7 Park Avenue

Gut Renovation

This triplex has a distinctive combination of expansive vertical and horizontal space that visually extends out into the New York City skyline. Unfortunately, it was in estate condition when our client purchased it. It needed a massive transformation.

Our Client was eager to create a home to exhibit his extensive art collection: paintings, sculpture, antiquities, rare books, vintage furniture, and antiques. Typically, with a collection as vast and distinct as our client's we would be asked to create a white box museum-like space. Not so here. We were asked to develop a design for the compact triplex that itself was as vibrant as our client's collection while still successfully synthesizing his wide-ranging aesthetic sense.

From the Entry Foyer, to the double height Living Room and Master Suite, every space was treated as a distinct canvas crafted for what would reside within. Custom architectural elements were developed and installed that would either recede or enhance what was housed within. Specialty materials, from Prussian Blue Venetian Plaster walls to Zebrawood display cases and structural glass, were used so that even when the eye pauses at the penthouse's architecture one would be engaged and excited.

353 Central Park West

Gut Renovation

CPW is our third project with this client. We started by visiting several addresses with them but as soon as we saw this 15th Floor apartment, the search was over.  With 7-foot-high windows facing the Central Park reservoir, bathed in light from three sides, this was the clear winner.  But there were numerous issues: a small galley kitchen, separate, enclosed rooms limiting the views, lack of flow, heavily traditional detailing to name a few.

ECA's task was to open the spaces to take advantage of the vistas and create flow.  We blew out the kitchen wall, doubled the footprint (yes, they cook and eat together); we created broad breaks in walls to create spatial continuity and establish a strong relationship to the Park.

The continuity of spaces and expansion of light are enhanced by the airy, fluid design and sleek material selection.  Finishes include porcelain slab countertops in the kitchen with stained gray cabinets; a new modern fireplace incorporating porcelain slab and black granite mantle and hearth; new ash-blond wood flooring; white Caesarstone radiator tops and off-white wall finishes to maximize the brightness of the sunlit rooms.

128 Central Park South

Gut Renovation

This young family with two energetic boys was busting out of their small two bedroom apartment. When the next door unit became available they snatched it up.

The almost mirror image units needed an overhaul; the newly purchased unit was in estate condition and the boys needed space.

We had the good fortune that the living rooms backed up with shared fireplaces.  This allowed for the creation of an open and flowing living area centered around a fireplace on one side and the family's entertainment center on the other.  This condition facilitated the phasing, allowing the family to live where they were until the renovation with the new kitchen was completed.

101 Central Park West

Gut Renovation

Although the apartment was spacious, it lacked flow, felt closed in and had a dull almost flat feeling. Functionally it did not work for our client.

Each of the spaces were expansive enough to house several functions. What was a dining room became a dining room, entertainment center and library. The living room also housed a baby grand piano and an office area.

Our goal for the comprehensive renovation of this apartment was to update the vocabulary of this majestic pre-war structure. We enlarged openings and added transoms above to allow the infiltration of daylight into the Foyer. We created a Library in a deep saturated mahogany and completely replaced the Kitchen and Pantry, which were vintage 1960's.

Quogue

Gut Renovation

Our client loved Quogue, its small scale and friendliness and one of them had grown up summering in a family barn. When this carriage house became available they did not hesitate. For a young couple this was a tall order, so we worked over the years, phasing each step.

This 1907 carriage house had been abandoned and never lived in. Six previous owners had failed to convert it into a home, given its massive scale and lack of access to daylight.

This project required a tight team and creative financing—we had that thanks to our client who had an MBA. We were young and excited—challenges became assets. Light was our major goal and between the new clearstory and large bay windows we had daylight on our side. Our next goal was to save as much of the 2" thick wood siding as possible as previous owners had removed large expanses for inappropriate sliding glass doors, so the new walls were wainscot only.