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Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,048
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

SURPRISING NEW YORK APARTMENT

It has the great luxury of space!  Belongs to a clever young furniture designer,  Leah Cumming, of her own company, "Maison Madeleine".  It's a mix of modern -- some of her own furniture designs-- and vintage and antique.  

 

The navy-walled entry opens to a huge living room with tall windows.  Beautiful floors.

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Check it out--  all the trim has a slim pinstripe outline of gold.  Love that little detail. 

 

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The walls were sky blue when she moved in, and she surprised herself by keeping them. Even though the rest of her palette is rather earthy.  They lend a "nest in the sky" feeling.... The cozy wool vintage chairs are midcentury Danish.

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Charming antique daybed in one corner.  Her windows open like doors, onto the wraparound terrace.  It was a foggy day on the tour day, and the views are haunting--

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Those windows in this pre-war building open up on classic industrial landscapes, that I find fascinating.  This is in the Chelsea neighborhood of NY, but to me, the outlook could be in any richly atmospheric industrial city on the Great Lakes, for example, like Toronto, or a midwest gem like Chicago....

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Her style here tends to be "leaner" than some over-dressed New York apartments. But she has almost a scientific, "cabinet of curiosities" style, with old charts, books, suitcases, and other artifacts on her bookshelves, and fab antique trunk.  I like that it's not a "cutesy" look. 

 

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For example, her collection of vintage bottles from an old pharmacy in France.... 

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I think she said they were from a Paris flea market, and she brought them home in a suitcase.  Grouped, they have an intriguing shimmer...

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An actual wood-burning fireplace, in a charcoal marble, that you certainly don't find in every New York apartment...

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Now, roving around the loft-like space, check out some of her own furniture designs from her company "Maison Madeleine", like this sweet demilune table-- 

 

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Or the handsome dark reeded and serpentine ( wavy) front cabinet she designed.

 

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Above it, an exquisitely intricate, all-glass antique Italian mirror, one of her weaknesses--

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The kitchen is simple, also lit by tall windows.

 

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On a wall, the pretty plates she found in Portugal--

 

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The dining area has a charming, Gothic inspired cabinet for her good glassware, and a show-stopping vintage sideboard--

 

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She's one furniture designer who appreciates the fine work of others, especially the two-tone beauty of this one--

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The endearing nightstand in the spare bedroom is more of Leah's designs-- her "Midnight" nightstand.  The cutie on the rug is Pogo.

 

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She also designed the wavy-fronted dresser in this room, out of old salvaged wood--

 

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Leah's own master bedroom has a similar simplicity, with its quietly dressed bed.  Pillow fabric is "Tree of Life" pattern.

 

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In here she went antique, with her own lovely inlaid wood dresser with honed marble top, and another glimmering Venetian glass mirror-- 

 

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Hope you can see this--  every corner of the ethereal mirror is adorned with its own glass rosette

 

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The details might be refined, but again, the room is not over-dressed.  She has a single silver trumpet vase on a handsome stone pedestal--

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That stone and brick patio does beckon from every window--

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Could never tire of the timeless view of these gorgeous arched openings in the old building across the way.... 

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It seems mundane to speculate, but I can't even imagine how much a place like this would cost in a place like NYC!

It's so serene and seems to float above the city, sigh. 

 

The tour, which has so much more to offer than these hastily grabbed still photos, is at:  The Potted Boxwood, and is entitled "Beyond the Curb Home Tour with Maison Madeleine".  

 

 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,957
Registered: ‎07-21-2020

Re: SURPRISING NEW YORK APARTMENT

Extremely ecclectic, yet seems cozy at the same time. Yet, you couldn't pay me to live in that city.

"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." Charles Dickens
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,567
Registered: ‎01-09-2016

Re: SURPRISING NEW YORK APARTMENT

[ Edited ]

I love the living room and hall; gleaming floors and beautiful blue paint. Her taste in mirrors is exquisite. Your "nest in the sky" description is perfect.

 

I like the bedroom but cannot tell if it is taking up most of the room or if it is just the angle of the photo.

 

I'm less fond of the kitchen

 

I prefer green grass and trees and/or a water view, but this is quite charming ovedrall and Pogo is a love.

 

Thank you for another wonderful post @Oznell 

 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,464
Registered: ‎05-09-2010

Re: SURPRISING NEW YORK APARTMENT

[ Edited ]

Love, love, love this apartment and the taste of its owner. The elements all seem to be in harmony with each other with none of its parts competing for attention or distracting with too much "stuff" (or "tschotskies") sitting all over the place. The patio and the view  top it off and add to the feeling of "I would really like to live here.".
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Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,771
Registered: ‎07-26-2014

Re: SURPRISING NEW YORK APARTMENT

@Oznell   Love everything in that apartment especially the patio.  👍🏾

 

The apt is not over stuffed w/stuff/antiques, dust collectors & junk.

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."


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Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,192
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: SURPRISING NEW YORK APARTMENT

@Oznell   You had me at Pogo!  What a cutie.  

“If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.”- Jimmy Buffet
Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,265
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: SURPRISING NEW YORK APARTMENT

This apartment is very appealing. I am not a city person but if I were wealthy I would love as a weekend getaway.

I would only change one thing.....the heavy orange drapes.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,490
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: SURPRISING NEW YORK APARTMENT

Very nice and so spacious. Am sure this place would cost a few million to buy and many thousands a month to rent. Love the bric-a-brac displayed. 

Valued Contributor
Posts: 592
Registered: ‎07-05-2024

Re: SURPRISING NEW YORK APARTMENT

This is a very interesting place! My favorite features- the gorgeous entryway floor and hanging light fixture (looks a bit like a Moravian star), the gold pinstripes, all of the built-in shelves, the beautiful marble topped dresser in the bedroom, and Pogo, of course!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 47,046
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: SURPRISING NEW YORK APARTMENT

Her style here tends to be 'leaner' than some over-dressed New York apartments. But she has almost a scientific, 'cabinet of curiosities' style...

 

First, I love your commentary @Oznell.

 

Second, I'm drawn to the various wood pieces here.

 

Third, I can breathe.

 

I appreciate the restraint.  It's open, subtle, and there's a lot to keep one interested.

~My philosophy: Dogs are God's most perfect creatures. Angels, here on Earth, who teach us to be better human beings.~