Pied-à-Terre – Greenwich Village, NYC

GREENWICH VILLAGE – NYC

Pied-à-Terre

The Ottoman Empire, with its richly figured carpets and ornaments, was the vision this Colorado couple had for their two-bedroom condominium in a Greenwich Village building renovated by designer Victoria Hagan, who had preserved its prewar character.

We decided to articulate the room separations by using casings, moldings, and a portiere to create a greater sense of sequence to the rooms. To further emphasize room separations, we changed coloration from one room to the other, with the entry  lacquered a vivid cinnabar. Judiciously placed mirrors expanded and lightened the spaces.

The clients were very interested in vintage textiles, so we introduced layering of Persian rugs and embroidered or tapestry wall-hangings. A selection of patterned textiles, woven or embroidered rather than printed, and often antique in appearance, are carefully juxtaposed. Many of the upholstery and pillow fabrics are actually new, but they have a luscious, aged look.

The result is not a recreated Turkish interior, but a place where imagined travel meets the incomparable comfort of home, in this case, a second one in one of the most charming neighborhoods New York City has to offer.

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An antique Tabriz area rug with stylized floral pattern in indigo and cream, is keynote of this richly patterned and textured room. The custom Belgian sofa is from Jonas. Interesting objects–two pairs of mounted oryx horns; a cross-legged Aesthetic Movement table–add detail and depth.

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A provenance with panache: this Italian walnut Baroque chest of drawers, 19th century with 18th century elements, is from Loring House, Massachusetts, home of the Codman family.

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An antique Tabriz area rug with stylized floral pattern in indigo and cream, is keynote of this richly patterned and textured room. The custom Belgian sofa is from Jonas. Interesting objects–two pairs of mounted oryx horns; a cross-legged Aesthetic Movement table–add detail and depth.

"You guys are amazing. It's really kinda thrilling to be in the presence of your genius, vision, passion, professionalism. Thanks."

– Client

The dining room became a study which can be used for occasional entertaining, centered upon the Empire round table the clients brought from Colorado. Chairs are from a 1930s ocean liner. Meant to be flexible, the table may be set up as a dining table, buffet, or bar. At right, a portiere in Kravet’s double-sided “Interweave” fabric marks the separation from the bedroom.

A place for reflection: a contemporary photograph of a Chinese dam joins a patinated brass ceiling fixture and a crystal orb.

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Outsider art, insider ceramics: a charming primitive painted in a hand-made “tramp art” frame joins Arts & Crafts Movement pots.

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Nothing less than sumptuous, the king-sized bed features Williams-Sonoma’s faintly curving “Sutton” upholstered headboard. The crimson, persimmon, black and cream stylized floral pattern bed covering is an antique Suzani. The slightly shimmering “Fiori” wallpaper is by Rose Tarlow.

Senior Designer Craig Strulovitz
Photos by Gross & Daley

Pied-à-Terre – Upper East Side, NYC

UPPER EAST SIDE – NYC

Pied-à-Terre

The clients, natives of Sao Paulo, love New York City, and wanted to establish a sometime home there, where their children and grandchildren could visit and they might entertain. To import the colors and cadence of Brazil was a joyous assignment for us, an unusual, less sedate take on modernism which draws inspiration from Latin American architects such as Brazil’s own Oscar Niemeyer, landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, and Mexico’s Luis Barragan.

We adopted Niemeyer’s and Marx’s love of undulating biomorphic shapes in our selection of ceramics and artworks; and Barragan’s bold use of color to demarcate planes and announce room transitions. These architectural trends are hinted at, echoed rather than imitated. Instead of painting a whole wall orange, as Barragan might have done, we brought in this luscious, vibrant color more sparingly: the large ceramic lamp in the entry; the pillows and napkins in the dining area; and the back of a shelving unit. Yet the dominant colors–coffee brown, cinnamon and natural walnut–also speak of Brazilian tropics and tastes.

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A custom banquette upholstered in distressed buckskin, and “Turner” chair in Kravet’s Diamond Raffia surround a custom walnut table top from Nutech Interiors. The large late 1950’s abstract painting in grey, black and white evinces the spirit of cool jazz.

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The slim, handsome custom one-armed sleeper sofa from Carlyle is juxtaposed with a jaunty abstract rug by John-Paul Philippe for West Elm, and Rietveld’s classic Zig Zag Chair.

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We created an ensemble with an aura of Latin sophistication. The sideboard was crafted from rare, exotic peroba wood salvaged from the siding and floors of old buildings in Brazil. The 1960s orange stoneware lamp sets the vibrant mood of the entire apartment. The 1970s bentwood and cane stool and African sculpture complete the earthy, quirky atmosphere.

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Earthy modern ceramics populate the large multi-use low table in the Living Room, with pops of color provided by textiles used on pillows and a vintage Kente cloth throw with a common orange thread.

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A rich warm palette and comfortable mid-century style furniture overlook the cool geometry of the NYC landscape.

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In the spacious bedroom, a custom bedside console floats along the wall, illuminated by the Machine Age lamp designed by Edouard-Wilfred Bouquet. The print is by Robert Motherwell. Archaic elements make their way into the room: a vintage Thebes Chair with leather upholstery and a small vintage Moroccan rug, c. 1940s, from Jacques Carcanagues.

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A tailored upholstered head board combined with custom wall-mounted mahogany bedside cabinets with Edouard-Wilfred Buquet articulated lamps continue the clean-lined mid-century story.

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In a definite nod to simple luxury living a modern vanity was designed to provide a perfect location near the large window for the application of make-up, and completion of finishing touches.

Senior Designer Craig Strulovitz
Photos by Gross & Daley