Dream Row Apartment I
Photography by Marco Ricca
New York City so often beckons bright globally, and for these international clients a sprawling pied-a-terre was a long-held dream. Having bought a high floor apartment in a newly built, acclaimed building positioned directly on Central Park, I was commissioned to completely envision a sophisticated, urbane home away from home. The existing layout was kept, but the detailing refined and finessed to improve the proportions of openings and change and enhance all the lighting and HVAC covers and grilles. We also added more oomph to the sheetrock walls with unique finishes.
Between the living room and dining room we designed a floating wall of bronze framed carved and gilded glass panels, which hides the TV within. This allowed the space to flow, while still creating a sensed of separation for the two rooms.
In every room, from the fluted plaster-walled foyer to the Venetian plaster clad living room and dining room, to the silk velvet upholstered walls of the luxurious main bedroom, contemporary furnishings and art from the best artisans and galleries abound. Assembling this collection for the clients was a great pleasure for me.
In the small cloak room off the foyer, the entire space wears gilt panels accented with glistening mother-of-pearl commissioned from artist Nancy Lorenz.
In the small cloak room off the foyer, the entire space wears gilt panels accented with glistening mother-of-pearl commissioned from artist Nancy Lorenz. Another unique commissioned piece travels down the long bedroom hall: poured glass “planets” individually applied by Rob Wynne.
The foyer’s cabinet by Hervé van der Straeten sits against the fluted walls, across from a wondrous canvas by Barbara Takenaga that continues the galactic theme with its spiraling composition.
Dual seatings arrangements furnish the spacious living room, grouped for conversations and intimate time. An expansive, deep sofa anchors one end of the space, while the north park facing area is left open for full viewing enjoyment of the ever-changing landscape, upper Manhattan and beyond.
An important “klieg light” by artist duo Frederikson Stallard purchased in London is a Broadway opening gesture, full of sparkling Swarovski crystals, repeating the glittering nighttime view. The accessories and art—vases, sculptures, paintings and lamps—were each carefully selected to create moments of delight.
A vast lacquered top dining table of palest ivory mirrors the rest of the dining room in its reflectivity. Fourteen elegant dining chairs, upholstered in a custom textile of tiny strips of leather with platinum satin backs, encourage lingering after dinner. A mirror polished stainless steel sculpture by Tony Cragg leads one’s eye to the Hudson River view, and the long buffet is topped with a pair of whimsical photophores by André Dubreuil. An important painting by Elaine de Kooning adds fresh color and cheer to the otherwise neutral palette.
A quiet palette was requested by the client so as not to distract from the staggering views in all four directions. Platinum, pearl and champagne create the backgrounds, accented with lavender, wisteria, citrine and cobalt.
A signature of Jamie Drake is his love of mixing materials: wood, lacquer, stone, gypsum, glass, velvet, leather, mirror and bronze all mingle in provocative interaction here in the heart of New York City.
