“For an Upper West Side apartment, the client asked for a design based on the Balenciaga Hybrid Derby Pump, a shoe that’s a modern twist on the traditional oxford heel. So, we mixed classic and modern elements. The shoe’s colors are navy and black, which translated to similarly subtle color differences in the design.”
Project Name: W 72nd Street Apartment
Studio Name: INC Architecture & Design
The 72nd Street apartment is a cultivated hybrid. It is both hyper-modern and deeply classical at once. The design balances extreme abstraction and rich classicism. There are decadent decorative flourishes and super functional strategies. Warm textured tactile finishes are combined with glossy slick ones. Clean masculine lines are balanced with intensely feminine touches.
Three modest apartment units in this post war building were gutted and combined to create this 3900-square foot five-bedroom family apartment with an 1800 square foot terrace. The terrace extends along the entire northern elevation of the apartment and has views of central park and the Dakota. A living loft was created, also along the full length of the north elevation, to take full advantage of the terrace. The kitchen, dining, living and family rooms are arranged enfilade within the loft separated by minimal, centrally-located, Venetian plaster room dividers with concealed glass doors. With direct access to the terrace these rooms establish a gracious indoor/outdoor experience unusual for a New York City apartment.
Upon entry, the diminutive vestibule is expanded with one wall entirely presented in Verre Eglomisé by Miriam Ellner a New York City craftsman specializing in this time honored and disappearing technique of patterned gold leaf mirror. A gold leaf “dome”, Venetian plaster walls, brass details, an alabaster floor, and a bleached oak ceiling panel complete this jewel of an entry. The entry, home gym and bedrooms are organized around a gallery carved out of the plan and focused toward the view bringing light into the deepest part of the apartment. The gallery dominated by an outsized bleached oak chevron floor and a softened plaster column.
The south wall of the living loft is paneled entirely with classically derived antiqued ceruse grey oak. This panel transforms to incorporate storage, a hidden bar, an all Calacata marble side board niche and the primary kitchen work area niche. These niches are highlighted with solid brass surrounds. In the kitchen, the white oak floor gives way to a rare brown grain-cut travertine that evokes wood with an acid etched finish on the floor and polished counters. Kitchen uppers are provided in high gloss light taupe lacquer with the remaining wall of millwork in satin lacquer thus creating a richly layered and delicately complex palette.
A custom silk Edward Fields rug with a gold linear pattern organizes the living dining loft. The dining room is defined by a grand Jean De Merry chandelier, a Hellman Chang dining table, Studio Van Den Aaker deco inspired dining chairs and a brass fronted Blackman Cruz credenza. The living area includes a Regan Hays sofa, custom INC shop channel tufted club chairs upholster in two tone pink leather and velvet and an antique brass and bronze glass modular coffee table inspired by the Gabriella Crespi “puzzle” dining table. The family room tones turn cooler with the Harvey Prober, Deep Tuft Sectional, from Todd Merrill and a basket weave cowhide rug from Kyle Bunting.
The baths are a study in mixed metals and tonal whites including Venetian plaster, Calacata, Carrara and sugar white marbles. A charming solid rock crystal sconce by the Phoenix Gallery graces the powder room.
With this refined collection of vintage inspired and decidedly contemporary pieces comes a sophistication that is rooted in history but remains decidedly modern. Luxury and decorative exuberance work with efficient and logical planning strategies to create spaces that evoke tradition but isn’t “your grannies” classic eight.
