Upper West Side Residence

This Upper West Side apartment in an iconic Robert AM Stern building on West 81st was purchased sight unseen by our clients. For the Turett team, this provided the opportunity to reimagine the space before the new owners moved in. In 2018, work began on the five bedroom apartment, configuring it for a busy couple with two young children. For the family, a move into a larger space allowed them to reimagine how their home could function for them. The design that emerged made way for a grand, art-filled living and dining room which has an adjoining media room, a sunny kitchen with a banquet breakfast table, a master wing (which includes a home office, bedroom, master bath, and two walk in closets), a childrens’ wing (two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom,) and a media room wing that easily becomes a guest room thanks to the installation of two sliding doors at either entry point that offer privacy when needed.

Once the interior was restructured, Jessica and the client got to work on creating something that fit their shared vision. Largely inspired by the painting Computer Whiz (Robert Overby, 1987) that captivated the owner's imagination, the goal was for the home to be something colorful, bold, and memorable. In a slight deviation from their usual palette, the Turett team created artful and colorful compositions in each room; keeping the walls neutral. Passing through the living room portal, designed to create a grander entryway (while making room for a hidden AV closet,) guests are met with sunlit multi-colored floor to ceiling window treatments. Curved, ultramodern velvet chairs and a reupholstered Kagan sofa add more color to the room, joined on a customized area rug by a custom-designed suede grey L-shaped couch, providing plenty of seating for entertaining. Marble side tables around the room are excess marble from a custom table on the patio. Off of the dining area, which is marked by dual-colored chairs and a graciously-sized square dining table, the kitchen features pops of color, but does not trade fashion for function. The TTC team optimized the space by creating custom window seating, allowing for ample space for the breakfast table.

In the master wing, the clients have the privacy of their own bathroom, two walk in closets, bedroom, and a shared home office complete with his-and-hers partner’s desks and a custom bar (all with custom millwork by TTC). The couch in the office also serves as a pull-out guest bed. When entering the master wing hallway, a Marilyn Minter photograph of two red lips boldly welcomes guests. This is the case for most of the art in the apartment, selected largely by the client, who has an affinity for modern art: each piece is bold and unlike the next, reflective of their goals for the apartment. The space creates an experience, for both the homeowners and guests; each piece of furniture is a conversation starter, like a liveable, functioning gallery. While it is glamorous and alluring, however, it does not abandon comfort and livability.

This was an exciting opportunity for TTC to play with color and experiment with bold designs. Functionality, practicality, and sophistication are ever present principles of design in this vibrant family home on West 81st.