Bold Colors and Big Views Star in Manhattan Guesthouse in the Sky

A nondescript penthouse is transformed into a contemporary guest space with big city views and a large private patio

Jess McBride November 3, 2017

Houzz Contributor. Custom decorating professional and content creator for the home design industry with a lifelong passion for color, pattern, and texture of every "stripe"

Houzz Contributor. Custom decorating professional and content creator for the home... More

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A young family of four already lived on the 15th floor of a late 19th-century building when they purchased the penthouse unit above to create a guesthouse for family and friends. While the building is full of characterful trim work and detailing common to pre-war apartments, the penthouse was an addition from about 1950 and featured no historic details to preserve. Therefore, architect Lauren Rubin was free to create a bright, contemporary space that includes a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and an expansive patio with stunning views.

Lauren Rubin Architecture

Photos by Alyssa Kirsten

Guesthouse at a Glance
Who lives here: A guesthouse for a family of four with school-age kids
Location: Upper West Side of New York City
Size: 700 square feet (65 square meters) and a 500 square feet patio (46.5 square meters)
Architect: Lauren Rubin Architecture

The family already owned the 15th-floor unit, but when they purchased the top floor, the two had to be connected. The placement of the staircase is something the clients and designer really labored over: “We must have looked at about 10 different ways to add the staircase,” architect Lauren Rubin says.

To create the stair, the team had to cut a hole in the ceiling, no easy task in a pre-war building with “a lot of old concrete beams running across.” It also wasn’t a typical floor because the penthouse was added at a later date, so they were actually cutting into the original roof.

The first-floor entryway already featured blue and orange artwork, so the idea for an orange stair wall came straight from there. Rubin added a trio of closets under the stairs for storage.

Lauren Rubin Architecture

The bright orange lacquered paint was designed for automobiles rather than interior walls. “There aren’t many clients who would be willing to use high-lacquer car paint,” Rubin says. “It’s a big commitment.”

Rubin purposely put in pre-seamed reveals on the lacquered wall and mounted the panels with magnetic clips, so if the clients ever want to change them, they can be unclipped and resprayed.

Lauren Rubin Architecture

In the penthouse family room, Rubin added four glass doors that open onto the balcony. The wife is from coastal Florida and liked the idea of light, beachy curtains reminiscent of canopy-like sheers blowing in the wind, so the designer selected all-white draperies for the space. “She likes continuous surfaces, neat, clean and bright,” Rubin says,

A blue Ligne Roset sofa, which Rubin says is super comfortable and easily configurable, adds some punch to the space. A Sky Bang chandelier from Y Lighting is one of Rubin’s favorites: “It’s all LED and you can play with the different arms, putting them in any configuration.”

Lauren Rubin Architecture

Rubin turned the small nook created by the stair opening into an office for the mother, who works from home. It could easily have been a neglected space, but the architect outfitted it with ample shelving and a space-maximizing built-in desk.

Lauren Rubin Architecture

Currently, the family treats the upstairs penthouse primarily as a guesthouse, entertaining area and kids hangout space, so a kitchenette was essential. New York City codes only allow for one full kitchen per unit, defined in part by the presence of a stove, so this party-prep space has everything but a range.

Behind the white cabinets, there’s a fridge, a freezer and ample storage. The black cabinets and open shelves add some contrast and pair nicely as a backdrop to the orange staircase. West Elm chairs and a Saarinen table populate the small dining area below another piece of colorful art from the client’s collection.

Lauren Rubin Architecture

The designer added an exterior door to the upstairs guest suite for easy access to the deck. The client selected most of the textiles, including the rug, the bedding and even the sheer patterned shades.

Lauren Rubin Architecture

For the en suite bathroom, the client requested a black and white color scheme. Rubin delivered with black marble mosaic on the floor, a floating white vanity and wall tiles with large off-white porcelain tiles to add some warmth.

Browse hexagon-shaped tile

Lauren Rubin Architecture

Off the penthouse bedroom is a spacious patio where the family entertains and chills out. The patio features speakers, Wi-Fi access and a lot of comfy outdoor furniture to take in the views.

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