Displaying posts from December, 2018

What is the definition of luxury in New York City? A spacious apartment with beautifully appointed rooms? A sleek and chic bespoke kitchen? Sumptuous stone in the bathroom? No the definition of true luxury in New York is a terrace as big as some people’s apartments. This Manhattan penthouse pied-à-terre has been re-imagined as an elegant, bright, and functional space by Gramercy Design with terrace landscape by Jeffrey Erb Landscape Design.

Photography by Emily Andrews.

This 110 m² apartment in São Paulo, Brazil was built in the 60’s and needed a revived, modern life. Pascali Semerdjian Architects opened up the living room by removing the kitchen, service entrance and a bedroom, and it now includes a library, media area and is open to the dining room and new kitchen. Tons of new storage has been added, and some exposed brick and peeling walls remind the owners of its history. I REALLY love how they separated the kitchen space by carrying the tile all the way around.  the tall

This house designed by Pascali Semerdjian Architects is pretty sweet too!

Véronique Cotrel blows my mind once again with this latest project of hers. This historic apartment was beautifully redecorated in the early twentieth century, by the family of the current owners. Our mission was to keep the spirit of this renovation, while restoring modernity, style and a new start to this place rich in emotions.

The main problem of this project was to put the kitchen back in the heart of the living space. This one was, as often, located near the service staircase, far from the living room. After studying various layout options, she naturally found her place in the old dining room, bathed in light. This room was loaded with very impressive decorative elements, such as this wooden fireplace. We wanted to preserve it, while highlighting it, and integrating it into a modern and functional kitchen. The blue becomes a founding element of the project, which continues through the spaces, as a common thread. The kitchen was designed by Agence Véronique Cotrel, in collaboration with Boffi. The glazed storage and chandelier have been preserved and restored. 

The kitchen has been largely open to the living room in which a dining area has been integrated. We designed a custom library, flanked by two vintage mirrors. The wall paneling has been preserved or redone when necessary. This work has made the space completely homogeneous, and visually connected with the entire project. Blue comes here in a softer way, on the wall paneling.

The bathroom is still a beautiful example of a gap between the history of the place and its current interpretation. The sink has been preserved and restored. It hosts an original faucet that has been adapted. The floor is made of herringbone tiles, in line with Haussmannian parquet floors.

See more of Véronique’s projects here

Close your eyes and imagine living in Paris in an apartment over your own art gallery. When I imagine such an appealing scenario this might just be what my mind’s eye sees. White and wood, amazing art matched by interesting architecture, old bones and modern minimalism, it is more like living in your own gallery  immersed in the works of some of France’s best contemporary artists. 200 m² of French sophistication in the 9th arrondissement by Batiik Studio. (You can see our other posts here and here.)

Photography by Bertrand Fompeyrine

This Brooklyn Brownstone, a calm oasis in the bustling city, with its carefully curated marriage of old and new furniture and neutral colour palette is taken to the next level by masterful layering of texture on texture and quirky touches of boho. I’m sure you won’t be surprised that it’s an interior designer’s own home. The designer? Michelle R. Smith.