Home

[Oznell]

One of my favorite traditional designers, Tom Scheerer, first did the 1920's apartment 30 years ago.  The now empty-nest owner loved his work, and engaged him to refresh the interiors for her to enjoy on her own, and also welcome children and grandchildren. 

And legendary architect Gil Schafer worked on the bones, raising doorways, eliminating some rooms, and other architectural changes.

This is such a long shot of living room-- must be enlarged to be appreciated. 

A little closer in, with the bottom getting cropped, but you get a little more detail....

 

Really like the vintage mantel and inviting hearth...and the lovely tone-on-tone chair textile...

These armchairs look like they are done in a linen print, rather than a chintz.   Muted, elegant.

Mixing photos, small painting, collectible silver.   Moss green couch, my favorite!

One of the faux-painted double bookcases.  The sharp-eyed will spot certain illustrious ancestors' images casually scattered about--  the homeowner's mother was Sarah Consuelo Spencer-Chuchill, and she has some rather famous relatives...

Included is at least one family portrait by John Singer Sargent, imagine.  The homeowner's great grandmother, Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, the former Duchess of Marlboro, is among those pictured.  The priceless artifacts tend to be eclectically mixed with things like a modernist Fornisetti umbrella stand and gilt wood and marble cabinet here in the entry...

The bright sun-filled living room opens to a mysterious, glamorous dining room.   Love the restraint-- the pairing of the Regency chairs with a simple custom table, the sculptural plinths, earthy rug...   Those highly enviable, lustrous double doors--  oh my, they are the crowning glory...

My attempt to show those lovely doors closer in....

It used to be a small, "New Yorky" service kitchen, but now is fully functional.    The transoms are actually new, allowing the formally closed-off kitchen to flood with the rest of the apartment's light.   The floors are two different shades of cork in a chevron motif, how fab.

The darling breakfast room, with the ever-popular Saarinen table.  Green accents and rattan chairs to me emphasize the feeling of "vacation" even in the urban jungle.   

They didn't show the master bedroom, but this is the adjoining sitting room to the master bedroom. I like the tullips.  Cozy room.

Sky-blue guest room, with charming little 18th century chair, feels fresh, yet intimate.

Stunning powder bath with glimmering mirror tiles, gives that stylish, Art Deco feeling.  The oval mirror was owned by veteran designer Mario Buatta!

A charming enclosed little den above the noise of the city.  Paint color is Benjamin Moore's "Blue Muscari".   I love the paisley upholstery.  Some of these rooms remind me very much of the style of the late Lee Radziwill.  The little British flag sofa pillow might be a nod to the English side of the homeowner's family.

Comfort, ease, beauty, in the type of New York apartment you don't get to see every day...

[Tinkrbl44]

Thank you for the photos!  Really stunning, although some rooms are a bit too busy for my liking.   

I assume there's a small terrace for the doggy?

Any idea how many square feet to this apartment?  

[millieshops]

@Oznell Wonderful history as lived by some generations of a very special family. Would love to see this home in a coffee table! 

[Oznell]

Good question, @Tinkrbl44 ,  I don't know how many square feet.  It has to be big, b/c they mention, but don't show, children's bedrooms, the master bedroom.  By regular New York standards, I'm sure it's HUGE!

And architect Gil Shafer moved walls to "eliminate" some rooms that weren't working for the homeowner, so there must have been a lot of space to work with...

You must have decorating ESP, @millieshops .   They mentioned that when designer Tom Scheerer first decorated the apartment decades ago, it was on the cover of his (I think first) coffee table book of his various design projects!   That would be a fun book to have.

[Somertime]

@Oznell Thank you!!!!!!!!!!  A lovely apartment, a glorious New York apartment!  Not overdone, a respect for tradition and showing it off in all it's glory.  The Pre War apartments in New York were grand and the millwork was beautiful and no expense was spared.  The history of some of these buildings are fascinating as well as the people who have lived in them.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Oznell]

Exactly, @Somertime ,  thank you for zeroing in on the "not overdone" aspect.  They even talked about that in the "Elle Decor" article.  For a grand apartment, filled with history and beauty, it still has a warm, friendly, not overbearing vibe...

[just bee]

---

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:

Thank you for the photos!  Really stunning, although some rooms are a bit too busy for my liking.   

I assume there's a small terrace for the doggy?

Any idea how many square feet to this apartment?  

---

@Tinkrbl44 

Yes, I would agree with "too busy."

Some fabulous items in these rooms, but many of them are buried under too much "stuff."

I've learned over the years that not every surface in a home needs to be covered with "things."

Some pieces should be allowed to stand alone and speak for themselves.

[Oznell]

True, true, @just bee --  in principle, I generally agree with you.  I always go back and forth.  I like spareness, at times, and collected layers, at times.

I feel a slight crush of object overload, perhaps, only in the living room.   But understand the appeal of having what tend to be a lot of sympatico, memory-soaked family objects around.  And there can almost never be too many books-- she has some beauties...

[kaydee50]

The ONLY thing I like about it is that it is in NYC--LOL!!!

Too much stuff all around.  

[millieshops]

@Oznell I didn't know about Scheerer's books, but I have a February visit to a new and thriving book store not too far away.  It's already on my exploration list for February and now I have a second reason to get there. I know they carry both old and new books.