Apartment in Chelsea
Facts & Figures
Graduate and Faculty Housing
880 GSF
New York, NY
880 GSF
New York, NY
Refining the Pre-War Interior
Set within a classic pre-war fabric, this Chelsea residence is an exercise in balancing historic weight with a modern, saturated sensibility. The design strategy embraces the apartment’s original "bones"—its exposed beams, deep apertures, and generous moldings—while utilizing a bold color theory to define distinct emotional zones.
The journey begins in the foyer, where a saturated burgundy palette creates a moment of deliberate spatial compression. This "dark box" functions as a theatrical threshold, heightening the impact of the transition as the inhabitant emerges into the light-filled primary volumes.
The journey begins in the foyer, where a saturated burgundy palette creates a moment of deliberate spatial compression. This "dark box" functions as a theatrical threshold, heightening the impact of the transition as the inhabitant emerges into the light-filled primary volumes.
The living and dining area is conceived as a dialogue between warm and cool tonalities. A deep blue velvet sofa and a verdant accent wall provide a cool anchor against the warmth of cognac leathers and wood flooring. To counteract the "long" orientation of the space, three walls are finished in a luminous off-white, paired with strategic floor mirrors at the rear. These reflective planes act as periscopes, capturing light from the two-bay windows and redistributing it into the dining area, ensuring the space feels porous and airy despite its density of program.
In the bedroom, the chromatic intensity recedes in favor of soft grey-blues and off-whites, designed to catch and soften the direct morning light.
IThroughout the apartment, the "preciousness" of Manhattan square footage is addressed through multi-functional shelving and a layout that prioritizes fluid circulation, proving that historic character and modern efficiency can exist in a singular, vibrant harmony.