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:
Elms Transitional Style: Intercontinental Boston
Bennett Leifer’s Transitional Interior Design
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.
Interior Design: Bennett Leifer
Photographer: Marco Ricca
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.
Have a great day!
