when our client returned to new york city after having lived oversees for five years, he knew exactly what he wanted. the apartment hunt began with the idea of recreating the layout of his european bachelor pad, only larger. once he found the perfect space, which hadn’t been altered since the mid-1900s, it was time to start the total gut renovation.
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an indelible first impression, the gallery space also serves as a gateway to the rest of the rooms in the apartment. on the left is the dining room; to the right, the living room; the butterfly artwork at the rear of the space leads to the bedrooms.
since our client is an avid entertainer, the dining room was of the utmost importance. to achieve the relaxed feel he wanted for the space, we purposely shifted the dining table to be off-center and designed a bespoke banquet. if you look closely, you can see that the custom wall behind the banquet has ¼” reveals of metal, a small detail with a big impact. for seating on the opposite side of the table, we reupholstered the client’s existing holly hunt dining chairs – proving that investing in well-made pieces from the start is money well spent!
in order to center the lindsey adelman light fixture over the dining table, we needed to channel the ceilings, which were only 8’ high. throughout the space we used step molding applied to the ceiling to give the illusion of more height. we also laid all new hardwood floors in a herringbone pattern.
one of the issues that the client had with his european apartment was that, when he was entertaining, he was always running into the kitchen for ice, drinks, and other essentials. to eschew that issue in his new apartment, we included a custom cabinet behind the sofa which houses two refrigerated drawers and can also accommodate a selection of glassware and liquor. an elephant figurine adorns the piece when it’s not in use, giving the appearance of a regular sofa back cabinet.
as an hermès loyalist, our client was eager for us to use accessories and textiles from the french high fashion luxury goods manufacturer. we incorporated their textiles in the form of custom floor cushions to sit on the living room area rug, decorative throw pillows in the living room and dining area, and a classic avalon throw blanket in his bedroom.
in the living room, a brand new holly hunt coffee table with a beautiful bronze inlay takes center stage. another art piece from our client’s extensive collection is positioned above the sofa. ample seating abounds, begging guests to sit and stay awhile. just beyond two handsome armchairs sits a desk that the client was keen on keeping. we gave it new life by painting it in a high-gloss lacquer and updating the hardware.
as a busy businessman who travels extensively worldwide, it was essential that our client’s apartment function as a reprieve when he’s home, with his bedroom serving as the ultimate oasis. we added texture and warmth with grasscloth wallcovering in a calming, neutral tone. with no room for a dresser, we designed a custom built-in for storage complete with custom hardware in the form of asymmetrical bronze bands that return to the drawer pull, a dhny signature.
what’s a retreat without a spa-like master bath? outfitted in white marble and complete with custom vanity, hardware pulls and mirror, our team took great pride in creating this truly bespoke space. our team also worked with modulightor on custom sconces in both bathrooms as well as for all of the art lights (be sure to take a look, they are objects of beauty in and of themselves).
clean lines and a refined, yet artistically informed aesthetic also reign supreme in the guest suite. after all, when you love to entertain as much as our client, it’s likely that you’ll find yourself with overnight houseguests from time to time.
