Page 34 - Designing Ways 286

SHAPES

Upper West Side Triplex

New York, United States

his brownstone apartment, steps oak shelving surrounds the street-facing
from Central Park, is the pied- windows. The stairs connecting the three
Ta-terre for an empty-nester front levels were resurfaced and screened
blended family who reside primarily in with a reeded glass wall. A wallpapered
Seattle, with a palette drawn from Pacific powder room features a seaside scene, a
Northwest tones of greens, blues, deep custom soapstone vanity, and blue-green
grays, and white oak paneling. The clients penny tiles. A white oak tambour banquette
had occupied the rear garden duplex with a black wood table and white oak
for a number of years when the front chairs creates an informal dining area.
triplex became available. The two units White oak reappears in the kitchen, where
connected only at the garden level, with the oak island is surfaced in a terrazzo slab.
front stairs leading up to the parlour and A wall of deep blue-green cabinets, inset
down to the cellar, and rear circulation with brushed copper. is lined with a fantasy
leading down to the cellar and out to a soapstone work surface. The rear façade was
two-level outdoor garden. replaced with a glass door and sidelight. The
The design approach sought to blur the door opens out onto a bridge over a cellar
boundary between the two units, while areaway that was added to allow the living
creating private suites at different levels spaces to connect directly to the garden
that would enable visitors to come and go without going through the bedroom.
independently. The primary living spaces In the primary suite, the deep blue-
and bedroom suite were located on the gray bedroom walls are brightened by a
garden level. Divisions between the units white oak slat headboard and integrated
were removed to provide a clear view from nightstands. The oak slats continue in the
the front through to the garden at the rear. bathroom, where soapstone, terrazzo, and
The living room at the front was centred white porcelain penny tile provide a mix
around a working fireplace, while white of colour, pattern, and texture.

34 Issue 286 • dw