French Windows Designs & Ideas
Axis Mundi
"Revival” implies a retread of an old idea—not our interests at Axis Mundi. So when renovating an 1840s Greek Revival brownstone, subversion was on our minds. The landmarked exterior remains unchanged, as does the residence’s unalterable 19-foot width. Inside, however, a pristine white space forms a backdrop for art by Warhol, Basquiat and Haring, as well as intriguing furnishings drawn from the continuum of modern design—pieces by Dalí and Gaudí, Patrick Naggar and Poltrona Frau, Armani and Versace. The architectural envelope references iconic 20th-century figures and genres: Jean Prouvé-like shutters in the kitchen, an industrial-chic bronze staircase and a ground-floor screen employing cast glass salvaged from Gio Ponti’s 1950s design for Alitalia’s Fifth Avenue showroom (paired with mercury mirror and set within a bronze grid). Unable to resist a bit of our usual wit, Greek allusions appear in a dining room fireplace that reimagines classicism in a contemporary fashion and lampshades that slyly recall the drapery of Greek sculpture.
Size: 2,550 sq. ft.
Design Team: John Beckmann and Richard Rosenbloom
Photography: Adriana Bufi, Andrew Garn, and Annie Schlecter
© Axis Mundi Design LLC
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Tom Meaney Architect, AIA
Arriving guests pass through a small garden before the front door opens to reveal the dramatic view. The main living area connects onto the covered porch and through to the kitchen and small den. A varied ceiling form and staggered exterior wall helps the large, informal space feel comfortable for two people or a large gathering. The textures of painted brick and rustic wall planks offset the warm tones of the vintage timbers and wood flooring.
Mohawk Flooring
Cape Cod style bedroom featuring Mohawk Flooring hardwood floors Brindisi Plank in Mocha Maple from Episode 5 of Fox Home Free (2016). Photo courtesy of Fox Home Free.
Jill Buckner Photography
An eclectic Sunroom/Family Room with European design. Photography by Jill Buckner Photo
French Windows Designs & Ideas
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