics and textures, the designer turned the master bedroom into a dream. The shades on the windows lower with just the touch of a button.
The bathrooms feature custom marble details, Nanz cabinetry hardware, Toto toilets, Waterworks fixtures, steam showers, and heated towel racks.
The pied-a-terre comes with a comprehensive amenities package: 24-hour doorman, concierge, fitness center with sauna, a common roof deck with dining area, and more.
The classic features combine with contemporary styling and rich details to create modern luxury. The interior design is both solid and sensual, classic and very now. A perfect home away from home!
That concludes today’s design inspiration for today, my friend.
To see another luxury residence with dramatic and sensual tones be sure to see my post:
