Family Loft – Lincoln Center NYC
LINCOLN CENTER, NYC
Family Loft
This growing family had moved from a three-bedroom apartment in a small post-war building in Greenwich Village to a dramatically larger, vastly different space: a 3000-square foot loft in a converted former warehouse near Lincoln Center. Challenged by scarce natural light and impractically long dark hallways, we rearticulated these spaces into a dwelling very human in scale, suited to entertaining and to more intimate family time alike.
The furnishings, a mix of custom contemporary pieces with 1940s French design, are a lively array, preserving the downtown Manhattan edge of the family’s former residence while lending a greater level of comfort and elegance to the new loft. Layers of African and Asian textiles and artifacts augment the distinctive eclecticism of the rooms.
The finished Lincoln Center loft reveals the fresh character that architectural rethinking, sensitive detailing and imaginative furniture choices can attain in a near-raw space.
A Jacob Hashimoto collage above the oversized sofa sets the scene: fine art meets family living.
Finest quality custom upholstered furniture with a rich selection of textiles, art and antiques make this living room both supremely comfortable and visually interesting. In front of the sofa is a broad ottoman upholstered in leather; in the corner, near the window, a chaise is covered in linen velvet by Calvin Fabrics. The throw, from Sarajo, is fabricated from a vintage black and red cape from Sumatra. The luxurious area rug, of vegetable dyed hand-knotted Tibetan wool is from Odegard.
The dining room transmits a French post-WWI aesthetic–machine-inspired furniture forms executed in a traditional material–in this case, oak. The 1930s modernist sideboard is by Charles Dudouyt. Atop the sideboard is a patinated brass and copper mirror custom made by Bark Frameworks, wider and longer than the cabinet, so that its surface appears doubled. A cast bronze fireback, a silvered vase, and an African sculpture add ornamental interest. The painting is by Joan Mitchell.
The bright pumpkin leather of a Thomas O’Brien tight-back armchair is paired with an ebonized wood console table topped in black marble designed by Glenn Gissler. The table lamp is fabricated from a printing cylinder. The two-handled vase below, glazed the color of saffron, is by late 19th century British proto-modernist designer Dr. Christopher Dresser.
A French 1940s console attributed to Pascaud, with doors of inlaid shagreen and bone, creates a serene tableau at the end of a long hallway. A pair of classic signed Tiffany candlesticks, c. 1900, from Ophir Gallery, are of patinated bronze with bronze candle cup and ‘organic root’ base. Stiges wall sconces, from Roman Thomas, are of oil-rubbed hand forged iron with stitched silk pearl shade.
A long hallway hung with contemporary art terminates in a bright checkerboard painting by American abstract artist Alfred Jensen.
We paid special attention to augmenting storage capacity–the oversized mirror is in fact a custom 3-way medicine cabinet. The round mahogany stool is antique Chinese.
Apple-green tile and smart stripes on the kitchen counter stools make this internal kitchen sparkle, along with the shining stainless steel professional range.
Working directly with this teenage boy we created a bedroom that reflects his desire for both geometric order and simplicity, and the his favorite color – blue.
Transitioning form a little girl’s rom to a room for a teenage girl we created a bright cheery palette and sophisticated furnishings to create a space that is more lounge than bedroom – putting two twin beds together with a plethora of pillows to create a 12 foot long sofa for she and her friends.
