Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Cool Blues and a Streamlined Design
Extensive renovations to a Manhattan apartment create a serene home with an easy flow
A gorgeous tank of fish and love of the ocean inspired the serene blues and other motifs that tie together this apartment on New York City’s Upper East Side. An earlier renovation that combined three apartments into one had left the home with a chopped-up layout, overpowering moldings and a flow that could only be described as clogged.
In addition to better flow, the homeowners wanted a family- and dog-friendly home that showed off their art collection, offered clever storage solutions and gave them a place to admire their fish. By using a cohesive and calming color and materials palette, streamlining the layout, cleverly concealing pesky mechanicals and choosing light fixtures that complement one another, the designers at James Wagman Architect created a comfortable sanctuary.
In addition to better flow, the homeowners wanted a family- and dog-friendly home that showed off their art collection, offered clever storage solutions and gave them a place to admire their fish. By using a cohesive and calming color and materials palette, streamlining the layout, cleverly concealing pesky mechanicals and choosing light fixtures that complement one another, the designers at James Wagman Architect created a comfortable sanctuary.
BEFORE: Though it’s not shot from the same angle, this shot gives you a good idea of the style of the apartment before the renovations. This is a postwar apartment, so low ceilings (8 feet, 2 inches) came with the territory. Busy traditional moldings weren’t helping, making the ceilings appear lower.
A new entry closet holds coats, scarves, shoes, hats and bags. The wood is quarter-sawn white oak with a custom dark stain. The stain looks like walnut, a nod to the older prewar architecture in the neighborhood.
The homeowners love fish. The designers placed their 200-gallon tank within a streamlined wall of built-ins that contains all of the equipment the tank requires. Note the way it runs from floor to ceiling. “We expressed verticality wherever we could to make the ceilings feel higher,” principal designer James Wagman says.
The aquarium wall’s design allows the clients to appreciate the tank from two sides. This smaller glimpse of the tank entices visitors to move from the entry into the living room.
The aquarium wall’s design allows the clients to appreciate the tank from two sides. This smaller glimpse of the tank entices visitors to move from the entry into the living room.
The homeowners wanted to stay away from rugs, so getting the floors just right was important. “We tried six different custom stains all over the apartment in different lighting situations to get the color exactly right,” project manager Travers Jakimczyk says. The floors throughout are quarter-sawn white oak with a dark custom stain. Maggie the golden retriever makes herself at home in the living room.
A gallery wall with matching frames and mats ties the images over the living room sofa together. Low-slung furniture also helps the ceilings appear higher.
Blue paint: Phippsburg Blue, Benjamin Moore; sofa, armchair and end table: Mitchell Gold; coffee table: ABC Carpet & Home
Blue paint: Phippsburg Blue, Benjamin Moore; sofa, armchair and end table: Mitchell Gold; coffee table: ABC Carpet & Home
The designers helped the homeowners choose light fixtures consistent in color and materials throughout the house to help the flow. They found fixtures that were beautiful but didn’t compete with the art or make the ceilings seem low. The track lights here highlight the butterflies on the wall.
Dining table and chairs: Mitchell Gold; chandelier: Heracleum II, Moooi
Dining table and chairs: Mitchell Gold; chandelier: Heracleum II, Moooi
The homeowners had another version of this butterfly installation by artist Paul Villinski in their previous home, and they hired him to come out to expand and recompose it in their new dining room. It’s hard to believe, but the butterflies are made out of old beer cans.
The texture and color on the custom console ties it to the floor tile in the foyer.
Buffet: Milano buffet BF84 in wenge wood, Italian murrine mosaic, Ercole
The texture and color on the custom console ties it to the floor tile in the foyer.
Buffet: Milano buffet BF84 in wenge wood, Italian murrine mosaic, Ercole
One of the major challenges in the postwar building was its tricky mechanicals and plumbing. The architects came up with a smart, streamlined scheme that maximizes the space along the north-facing windows, adding storage, window seats and a workspace that also conceals the mechanicals. For example, on the ledge above this daybed just off the dining room, you can see the HVAC vent along the ledge. The ledge also serves as a convenient spot for flowers, a drink and a book.
Cushion fabric: Round Leaves, Designtex; patterned pillow fabric: Saybrook, Lee Jofa
Cushion fabric: Round Leaves, Designtex; patterned pillow fabric: Saybrook, Lee Jofa
In the kitchen, cheerful fish wallpaper plays off the aquarium. Nicky the Havanese enjoys a comfy spot on the L-shaped banquette, which anchors the eat-in area. Along with blue, yellow is a favorite color of the owners, which interior designer Jane Estrada brought in on the cushions. A classic Saarinen Tulip table and Arne Jacobsen Series 7 chairs nod to the midcentury modern era to which the building dates.
Wallpaper: Acquario, Cole & Son Fornasetti II Wallpaper Collection; Saarinen oval dining table and Series 7 Chairs: Design Within Reach
Wallpaper: Acquario, Cole & Son Fornasetti II Wallpaper Collection; Saarinen oval dining table and Series 7 Chairs: Design Within Reach
The kitchen island serves as another casual eating area and a handy work surface within a work triangle. A bright blue backsplash injects the hues of the ocean into the otherwise all-white space.
Series 7 stools: Design Within Reach; counter: quartz in Blizzard, Caesarstone; backsplash tile: Beau Monde Glass Polly, Ann Sacks; light over table and pendants over island: Cheers Pendant, Tech Lighting
Series 7 stools: Design Within Reach; counter: quartz in Blizzard, Caesarstone; backsplash tile: Beau Monde Glass Polly, Ann Sacks; light over table and pendants over island: Cheers Pendant, Tech Lighting
This is the another part of the north-facing wall that houses the daybed. This view begins in the living room, extends into the clients’ home office and ends in the master bedroom. Sleek pocket doors can close off each room as needed.
For the workspace, a desk conceals the mechanicals and provides more storage. On the opposite wall, sleek built-ins conceal the printer, shredder, file cabinets and more.
Accent paint: Day’s End, Benjamin Moore; wall and millwork paint (used on trim and millwork throughout): Super White, Benjamin Moore
Accent paint: Day’s End, Benjamin Moore; wall and millwork paint (used on trim and millwork throughout): Super White, Benjamin Moore
The bedding in the master brings in more blue, this time in a subdued, restful shade. The north-facing wall contains storage and a surface to use as a shelf or seat and hides the mechanicals.
Wall paint: Atrium White, Benjamin Moore; nightstand: Mitchell Gold; headboard fabric: Kintore Steel Blue, Romo; reading light: Cleo, Holtkötter International
Wall paint: Atrium White, Benjamin Moore; nightstand: Mitchell Gold; headboard fabric: Kintore Steel Blue, Romo; reading light: Cleo, Holtkötter International
The master bath palette is calming, with toned-down blue-grays adding subtle color. The wall tile is Dolomite marble, which has a crystallized look. The floors are porcelain tiles that resemble driftwood planks, and a floral-inspired tile adds a botanical accent.
Vanity and mirrored medicine cabinets: Robern; accent tile: Estrella Grande in Azul Cielo, Thassos and Bianco Carrara, Artistic Tile; floor tile: Bosco White, 8 by 48 inches, Artistic Tile; wall tile: Bianco Dolomiti White, 4 by 16 inches, honed finish: Stone Source
Vanity and mirrored medicine cabinets: Robern; accent tile: Estrella Grande in Azul Cielo, Thassos and Bianco Carrara, Artistic Tile; floor tile: Bosco White, 8 by 48 inches, Artistic Tile; wall tile: Bianco Dolomiti White, 4 by 16 inches, honed finish: Stone Source
The shower has two large rainheads, two handhelds on the walls and two sets of controls. River rock feels wonderful underfoot.
Floor tile: Perfect Pebble Java Grey, Artistic Tile
Contractor: Corey Ward, CW Contractors Inc.
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Floor tile: Perfect Pebble Java Grey, Artistic Tile
Contractor: Corey Ward, CW Contractors Inc.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York
Size: 3,700 square feet (344 square meters)
Designers: James Wagman (principal), Travers Jakimczyk (project manager) and Jane Estrada (interior designer) of
James Wagman Architect
The entry welcomes with calm blue on the walls and a textured, coastal-inspired tile on the floor. The homeowners love the ocean and the beach, so the designers made subtle nods to that throughout the home to tie everything together.
Wall paint: Phippsburg Blue, Benjamin Moore; trim paint: Super White, Benjamin Moore; floor tile: Scribe Aquaria, Ann Sacks; console: Mitchell Gold; light fixture: Muse, AXO