PROGRAM: Apartment

STATUS: Completed 2023

SIZE: 1,700 SF

The apartment at Central Park South was designed for a couple downsizing from a larger apartment in the building. They wanted a quiet meditative space and ample storage. They also wanted to capitalize on their view of the park, framed through three large windows.  Our goal was to maximize the views, bring natural light deeper into the space, and fit all their belongings from their previous apartment into 1,700 square feet. We opened walls to create opportunities for seamless built-in closets, bookshelves, and cabinets. This strategy removed the clutter of low doorways and walls, so that in the living areas, spaces are distinct yet flow from one to the next. In the main living space, circulation takes place around a central volume filled with kitchen storage, a television, bookshelves, and a powder room. Views of the park are visible from almost everywhere. 

The perimeter of the apartment and center volume in the living area are dense with storage detailed to be hidden in plain sight. Throughout the apartment, the ceiling is pulled away from the wall and appears to float, accentuating the mass of volumes within the space. White oak baseboards continue under closets. Toe kicks in the kitchen conceal drawers. Storage continues under windows, and window sills occasionally become desks. The custom aluminum kitchen is durable and efficiently places everything within arms reach for our client who loves to cook. The kitchen island is replete with two wine refrigerators, cookbooks, trash bins, and counter seating. 

The palette is consistent throughout the apartment and combines the client’s love of cool colors reminiscent of their home in Switzerland with moments of warmth. Stone, handmade ceramic tiles, aluminum, plaster, sintered stone, white oak, and claro walnut complement the natural tones of adjacent Central Park. Among the muted tones are a variety of textures and patterns seen in the floors, wood grains, and stone veining. The main bathroom and adjacent dressing area are finished with wire-brushed white oak closets, plaster, and a rough-hewn quartzite stone. 

The furniture plan combines existing pieces from our client’s previous apartment, along with items we chose, and furniture we designed. Custom pieces include the claro walnut shelf with mirror and full-length mirrored cabinet adjacent to the bathtub, the wood and leather dining banquette, and the white oak desk and dresser in the bedroom. We also designed the claro walnut entry bench with drawers when it became difficult to find the perfect off-the-shelf solution to fit the narrow space.