The dramatic light-filled spaces of this comprehensive renovation of an Upper West Side apartment were created by peeling away the low ceilings and thick walls of a clunky 80’s condo-conversion and opening the master bedroom to an outdoor terrace. SMA discovered exciting design opportunities by playing with the contours of the exposed structural shell of the 1927 building. For example, the curved decorative plaster wall that defines the entry foyer was shaped around a fire stair, and gracefully leads to the large living/dining area, which was reconfigured out of two smaller rooms. Two large south-facing windows bring symmetry and offer impressive skyline views.
The public spaces are connected to the primary bedroom suite via a long kitchen/office zone, with views to the east. A pair of large floor-to-ceiling glass doors were inserted into the exterior wall of the master bedroom to connect it to the outdoor terrace and north-facing city views. A guest bedroom is tucked away at the south end of the apartment.
Bold saturated colors are used in the two ensuite bathrooms and the powder room: cobalt blue in the master; sunset orange in the guest; and a Bridget-Riley-inspired yellow wallpaper in the powder room. The client's interest in early 20th-century German and Austrian art and architecture influenced design choices: the patterning on the curved plaster wall, inspired by Gustav Klimt's birch trees; the Bauhaus prototype used for the door hardware; the simple contouring of the structural-ceiling; and the dark gray-silver palette of woodwork, doors, and media wall in the living area, which transitions to lighter tones in the private spaces at the rear of the apartment.
SMA Team:Stephen Moser, principal; Nicole Anderson, project manager
Interior Design: Beth Altschuler Interiors
Lighting: Tirschwell Lighting & Design
Mechanical Engineer: PA Collins, P.E.
Structural Engineer: Blue Sky Design, Inc.
General Contractor: Silver Lining Interiors
Kitchen: Bilotta Kitchen & Homes
Decorative Plaster: Fresco Decorative Painting, Inc.
Photography: Michael Moran/OTTO
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