SOHO – NYC
Duplex Loft
After living for more than a decade on the Upper East Side, these empty nesters headed a few miles south to Soho to try loft living. While some items from their expansive classical pre-war apartment made it to the new address, most everything was selected specifically for this apartment.
The expansive very open Living – Dining – Kitchen with 12 foot ceiling and a wall of large windows facing west offering protected views over the landmark district and ever-changing sunset views.
To create a living area that suited many functions we created a custom 20-foot L-shaped sofa with one end offering ideal TV viewing, and other end creating a seating group focused on the marble-clad fireplace. To amplify and expand the incredible light and views, we had the largest possible framed mirror made that would fit into the building’s elevator. Custom cabinetry combined with steel shelving house the discretely displayed television, books, and ceramic collection.
View of the living looking directly at the custom marble-clad fireplace with its design roots in early modern architecture, large custom coffee table, a pair of French Art Deco arm chairs with sinuous wood arms, striped custom flat weave rug and the oversized mirror. One can also see the custom lighting made to reinforce the industrial legacy of the space, and to provide proper lighting for the clients’ art collection.
The elevator opens directly into the Dining Room where the large work on paper by artist Julian Schnabel holds court. The delicate lines of the steel and leather chairs and the steel and light wood table create a casual but chic first impression.
The large main space has an open view from the Living and Dining areas to the Kitchen and the stairs to the second floor beyond.
Asymmetrical carpet design inspired by a Gio Ponti carpet made with cowhides with a center table creates a modern stair hall.
Hallway to lower bedrooms, powder room and laundry painted dark grey is lined with artwork; a custom ‘X’ base stool anchors the end wall with two works of art.
A wonderful 1920’s cabinet by Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia was originally purchased for their ‘uptown life’ was reused in this apartment along with the Herzog and De Meuron ‘Hocker’ stool, a bold work on paper and other decorative objects.
Living area detail showing a ‘Hocker’ stool by Herzog & De Meuron, a pair of French Art Deco chairs with sinuous wood arms and an oversized framed mirror hanging over a custom fireplace clad in ‘Grey Goose’ marble.
TV corner of the over-sized Living Room sofa with a photograph by Frank Thiel, a detail of peeling paint, and a Toio floor lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1962, and a leather ottoman that works well for feet, books or beverages.
View over the adjacent low-rise historic district with a view of the residential towers at NYU (with the needle of the Empire State building popping up) and the expanding metropolis at Hudson Yards, in the distance.
Wide view of the living area looking at the wall of large windows.