The apartment, one of 41 units within the 15-story building, was originally constructed in 1923. Located at the corner of East 86th street & Park Avenue, it is on of two units that occupy the entire floor. When purchased in 2008, it included three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen and maid’s room (a 4th bedroom). The unit faces south and west.
The doors and casements in the apartment had many layers of paint and years of wear, as did the baseboards, moldings and hardware. The floors were also in rough condition and the stain was worn and discolored. Portable cooling/heating units (PTAC’s) were all exposed in each room. Furthermore, despite its size, the apartment lacked closet space as well as a bathroom for its visitors.
Overall Design Strategy:The discovery of a plumbing chase made the conversion of the hall closet to a new powder room relatively inexpensive and possible. A new hall closet, closer to the front door, was also created.
Wood floors were stripped and re-stained with a deeper hue to take advantage of the generous natural light received throughout the day. Doors, trims and picture crown moldings were stripped and repainted (or replaced as needed). New door hardware and hinges were also selected and installed.
Gentet drew up plans for custom cabinets to enclose the PTAC’s and to provide storage and space for the clients new sound system. The third bedroom was converted into a den and the PTAC relocated to the west window to provide room for a new wall unit and sofa.
The maid’s room was converted to an intimate tasting room to accommodate the client’s burgeoning wine collection.
Adjacent to the master bedroom entrance, an awkward triangular closet was removed. The entrance door was relocated to make room for a new walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Additionally, one of the three existing small closets was eliminated and made a part of an expanded master bathroom. The bedroom door, which once swung into the master bedroom, was converted into a pocket door.
Owner Profile:Single male, a finance executive with a growing sculpture and wine collection. His principal goals were to create additional value to the apartment and to craft and completely outfit a home that would accommodate entertaining as well as a small family should he decide to marry. To Gentet and the women of Park Avenue this meant three things: Storage, Storage, Storage!
Unique / Special Materials:Wall Treatments: As a painter and muralist Gentet employed a faux ceruse oak treatment for the new den and entire wall unit. This was then paired with new furniture, custom draperies, hardware and lighting,
Powder Room: The designer created (in elevation) a boiserie for the new powder room. Ultimately, he finished the room with a patina on its new walls and placed mirrors strategically. A hand painted de Gourney wallpaper was used to create a sense of space and light. A narrow powder room sink was also designed to respond to the very tight space constraints. In fact, every inch of the space that could be exposed was. A small nook next to the plumbing chase remained open to make room for a series of glass shelves and recessed lighting.
Window Treatments: Gentet handpicked a series of unique fabrics for the draperies made for the space. Each was selected with a keen sense of the overall composition and their ability to be a reflection of the client’s aesthetic.
Unusual / Creative Elements: Living Room: A custom designed daybed and sofa were used with antiques (including several mirrors, a Commode du Chinoiserie, and an early 20th Century Impressionist painting that was found at auction) and commercially available lines of furniture and lighting. The space features an understated placement of reflective surfaces including a mirror above the fireplace that incorporates contemporary fabric with the antique frame.
Master Bath: Gentet designed a custom sink cabinet based on two silver antique legs that were purchased at auction. Stain color and top were also selected.
Guest Bath: A custom stencil was created at the ceiling edge to draw the eye upward and expand the sense of space. A new tub and sink cabinet were selected to accommodate duel entrances from Bedroom & Den.
Unusual Creative Site Solutions: Floor Treatments: The original 12 x 12 granite floor of the foyer was replaced with a 24 x 24 scissor stone pattern with mother of pearl inlay. This was designed to elongate and expand the space.
Additionally, standard 24 x 24 marble tiles were selected for the master bathroom. These tiles were re cut and re-polished on site and laid in a diagonal pattern to add additional texture to the floor. This was also needed to express a sense of openness in the expanded master bathroom.
The floor for the powder room was also drawn up by the designer first and then laid with expert care by the builder and his team.
Baseboards: New baseboard molding was placed throughout (the height and profile twice as that of the original) to provide the home with a more contemporary sensibility. All wall receptacles were relocated inside the new baseboards.
