New York, NY

This floor-through apartment lies within a West Village brownstone originally built in 1839 for Lambert Suydam, president of the Manhattan Gas Light Company (now known as Con Edison).   The grand Greek Revival home was eventually extended in the rear and later subdivided into several apartments.  The unit was once owned by Oscar winning-actress Judy Holliday, and the home still had an air of Hollywood royalty when the client purchased it in early 2020.  

While the bones of the apartment had immense charm, the client struggled with the heavily layered maximalist aesthetic, warren of rooms, and deteriorating finishes.  The aim of the renovation was to subtly celebrate the history of the original architecture in every space, while injecting a warm and modern style throughout.  

The project was a complete gut renovation, however, some original components were salvaged and reinstalled.  The existing galley kitchen was small and tucked back next to the main bedroom.  The project moved this important space into the middle of the home and enlarged it for casual eat-in dining.  A large en suite bathroom was added, situated to share an operable glass partition with the hallway leading to the main bedroom. The client can enjoy a bath and slide open a glass panel for a direct view to the lush backyard without sacrificing privacy from neighboring views.

Using quirky millwork details and a mix of bold moody colors, the apartment now reflects the style and personality of the owners.  As a nod to the apartment’s original feeling of giddy discovery, a wallpaper featuring scenes from Alice in Wonderland was selected for the new entry vestibule.

Solk Architecture provided architecture, interior design and furniture selection services. This project was featured in the New York Times On Location series, and on NBC’s Open House show.