Upper East Side
1915 prewar Co-op on NYC's Upper East Side
The Brief
Create a comfortable and modern family home while honoring the history of the 1915 building.
Loves Greek Keys, Paris, and NYC. Initially cautious about color and “too much”
Design by Erik Gensler
Photos by Melanie Acevedo
Styling by Carolyn Englefield
Entryway
Farrow & Ball Lotus archival wallpaper in Oval Room Blue sets the color tone. Hollywood Regency Greek Key Mirror sits over a restored Paul McCobb For Calvin credenza. Framed vintage Parisian storefront prints.
Living Room
The large living room was designed to serve dual purposes - a formal entertaining area for grown ups on one side and a casual area for the kids to watch TV and play games on the other. We designed built-ins that could house a TV on one half of the room with hidden shelves to store games and exposed shelves for more decorative items. The 19th Century American mirror is from Ammi Ribar in Hudson, NY and inspired by a trip to Versailles. Lacquer coffee table by Rita Konig for the Lacquer Company.
Dining Room
Initially cautious of color, the homeowner loved this colorful and vibrant wallpaper which set the color scheme and playful tone of the dining room. Here we honor the formal Upper East Side dining room while not making it too serious. The 19th Century mirror is French (“stolen off a palace wall”, we joked). The Gio Ponti inspired chandelier sits on a ceiling medallion we added to dial up the history and glam. The custom walnut and brass dining table we had built in Canada.
Kitchen
We inherited a kitchen with no color, no decorative lighting and an island that was too small. The client wanted an eat-in kitchen for casual family dining and entertaining. The only things we kept were the cabinets and appliances. Chinois Frette wallpaper from Schumacher adds just the right touch of subtle color, pendant lights and drawer pulls from Waterworks anchor the room, custom stools and chairs from Brazil designed to fit the entire family surround the new island.
Primary Bedroom
The client wanted a peaceful oasis. Boucle roman shades and a velvet bed frame add texture and color. Mirrors bring light and highlight the room’s tall ceilings. Art from a Stair Gallery auction by Laura Grisi on both ends of the bed.
Putting It Together
Sketches
To take advantage of every inch of the space required careful floor planning.
Mood Boards
Each space started with a floor plan and mood boards that evolved to the furniture and decorative items we selected.
Coming to Life
“Every minor detail is a major decision.”
—Sondheim
