This little jewel of an apartment was a pleasure to decorate. The clients are a lovely couple from Houston who live part time in New York City. This duplex penthouse is on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and includes two bedrooms, two baths and three terraces. A real luxury in New York! As the apartment is a rental, the clients didn’t want to invest in a lot of elaborate painting and wallpaper. We had roughly six weeks (during the holidays, no less!) to get the apartment ready, so my Los Angeles-based design partner Missy Calvert and I got to work! The space was freshly painted in a cream color. In the interest of keeping things simple and cost effective, we opted to design around this neutral backdrop. Our client’s late father was a prolific artist, and his collection dictated the color scheme in the public rooms–deep golds, oranges, black and white. We included a mix of reproductions and carefully selected antique pieces with vintage lighting and accessories. Given that the clients hail from Texas, we also made sure to add a bit of Texas vibe to the decor.
The living and dining rooms are actually one big room, so we divided the space with the furniture layout into a dining area and a sitting area. The antelope rug adds a bit of fun, and works well with the colors and other elements of the rooms. The dining chairs are from Restoration Hardware–an excellent price point, as well as being quite sturdy and comfortable. The dining table is a reproduction and the chandelier is gilt metal with crystal from France, ca. 1940s.
In the front entry, we used a William IV mahogany cabinet from our shop. The entry is small and not very wide, so this piece was the perfect size. It serves a useful purpose and looks lovely with a silver tray, the French 19th century mirror and Murano glass lamp.
This side table in the Living Room is from our collection, a neoclassical style Italian round table with a Greek key motif on the apron and leather top. With all the rectilinear pieces in the living room, the round table adds a softening touch. The framed intaglios add a bit of interest on either side of the sofa without competing with the main painting.
This chrome and brass mid-century Jansen style etagere from our collection adds a bit of visual interest to a small alcove and is a great place to display books, accessories and family photos.
We wanted to soften the space underneath the stairwell, and so added this vintage bench, upholstered in a striking mango velvet from Designers Guild. The planters add a welcome touch of green.
A cowhide rug lends a bit of Texas to this Guest Room!
We wanted to create a restful Master Bedroom, in soft blues and creams, as an oasis from the hectic pace of New York. The bed is from Eloquence, lamps from Circa Lighting. The chaise is from the Kristin Drohan Collection, and the mirrors from Ballard Designs.
This vintage brass bar cart from our shop was the perfect addition! We found a pair of low French chairs in a flea market–great detail and perfect scale for this space. We covered them in a beautiful Cowtan and Tout velvet with a Samuel & Sons orange leather piping.
The outdoor terrace is such a bonus in New York–outdoor space is a real luxury! We carried the orange color palette outdoors since the terrace is visible from the apartment–a nice complement to the gray upholstery. Teak furniture from Kingsley Bate; pillow fabric from Thibaut’s indoor/outdoor collection.
The apartment is a perfect “home away from home” for this couple and their family and friends. We loved working together and I wish them much happiness in New York.