We were commissioned by New York-based real estate investment company and property developers, Moinian Group, to design the interiors for a show home apartment in the city’s Hell’s Kitchen district. The penthouse was to be the newest luxury rental within this high-end development. Designed by award-winning international architects, CentraRuddy, the property is primely positioned with outdoor terrace views over the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline.
We had three weeks to design the interiors scheme for the show-penthouse before it would be launched onto the New York rental market. To meet the tight time frame, we collaborated with a trusted network of peers and suppliers including the procurement team at eporta, an interiors sourcing platform. The penthouse and lifestyle we designed spoke to the developer’s ideal client - a working professional living in the heart of New York’s most dynamic neighbourhood.
We injected personality and playfulness into the interior design scheme which made the space feel comfortable and personable enough to make someone want to live there immediately. In homage to the property’s location - the hustling, bustling West Side of Midtown - our team selected bold artwork. An opaque, hand-poured water-green resin wall piece by Brooklyn-based Facture demands attention in the spacious living area and was accented by touches of blue which were deliberately positioned around the space. Pale blue sitting room chairs and a bright blue bedroom chest of drawers created a sense of synchronicity. Black and white construction-themed photographs nodded to the architectural brilliance of the property itself, as well as the famous Manhattan skyline outside.
We wanted to communicate to the developers’ clients that renting doesn’t have to mean compromising on design in favour of convenience. Traditionally, all the pieces we secured would be custom-made, however, to remain on schedule we chose to source existing pieces from select showrooms. We had particular finishes in mind which we combined with a neutral wall palette and similarly pared-back soft furnishings.
While colours were subtle, geometric patterns added decoration, such as striped rugs in navy and white, and stone-coloured patterned cushions. This enabled us to make the most of the space’s brilliant light, and served to deliver an ‘outside-in’ ambience overall. Maintaining harmony between the furniture, soft furnishings and textiles, we finished the living area with timeless Evitavonnie soft furnishings.
To offset the urban environment, we made sure elements of nature were brought into the space. We included indoor plants and minimalistic flowers which are easy to care for but add a living, natural feel to the space which is instantly grounding. All of the walls were painted white to instantly lift the space while adding brightness and reflecting light. This also meant that the art, furniture, soft furnishings and other decorative pieces we included in the design scheme had a neutral backdrop to stand out against. The space balances a feeling of being edited, yet relaxed and lived in.
With three weeks to source, curate and install our high-end design scheme, we selected the best and most trusted suppliers who create unique, memorable and enticing pieces which we knew would speak to the elevated sense of living that we were emulating within the interior scheme designed. Luxury was a key feature of our design, demonstrated through sophisticated details and pops of rich colour. A Swan chair in gorgeous tan and Tom Faulkner side tables fashioned from marble and bronze, designed in the style of lily pads add a touch of elegance, as does a central table boasting a Persian silver base and an exquisite Arabescato marble top.
We selected congruent finishes such as satin chrome detailing and marble for much of the furniture, and paired this with more organic materials. Acclaimed furniture designer Tom Faulkner supplied several key pieces for the show apartment. Fritz Hansen’s Series 7 Dining Chairs sit nicely with the dining table and works well with the property’s wooden flooring. In the lounge area, the natural wood of Flexform’s Fly Coffee Table and Kin & Company’s Crescent Console also complement the natural aesthetic through their elemental form.
Whatever the scope, the approach is always bespoke. A few more of them.
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