A Well Feathered Empty Nest
Photography by Brittany Ambridge
Developing a project’s program with clients is typically clear and logical. Sometimes, defining the vibe and style can be more challenging. The wife of this couple stated it clearly and succinctly in one sentence: “We’ve had Versace, now we want Cuccinelli.” After raising their children in a large, flashy apartment on the far east side, they were ready to move to an adult home, tailored to them alone. They chose an apartment in a 1940s Moderne building, and they hired us to reimagine the layout. The program included many closets and cozy spaces for relaxing and entertaining. We reconfigured the three bedrooms into basically a one-bedroom home, with enormous dressing rooms, one of which includes a sleep sofa for the extremely rare overnight guest.
In the foyer, the overall vibe is established, with polished Venetian plaster walls, silver cerused oak millwork, and dark wood floors. Once we established the groundwork in the design phase, the client realized it might be a little too toned down for them and asked us to up the glam factor. Inset into the wood is a large circular pristine white marble slab inlaid with amethyst orbs, and a floating disc of purple metallic leaf suspends from above—hiding a poorly placed beam—allowing seamless lighting integration.
In the living/dining room, more problematic structural beams existed, and although part of the apartment’s charm was its coziness, the ceilings were frankly low. We finessed these beams by evening them up where possible and selecting furnishings that are low slung and commanding. The two seating groupings sit on a single large rug, who’s bold pattern keeps the focus away from the ceiling. The tight color palette of aqua, turquoise, and sand is serene, with a few key purple accents from the foyer.
The ancillary spaces aesthetically flow with the rest of the residence. The kitchen is streamlined efficiency, carrying the sand tones of the adjacent rooms and even has a table for two. The powder room is adazzle with a backlit floating wall of onyx with a pedestal sink to match, the walls covered in woven strips of gleaming material. Lavender lacquer defines the millwork in the wife’s bath, adorned with faceted amethyst pulls, a vibrant accent to the white and grey marble used.
In the bedroom, the apartment’s primary aqua color is used lavishly in a fresh tone. The bed wall is upholstered in micro-ribbons of leather and suede adorned with tiny crystal sequins. A variety of other lush textiles repeat the color in differing textures, and the rug underfoot has notes of the purple accents. Her dressing room is a paler aqua, with leather-wrapped drawer fronts trimmed in nickel and specialty glass panels on the walls. The other three dressing rooms that comprise the suite carry the materials throughout.
