Workshop/APD Creates a Luxurious Penthouse in New York

2023 Best of Year Winner for Large Apartment

For repeat clients, Workshop/APD elevated a developer-delivered penthouse duplex in New York by instating luxury and shapeliness via an envelope of serene neutrals, sinuous elements, and top-notch materials. Take the gently curved burled-wood staircase and Venetian plaster finishes in the living room, and the main bedroom’s wall of antiqued mirror. Furnishings include enviable classics such as seating by Vladimir Kagan, José Zanine Caldas, and Eero Saarinen. Art curated by Barbara Cartategui gives pride of place to Jaume Plensa’s stairwell-adjacent sculpture. While light and airiness pervade the 5,800-square-foot dwelling, which boasts sweeping downtown views, more saturated exceptions appear. One is the moody charcoal-gray media room, a stage for cozy evenings of at-home movies.

Hines Collective Creates an Artful Museum Tower Apartment

César Pelli’s 52-story condo on West 53rd Street, developed in 1982 as part of a redesign of the Museum of Modern Art complex, is its own kind of masterpiece. Longtime friends of Hines Collective had a 2,000-square-foot, two bedroom/2 ½ bath apartment in the building; it had been untouched since it was originally built, and while an Old Master should be treated to careful restoration, this apartment needed more serious work.

Custom Furnishings Define a Penthouse Apartment in Hong Kong

For the penthouse apartment of a luxe housing development in Hong Kong, multi-disciplinary studio Cream was given ample creative freedom. The developer asked the firm, which is led by creative director Antony Chan, to bring their own vision as they refreshed and furnished the apartment, including the roof terraces. The 1,550-square-foot apartment includes four bedrooms. Outdoor space is nearly another 1,000 square feet, and the terraces includes a glass-fronted swimming pool.

The development’s existing architecture presented floor-to-ceiling windows that brought in abundant natural light and urban vistas. “I love the energy and inspiration of the natural elements such as sun, light, and the sea view,” Chan notes. And at sunset, the light “created a magical and atmospheric ambiance.” Cream added Marcel Wanders’s Diamond Screen to maximize the sunlight and create a play of light and shadows throughout the lounge area. The screen, part of Wanders’s Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades collection, is complemented by hand-painted LV trunks nearby.

The firm’s custom pieces stand out in the apartment. In the dining area, a three-dimensional oak feature wall adds visual interest and commands attention. A narrow hallway has been softened by oak paneling above the doors and beneath the window. In the primary bedroom, a natural and painted oak screen defines the wall behind the bed. The elements of the screen form a galaxy pattern, as if sleeping outside among the stars. And a wall-hung oak secretary desk with a gold-tinted mirror is both elegant and whimsical. The desk’s design is meant to evoke the number eight—considered good luck in Chinese culture. Other custom furnishings include a glass-topped dining table, sun-inspired carpets, and an oak-and-marble console table.

Perhaps the most dramatic “custom touch” is a curved glass opening that connects the dining area, living area, and terrace garden. The architectural invention opened up a confined space, transforming the living area into a more expansive environment. The glass opening further highlights the windows and views of the apartment. The apartment is a refuge, but the views keep it connected to the urban energy of Hong Kong.

Butter & Eggs Designs a Layered West Village Penthouse

For a Sydney-based family, interior design firm Butter & Eggs was brought in to customize and furnish a four-story West Village penthouse. The clients requested a showstopper that could also withstand family life and be comfortable for everyday living. “They trusted us completely throughout the process,” founder Judy Dunne explains. “As a result, we were able to create a highly functional home with an organic, global sensibility.”

Although these touches are elegant and sometimes delicate, Butter & Eggs considered durability and functionality for the penthouse. The Vladimir Kagan sofa in the living room is upholstered in a sumptuous fabric that could work in outdoor spaces. And other pieces are upholstered in performance fabric and durable cowhide.

“Unique pieces recall the clients’ love of the outdoors,” Albano explains. “And together, they create a quiet, peaceful family retreat in the city.” But if that isn’t enough, there’s actual outdoor space, of course. For the terrace, Butter & Eggs added the ultimate detail: A luxurious pool.

A Manhattan Penthouse Designed for Family Fun 

This Bangalore Penthouse Pays Homage to Indian Textiles

Perched on the 16th floor of a downtown apartment building lies a 5,000-square-foot family home, an escape from the bustling urban sprawl below. Designer Smita Thomas of Multitude of Sins, a Bangalore-based interior design firm, was brought in after the build to elevate the space with wood, marble, and traditional detailing, as well as ample designated storage, which added “character through its form and materiality,” Thomas notes. The homeowners, who inherited one of the oldest textile companies in the city, also asked that the home pay homage to their family’s work. “Being an ancestral business, textile knowledge and exposure to design enabled them to understand the patterns, motifs, and colors that the house could carry within its design,” she says.

Spread across two floors, the palatial floorplan is open and spacious with walls of double-height windows, ideal for “witnessing beautiful sunsets” yet was initially a “bare shell in terms of interiors,” says the designer. To make the layout more functional, Thomas opted for designated zones, plus brought in architectural forms such as arches as well as materials that would allow each space a visual differentiated purpose.

A Bangalore Penthouse Designed to Standout 

Originally dressed in a vanilla-toned marble, the main living room was made even more remarkable through stripping the skirting and creating a layered composition of beige and maroon marble, “imposing definition and a sense of nuance to the existing flooring,” shares the designer. The living room also features a free-handed, Renaissance-esque art piece inspired by classical motifs with a pair of cranes, a sign of positivity in the Indian Vastu, a traditional architectural system based on ancient texts. Below wood beading and corduroy wallpaper merges with the marble, while a white-and-black marble table, spindled chairs, and a pastel-toned rug, custom designed by MOS, yields a highly sophisticated seating area.

Jae Joo Designs Crafts an Art-Filled Tribeca Pied-à-Terre

When tasked with creating a family pied-à-terre in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan, Jae Joo, founder of Jae Joo Designs, felt an instant synergy with her client. “Something special about her love for design resonated with me right away,” she recalls, noting her passion for contemporary art. “She already had some lovely pieces that we could incorporate into their home.”

Building on her client’s existing collection, Joo added a few more pieces to the mix, including a Nicolas Guagnini ceramic, sourced from Bortolami Gallery, above the sofa, and a quilted work by Stephen Towns from De Buck Gallery, which now sits above a blue credenza, custom-made for this project by Orior Furniture. An orange large painting by Tahnee Lonsdale from De buck gallery is showcased near the dining room where Pierre Yovanovitch chairs from The Invisible Collection surround a custom table by Jerry Nance, set near a floating bookshelf by Pierre Chapo. “Art is a big part of my process, and it was so great to work with someone who shared the same interest and curiosity,” explains Joo.

It took the designer a little over a year to shape this three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath condo nestled in a new development built in 2017 by Robert A.M. Stern Architects. “Since the space had very little architectural details to work with, my goal was to create a home that feels well balanced and inviting by following a tailor-made approach to everything we brought in,” she says. “Every piece was chosen with the notion of comfort in mind, but without compromising the look or quality.”

Covered with pure Loro Piana cashmere, the sofa was built, assembled, and upholstered on site to fit the corner of the light-filled living room. In the guest bedroom, a mural is hand painted by Dean Barger while the main bedroom features a custom color de Gournay wallpaper.

Joo blended contrasting elements such as the soft pastel fabrics and raw metal finishes with bright touches through art. “While I love to use bold colors, I always try to incorporate them to ensure they harmonize with the overall space, never overwhelming its ambience,” she says. “Even with the presence of powder white walls, there exists a delicate equilibrium between the subdued backdrop and the vibrant hues.”

Cashmere, wool, and thick washed linen were preferred for their durable yet luxurious property in this serene home where Joo maintained a minimal, clean aesthetic while introducing unexpected pops of color and unique, crafted elements to the harmonious decor.

Danube Views and Ancient Architecture Meet in Budapest Flat

Ramy Fischler Studio prides itself on the diversity of its work. Recent projects include a smart fridge, an Hermès perfume store in New York, a line of self-produced furniture, and Twitter’s office in Paris, where the French firm is based and in the process of implementing a new master plan to harmonize the café and restaurant terraces on the Champs-Elysées. From time to time, the studio accepts the odd residential commission. But as principal Ramy Fischler emphasizes, “If we take one on, it has to allow us a certain amount of creativity to develop something unique.”

Recently, an entrepreneur with interests in Hungary approached Fischler with what was certainly a singular assignment. He had bought five apartments in a new luxury development with sweeping views of Budapest—one for his own use, the others for guests—that he wanted decorated in more or less identical style. Fischler took the bait. “We spent a year on his unit, defining exactly what he wanted,” the designer says of the 3,750-square-foot, three-bedroom floor-through, which has an additional 1,100 square feet of outdoor space. “It wouldn’t have made sense to do something different in the others. The décor fits him like a glove and duplicating it means he can give people the same experience as staying with him, only they have their own space.”

The Apartment Design Reflects Vastu Shastra Principles

The client had another very distinct demand: The design should adhere strictly to the principles of Vastu Shastra, the traditional Indian system of architecture. “It’s used to determine the layout of everything from religious to domestic spaces,” Fischler says, noting that the ethos is “simple and frugal.” One of its precepts is that the center of a home should be an empty space free from obstructions like columns or staircases (a requirement satisfied by the apartment’s mid-floor entry hall). And each area in the house is related to one of the four elements—fire, water, earth, and air—to which distinct design rules and color palettes are attached.

Fischler admits that applying such edicts was not always easy, even given the apartment’s generous proportions. “The ideal locations according to Vastu Shastra for faucets, drainage, the kitchen, and so on were often in total contradiction to what was in place in the rest of the building,” he reports. Among the changes he had to make to his original plans was the position of the beds. “Normally I like to have them facing a window so there’s an equal amount of light on both sides,” he explains. “But that was impossible here because they needed to be turned toward the north.” Since the living area is in an “earth zone,” which requires furniture to be low and grounded, none of the seating could have legs or feet. Hence the custom sofas comprising large cushions perched on travertine-slab bases. And in an adjacent sitting nook with a somewhat Japanese aesthetic, two chairs have bronze arms and upholstered backs but no seats, the idea being that, supported by the frame, you sit directly on the floor.

Natural Materials Create a Tranquil Environment

Fischler’s overall aim was to create not only a tranquil environment decibel-wise but also a visually soothing one. “There’s a sort of sobriety and calm to the whole space,” he says. No doubt the principles of Vastu Shastra contribute to that, but he believes the rigor of the architectural detailing also plays its part. “For me, the framework has to be perfect. When each line is precise, it brings a sense of composure,” he asserts. “That’s always the goal I set myself.”

Inside the Budapest Flat Designed by Ramy Fischler Studio 

ramy fischler studio: frédéric alzeari; florence vlemelinx; xiao ye zhang; estelle tran

light is more: lighting consultant

safa: custom furniture workshop

au gré du verre: custom cocktail tables (living area)

maami home: side table

normann copenhagen: ottomans

rubelli: sofa fabric (LIVING AREA), PANEL FABRIC (SECOND GUEST BEDROOM)

epoca: custom sofas (living area), custom chairs (nook)

lasvit; manooi: custom ceiling fixture (living-dining area)

Gubi: lounge chairs (living area), armchairs (entry, guest bedroom)

Roll & Hill: chandelier (study)

ferm living: glasses, bowl (study), teapot (kitchen)

ligne roset: chairs (study, dining area)

Gaggenau: appli­ances (kitchen)

élitis: panel fabric (main bedroom)

d’argentat: custom nightstands

knoll: desk chair

oluce: table lamp

brossier saderne: custom sconces

Dedar: bed fabric (bedrooms)

holland & sherry: panel fabric (FIRST guest bedroom)

edel carpets: carpet (guest bedrooms)

ramy fischler collection: nightstands

manooi: custom sconces (GUEST bedrooms), custom candelabra (bathroom)

makro: tub (bathroom)

alape: sinks

Dornbracht: tub fittings, sink fittings

j.d. staron: custom rugs

tabu: wood veneer

through zsdrál art pop-up galéria: ceramics

Ippolito Fleitz Group Fills a Shanghai Apartment With Color

When Ippolito Fleitz Group was commissioned to transform the marble-clad interior of a five-bedroom, six-bathroom model apartment in a Shanghai high-rise, the addition of color was a certainty. After all, IFG, which was cofounded in Stuttgart, Germany, by Interior Design Hall of Fame members Peter Ippolito and Gunter Fleitz and today has additional studios in Berlin and Shanghai, is well-known for punchy interiors, whether residential or commercial. Further layered with varied textures, a fluid floor plan, and charming built-ins and architectural recesses, the 7,500-square-foot penthouse is as unique as the art collector family that quickly purchased it.

“We feel lucky to shape people’s lifestyles through design and let them live in that story,” Dogan adds. In the end, the residents—a married couple and their young son—moved their personal collection of art and heirlooms into the dedicated architectural spotlights and have begun creating their own storylines. They were so inspired by IFG’s concept that they bought the apartment turnkey—green paneled wall and all.

Inside a Colorful Model Apartment by Ippolito Fleitz Group

Tom Dixon: pendant fixtures (media room)

gabriel: navy headboard fabric (bedroom)

gt.deco: custom furniture workshop

adding plume lighting design co.: lighting designer

SheltonMindel Designs a Miami Home Fit for Beach Days

Every story has a backstory. The Florida condominium Interior Design Hall of Fame member Lee F. Mindel shares with his work/life partner, José Marty, is a tale of lucky strikes emerging from downbeat situations. The plot unspools as the SheltonMindel founder and architectural designer were awaiting takeoff from New York to Miami for a project meeting, when their client canceled last-minute. They flew south anyway, then were forced to quarantine there as COVID hit. The city was effectively dead, Mindel recalls. “It was doom and gloom.”

Given the Mindel’s art-world ties—he is a chairman of the Design Basel and Design Miami vetting committees and owns Galerie56 in TriBeCa—it’s no surprise the place hosts enviable pieces. Though precious price-wise, they portray a breezy insouciance. A neon “MIA” at entry might be taken for the city’s nickname but is really part of a 1940’s sign sourced in Helsinki. Furthering the upbeat vibe there is Kate Shepherd’s Endless Summer, in Miami Vice hot-pink tones. Hanging on the floor-to-ceiling oak divider separating living and guest areas, Gisela Colon’s dimensional acrylic sculpture resembles “something you might see under the sea,” Mindel says. A diminutive Josef Albers work rests oh-so-casually on the oak kitchen’s counter. Big and bold in the adjoining dining zone are Domingos Tótora’s pressed-paper circular construction and a piece by Seymour Fogel, and the beachy guest chamber displays Rupert Deese’s oil-on-plywood disc recalling raked sand. Even the main bathroom gets the art treatment: Nightshop’s round P.O.V. in resin, acrylic, and ink.

A Miami Abode Designed to Spotlight Art and Color

cassina: sofa (living area), sofas, table (balcony)

through galerie kreo studio: cocktail table (living area)

through friedman benda: chair

Chilewich: floor mat

bitossi: vase

kartell: stool (living area), side tables (main bedroom)

the future perfect: floor lamp (living area), stool (bathroom)

artek: stools (balcony)

molteni&c: cabinetry (kitchen)

marc krusin: table (dining area)

cappellini: stools

venini: glass artwork

galerie jacques lacoste: panels (main bedroom)

miniera: floor lamp (main bedroom)

pierre marie giraud: table lamps (bedrooms, foyer)

Tom Dixon: stools (bedroom)

This Upper East Side Renovation Offers One Family a Fresh Start

Design isn’t always just a matter of replacing and refining; at its best, it can foster renewal. When a wife approached Antonio Matrēs to reconceive the 1,400-square-foot Upper East Side apartment that had been the home she shared with her late husband and their three girls, the brief was both simple and emotionally complicated. “She wanted a soft and welcoming environment for her girls,” Matrēs says. “A fresh start where they can feel peace again.”

Matrēs began the renovation by rethinking the layout. First, he opened everything up: an entrance-foyer, bright and defined by a floating closet with skimmed edges, now flows into an interconnected kitchen and living and dining areas, all previously walled off from each other. A 60-foot-long console hovers in space around the edges, offering ample storage and crisp demarcation of space.

That move offered a solution to a smaller, but more crucial problem. What to do with a smaller bedroom once used for house staff, all of sixty square feet, near an equally compact bathroom? He doubled the bedroom by taking a bit from kitchen, which now felt much larger anyway. As for that bathroom, “it was used as storage space,” since there was none in the bedroom. A full wood wall of closet storage there (and in each of the other bedrooms) addressed that issue with ease, allowing the bathroom to better serve its purpose.

And more: like in so many New York City apartments, the radiators were old and loud. “I hate radiator covers, and anyway we couldn’t find a modern design that fit with the rest of the apartment,” Matrēs says. And so he designed his own. “I don’t even want to tell you how hard it is to design a steam radiator,” he laughs. “But they have a similar shape as the bathroom sconces and the other pieces custom-made for this apartment.” Everywhere, the effort was worth it. The formerly tight staff quarters is now, he says, a “palace” for the oldest daughter, complete with private access to transform, when the moment arrives, into her own “shared apartment.”

Until then, the four will gratefully share the whole place, filled with tapestry and ceramic pieces by Ukranian designer Yakusa, and a striking forest candelabra by Jan Ernest. “They needed a fresh start,” he says, and he offered that, as well as a little bit of healing.