Houzz Tour: This New York Apartment is High on Easy Style
This vibrant home in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen area brings together colour and texture for the perfect city pad
Rikki Snyder
20 February 2017
Houzz Contributor. Professional photographer and stylist specializing in food, products, still life and interiors. Contributing home tour photographer and writer for Houzz.
Houzz Contributor. Professional photographer and stylist specializing in food, products,... More
At the top of interior designer Eddie Lee’s wish list was having a space that allowed him to entertain large groups of friends. He took a 93 square metres apartment in the vibrant Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City and patiently waited to make any changes so he could get the details just right. He worked closely with architect Edward Wendt of Now Workshop, and together they redesigned and changed the layout, adding new materials and finishes from the floors to the walls and ceiling.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Eddie Lee and his dog, Buddy
Location Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood of New York City
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
“I love the custom tufted sofa, designed by me and made by Anatoli’s Restoration in Brooklyn,” Lee says. “It’s perfect for entertaining or for piling up and watching movies.”
The ink on vellum artwork is by Lia Halloran, and for a bright pop of colour, Lee brought in a purple Husk chair from B&B Italia. The side table is late 19th century English from Big Daddy’s Antiques in Los Angeles, and the coffee table is a 1970s American Lucite and glass piece.
Charcoal rug, Patterson Flynn Martin.
Who lives here Eddie Lee and his dog, Buddy
Location Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood of New York City
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
“I love the custom tufted sofa, designed by me and made by Anatoli’s Restoration in Brooklyn,” Lee says. “It’s perfect for entertaining or for piling up and watching movies.”
The ink on vellum artwork is by Lia Halloran, and for a bright pop of colour, Lee brought in a purple Husk chair from B&B Italia. The side table is late 19th century English from Big Daddy’s Antiques in Los Angeles, and the coffee table is a 1970s American Lucite and glass piece.
Charcoal rug, Patterson Flynn Martin.
A vintage 1940s French pommel horse sits to the right of the fireplace. Tying in the colours of the room is artwork (above the fireplace) from Ernest de la Torre, purchased at Design on a Dime.
In the living space is an original fireplace that serves as a great focal point in the room. “My favourite part of the fireplace is the New California glazed brick in cobalt from Clé Tile in Sausalito, California,” Lee says. He had the accent tiles installed upon moving in.
Shelving to the left of the fireplace allows Lee to creatively display his collections. Arranging the books by colour creates a visually appealing element in the room.
Shelving to the left of the fireplace allows Lee to creatively display his collections. Arranging the books by colour creates a visually appealing element in the room.
Old photographs, a vintage sake vessel and cup, and Lee’s great-grandfather’s Bavarian stoneware stein from the late 1800s add personal touches to the living room area.
Lee and Wendt gutted and redesigned the kitchen area. They used the space to create an open kitchen-diner that flows into one room.
Worktops, Caesarstone. Appliances, GE Monogram and Bosch.
Worktops, Caesarstone. Appliances, GE Monogram and Bosch.
When Lee purchased the apartment, it had much lower ceilings with storage space above. He decided he’d rather have higher ceilings to create a more open feel and got rid of the storage space to raise the ceiling.
Lee’s favourite part about the kitchen is the open living-dining area, which is ideal for entertaining. “The dining table is custom-made, designed by me and made by Soleil Furniture in Roslyn, New York,” Lee says. “It’s a live-edged bleached teak slab on a counter-height iron base.”
Non Random ceiling pendant, Moooi. Chairs, by Calligaris from Jensen-Lewis.
Lee’s favourite part about the kitchen is the open living-dining area, which is ideal for entertaining. “The dining table is custom-made, designed by me and made by Soleil Furniture in Roslyn, New York,” Lee says. “It’s a live-edged bleached teak slab on a counter-height iron base.”
Non Random ceiling pendant, Moooi. Chairs, by Calligaris from Jensen-Lewis.
“An open kitchen works for the way I live,” Lee says. “I often entertain casually and set up a bar on the island and a buffet on the dining table.” Lee bought the art from the Scope Art Fair during Art Basel weekend in Miami.
Barstools, From The Source.
Barstools, From The Source.
A vintage 1950s Harvey Probber sideboard and a 1950s German ceramic lamp complete this vignette in the dining area while providing additional storage.
The photo is titled Sad Bear by Jill Greenberg.
The photo is titled Sad Bear by Jill Greenberg.
The walls in the kitchen-dining area were changed to hand-planed oak and Phillip Jeffries Manila hemp, creating a clean, textured and cosy atmosphere.
The colours and textures on the front door were a nice surprise during renovations. “Decades of paint layers were revealed as the contractor sanded the door down to the base metal,” Lee says. “I had him stop midway through. It felt like an archaeology dig – I love seeing the history of finishes.”
The light fixture is from Morocco The cabinet is 1840s Biedermeier from Niall Smith Antiques.
Photo, Karl Simone.
The light fixture is from Morocco The cabinet is 1840s Biedermeier from Niall Smith Antiques.
Photo, Karl Simone.
Near the front door is a small book nook. “I’m a big reader, so I wanted a cosy reading room that could double as a guest bedroom,” Lee says. “It’s a small room, so I cantilevered the shelves to save space. The custom-made daybed is from Plantation Design in Los Angeles. They do fantastic custom upholstery and casework.”
The framed artwork is a rubbing from India that Lee’s mother received as a wedding present.
Gilt pendant, Modern Forms.
The framed artwork is a rubbing from India that Lee’s mother received as a wedding present.
Gilt pendant, Modern Forms.
Lee added texture to the wall in the hallway that leads from the bathroom to the bedroom with vinyl Belgian linen in Dutch Dusk from Phillip Jeffries.
On top of the dresser is a 1920s American lamp from High Style Deco in New York City. Completing the vignette is a contemporary oil painting by American artist CMarZ from Christopher Anthony in Palm Springs, California.
Dresser, Restoration Hardware.
On top of the dresser is a 1920s American lamp from High Style Deco in New York City. Completing the vignette is a contemporary oil painting by American artist CMarZ from Christopher Anthony in Palm Springs, California.
Dresser, Restoration Hardware.
“My bedroom is small but cosy,” Lee says. “I had the headboard made by Plantation Design to fit wall to wall. I mirrored one wall to open up the space and covered the opposite wall in Phillip Jeffries grass cloth to balance out the mirror, and give warmth and texture.”
Washed Belgian bed linen, Restoration Hardware.
Washed Belgian bed linen, Restoration Hardware.
Lee completely redesigned the bathroom. He added mirrors on the walls to make the space feel larger and more open, and a Runtal towel-warming bar. His favourite features are the new steam shower and the pebble flooring.
Lee credits friend and broker Robby Browne for helping him find this space. He loves the Hell’s Kitchen area for its vibrant atmosphere full of restaurants, bars, clubs, shops and theatres as well as its close proximity to Central Park, Hudson River Park and the new Westside Railyards development. “It feels as if something’s always happening in the area,” he says.
Read more:
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Design Musts for an Urban Indian Apartment
Tell us:
What do you like most about this New York home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: The Villa Life in a Mumbai Apartment
Design Musts for an Urban Indian Apartment
Tell us:
What do you like most about this New York home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Where is that huge sectional sofa from? I've been looking for something like this a long time!
Without a doubt, I'll take the blue tile from the fireplace!, it's the center of the room and the complete decoration. After seeing the fireplace, a decorative jewel, everything else is in the background.