535 West End Avenue is beautiful pre-war style, white-glove building located in the Upper West Side and managed by Halstead. In 2015, ALine Studio was hired to design an upscale, adult-only lounge in which residents could host fundraising events, cocktail parties, conferences, and meetings. This new space, originally a studio apartment off of the lobby, was completely gutted down to the concrete slabs and we were able to start with a blank canvas!
The conference area features a faux fireplace of beautiful bookmatched marble, reminiscent of petrified wood. The stone is flanked on either side by custom built-in bookcases to balance out the space. Tufted window seats are tucked into deep window sills that make up the elegantly curved facade of the building. Sunlight streams in to bathe the made-to-order 8’ wood slab live-edge walnut table perched atop solid brass wishbone shaped legs. The glowing coved ceilings overhead illuminate champagne leafing and is adorned with brass, Sputnik-like chandeliers. The floor is honed Blue Cielo marble with a black marble double border inlay.
The sitting area is defined by a grey and white marbled cowhide rug from Argentina. Custom lounge chairs are upholstered in luxe blue leather on the inside seat and fuzzy mohair wraps the outside. Detailed with leather straps and a contrast welt, the chairs are inviting and stylish. A buttery, soft leather banquette bench is tucked into a niche that has tufted royal blue velvet upholstered up the wall from the floor to the ceiling. Recessed lighting accents the sheen and depth of the velvet-covered wall. The addition of bar height tables and the iconic Bertoia wire collection bar chairs allow visitors the space to work at a laptop or enjoy a cocktail.
Across from the sitting area is the exquisite bar top which is made out of Kenya Black marble. This piece creates a counter-balance to the faux fireplace across the room, made of the same Kenya Black marble, effectively relating both sides of the room to each other. To add just a touch of drama, the monolithic stone face of the bar is downlit with a warm wash of light. A few more Bertoia bar chairs pulled up to the bar provide a nice metal contrast to the stone. Behind the bar is a built-in undercounter beverage refrigerator and a striking nickel sink with a brass faucet. To reflect light and add further depth to the room, the back bar wall is finished off with antiqued mirror tiles laid in a herringbone pattern within a golden glass border. Brass cylindrical pendants hang delicately over the Kenya Black bar top.
The design of the amenity space was all about mixing metals — specifically nickel and brass. We took great care in adding the tiny details, tailor-made furnishings, high-end finishes, furniture, and accessories which give the space its aura of exceptional beauty and luxury.