I am in love with that pink footstool despite the pompoms! Great pics, Jim.

Lessons learned:

The wealthy live in an alien parallel universe where:

Black kitchens are not dungeons

Wallpaper is not dated, nor is shiny brass hardware or framless mirrors in the bathroom.

Bookshelves are not 1/3 books, 1/3 accessories, and 1/3 empty space.

Men will sleep in girly bedrooms.

Wow, the rich really *are* different. :) Thanks for posting.

Ha ha, so true palimpsest.
And they also have lots of maids to clean all that dated stuff. And that bathroom mirror is beveled.

This is one layered place that I actually borderline like, it hasn't reached the almost hoarder stage that some of them get. But I love all the blue and white ceramics.

oh thanks for posting this, chijim! I love that conservatory.

(I was just thinking of you today when I was trying to arrange my "dogs" on the mantle.)

I've come back to look at this several times as there are so many pretty things! Many people seem to shy away from blue but it's my favorite color and they use it well.
Thanks for posting it, Jim.

Where the heck do they put the kleenex on the bedside tables?

That is way too much visual overload. I'd cut it back by 40%.
I love the conservatory glass.

Oh, thanks for posting. Very interesting to see how others live.
My initial thought was...... "a dusting nightmare..." . That's IRL, the practical side that I tend to gravitate to.

I couldn't say half of what I saw because it's so much. It would take me an hour to identify everything in those rooms. I would like to go "shopping" there for a few things I'd like for my house. LOL

Good grief! There are some beautiful pieces, but other than the conservatory, my eyes feel like they need a vacation! If I lived there I'd be in a perpetual state of high anxiety, with nowhere to rest my eyes! LOL

Thanks for the list Palimpsest! If I lived in that parallel universe I think I'd be a lot richer. No more ripping out "dated" surfaces to replace with "to-be-dated-soon" surfaces. And I'd have some lovely wallpaper!

Good grief! How would you begin to clean a place with that much "stuff"?- even with hired help!

Well, I'm enjoying the visit, thanks. It'd be a bit much for me to live with, too, not least because I am my own housekeeper, but I'm taking notes on their furniture placement, most specifically that bathroom. We have a little chair by the tub, which always seemed all the extra possible. It had never occurred to me to try our little wicker bookcase behind it too. And on it? Hmmm... :)

Oops - the conservatory was from another house that was in Town and Country and doesn't belong with this group of pics.

But, this penthouse does have some wonderful terraces w/ gorgeous Manhattan views.

I love it!

I love how raking light looks on turned furniture. I love the sunburst floor pattern. The curtains are very interesting- they are one solution to problem windows people sometimes ask about on this forum.

The DR wallpaper, YES!!

And then the beautiful terrace, wonderful!

I'm not saying I decorate like this, I don't. For one thing I can't afford the quality of furnishing and fabric and architecture to carry it off. But I sure enjoy seeing it. Thank you, as always, Chijim.

love the library!

Gorgeous!! So interesting -- lots of memories and stories in that home!! :)

Did you see the oriental screen???? Breathtaking! And the huge orchid in the gorgeous pot on the piano!

Thanks SO much for sharing .... a visual treat! :)

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Everytime I finally decide to sell my blue and white percelain collection you post numerous reasons why I should not.

Beautiful pics!

I still wanna be Howard Slatkin when I grow up.

Lovely!

My favs:

- The symmetry. I think a lot of layered looks are not so symmetrical so I would add to palimpsest Lessons learned that you can have symmetry if it is your hearts desire.:)

- Love the chandelier and the settee in the bedroom.

I want to know what the chair says under the piano.

Thanks for posting!

@ palimpsest -- Well said!

Of course, my first thought when I saw that range with all the dishes on the wall behind it was, "There's an awesome range that never gets used." All that black is a little much for me, though.

@ dianalo -- "visual overload" is right.

I do "borderline like" this, but the cherub clock reminded me of "The Haunting."

What a fascinating and beautiful interior world. I could spend hours there looking and reading, lost in happy thought. Those doors/windows that lead out to the beautiful terrace and the light they let in are fabulous.

I love it! Many of the extreme "layered" homes, I do not care for, but this one, YES! It is not so "over-layered" that you can't see each individual item. There are pieces of some type of blueware in almost every room - if not, a blue pillow or rug.

The library is wonderful. It has books and beautiful, wooden bookshelves.

The only room I could not spend much time in would be the bedroom - I couldn't breathe in there. The room may be larger than it appears.

Tuesday

Reminds me of my grandmothers house and her things!

My thoughts are there is too much going on and who is going to dust all that!

I love this look! This is the look I am going for - on a much cheaper budget! ;) And that terrace is to die for! Thanks for sharing.

My first thought when I see decor of this sort is that it works (for the most part) because of the great architectural background and the high quality of every item. A decorator's eye is another prerequisite. If you were to try this in the average tract house with an average budget and the average amount of decorating ability, it would be another story altogether. It's been a pleasure to view it though.

Definitely some nice items, but it makes me feel better about not having a magazine worthy space, if this is what is required. Honestly, how can real life take place in a space like this, especially if that real life included young kids? I kept cataloging all the things that would get broken and all the things I'd have to tell the kids were "off limits."

Beautiful home. My two favorites - the office/library and the terrace. Now that is the way to live in NYC!

Thanks for sharing the pics!