Houzz Tour: Traditional Character Restored in a Manhattan Condo
A higher ceiling, new crown moldings and custom built-ins bring glamour back to this Upper East Side abode
The family room is a mirror image of the living room in dimensions and layout, except that it now opens to the dining area and kitchen. The homeowners wanted the space to be a “colorful and carefree” one in which family activities such as dining, play and cooking could occur simultaneously.
The homeowners are aspiring art collectors and the remodel provided a great opportunity to acquire new pieces. The photograph above the sofa, depicting a beach in India, resonated with one of the homeowners, who felt it reflected her cultural heritage.
Wall paint: Dorian Gray, C2 Paint
The homeowners are aspiring art collectors and the remodel provided a great opportunity to acquire new pieces. The photograph above the sofa, depicting a beach in India, resonated with one of the homeowners, who felt it reflected her cultural heritage.
Wall paint: Dorian Gray, C2 Paint
Pearson knocked down a wall that separated the galley kitchen from the family room to make the space more open. She also gained a lot of ceiling height by removing the kitchen’s soffits.
The kitchen features new Shaker-style cabinets, marble countertops and high-end stainless steel appliances. Pearson also added a built-in microwave drawer to the left of the refrigerator. “It’s easier to use in a lot of ways,” she says. Instead of having to lift a heavy, full bowl into an overhead microwave, the user can simply lower the item into the drawer.
The kitchen features new Shaker-style cabinets, marble countertops and high-end stainless steel appliances. Pearson also added a built-in microwave drawer to the left of the refrigerator. “It’s easier to use in a lot of ways,” she says. Instead of having to lift a heavy, full bowl into an overhead microwave, the user can simply lower the item into the drawer.
Because the home has no formal dining room, Pearson used the space where one might expect to find counter stools to add a custom table and settee, which are paired with vintage midcentury chairs reupholstered in a graphic and colorful print. The capiz shell chandelier completes the look.
Browse capiz shell chandeliers
Browse capiz shell chandeliers
The living room is adjacent to the family room but removed enough from the hustle and bustle of everyday activities to serve as a serene and comfortable place for quiet conversation, contemplation or reading after the kids go to bed.
To reflect more daylight into the apartment, Pearson installed deep mirror-paneled jambs at the windows — if you look closely, you can see the mirror just beyond the left curtain. These large window jambs also offered an opportunity to seamlessly integrate built-in bookcases and radiator condenser cabinets. Pearson lined every other wall with painted wood panels.
To further enhance the feeling of lightness, neutral hues were chosen for the walls and trim, while pops of exuberant colors were infused in the upholstery for a sense of fun and modernity.
Wall color: Noodle, C2 Paint; rug: Dandelion, Fedora Design
To reflect more daylight into the apartment, Pearson installed deep mirror-paneled jambs at the windows — if you look closely, you can see the mirror just beyond the left curtain. These large window jambs also offered an opportunity to seamlessly integrate built-in bookcases and radiator condenser cabinets. Pearson lined every other wall with painted wood panels.
To further enhance the feeling of lightness, neutral hues were chosen for the walls and trim, while pops of exuberant colors were infused in the upholstery for a sense of fun and modernity.
Wall color: Noodle, C2 Paint; rug: Dandelion, Fedora Design
Most of the textile pieces in the living room, such as the sofas, settee, armchairs, embroidered curtains, wall-to-wall carpets and area rugs, are custom. Some items — such as this Robsjohn-Gibbings card table and pair of Ward Bennett chairs — are vintage.
The draperies are constructed of Holland & Sherry’s Spectator fabric in pumice. The wool and silk sateen blend has a custom velvet appliqué and contrast stitching on the leading edge.
The draperies are constructed of Holland & Sherry’s Spectator fabric in pumice. The wool and silk sateen blend has a custom velvet appliqué and contrast stitching on the leading edge.
The Chinese painting above the original fireplace mantel in the living room already belonged to the homeowners.
The homeowners have three young girls, but they weren’t afraid to use high-end finishes. They felt that having beautiful things around them would offer an opportunity to teach their children to appreciate and care for things. “There are a lot of resilient upholstery fabrics that are beautiful too,” Pearson says, so the upholstered pieces should hold up well.
The homeowners have three young girls, but they weren’t afraid to use high-end finishes. They felt that having beautiful things around them would offer an opportunity to teach their children to appreciate and care for things. “There are a lot of resilient upholstery fabrics that are beautiful too,” Pearson says, so the upholstered pieces should hold up well.
The master bedroom’s layout was already functional, so they didn’t need to change much. Pearson inserted another deep window jamb with a condenser and radiator cabinet underneath. This allowed her to make the existing cabinetry to the right of the window deeper and more integrated with the wall next to it.
She also had swing-arm sconces installed next to the bed so the couple can read before retiring for the night. The double layered window treatment consists of a sheer roller shade to let in light during the day and a Roman shade with velvet trim to block out the city lights when it’s time to sleep.
Headboard: John Robshaw
She also had swing-arm sconces installed next to the bed so the couple can read before retiring for the night. The double layered window treatment consists of a sheer roller shade to let in light during the day and a Roman shade with velvet trim to block out the city lights when it’s time to sleep.
Headboard: John Robshaw
This room is shared by two of the girls. Pearson designed a custom banquette-style daybed where they can lounge during the day and then sleep head to head or toe to toe at night. This creative layout leaves a lot of floor space open for play time and makes full use of the wall.
The beds also contain storage compartments and a trundle for sleepovers with friends. The architect also put in new cabinetry and radiator cabinets so the kids won’t scald themselves on the cast iron. The room also received upgraded lighting.
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The beds also contain storage compartments and a trundle for sleepovers with friends. The architect also put in new cabinetry and radiator cabinets so the kids won’t scald themselves on the cast iron. The room also received upgraded lighting.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three young girls
Location: Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City
Size: 2,100 square feet (195 square meters)
Designers: Anik Pearson (architecture) and Robin Henry (interior design)
A previous owner had combined two adjoining apartments in a 1925 New York building, resulting in this apartment that features two living areas separated by back-to-back fireplaces. A later renovation in the early 2000s stripped away nearly all the historic character of the home: The original moldings and portions of walls had been removed, and ceilings had been dropped to create soffits — a look popular in the aughts. Only the fireplace mantels remained.
The new homeowners wanted to bring back the apartment’s Prewar details and charm, and they tasked architect Anik Pearson with the job. The remodel required reframing each room and restoring the high ceilings and crown moldings. The result is a classic Upper East Side apartment abounding with light, color, glamour and comfort.
The family room, seen here, and the living room are at the center of the apartment, with the master suite and guest room on one side and the children’s bedrooms on the other, for a total of four bedrooms.