Minimalist dining room with white walls, whitewashed flooring, modern black table, tubular steel dining chairs, chandelier with white spheres.
Apartment with white walls, whitewashed floors, shelving along right wall, bench and large artwork of a man on left wall.
Open living room with windows lining back and side wall, showing a view of the city. White walls and whitewashed floor, navy blue multidirectional sofa and gray rug.
3. Powder room with geometric patterned black and goldenrod wall and floor tiles, black sink and toilet and commercial faucet.
Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, white Corian counters, stainless steel oven and gray terrazzo flooring.
Bedroom with navy blue back wall, bed with grey bedding and red blanket, black carpet and painting of a woman on left wall.

THIS RESIDENCE BELONGS TO FIRST-TIME CLIENTS WHO WERE INSPIRED AFTER A DINNER PARTY AT THE UN PLAZA APARTMENT OF MR PRESIDENT, DAVID MANN. IT WAS NOT LONG AFTER THAT DINNER THAT THE COUPLE DECIDED TO PURCHASE A UNIT IN THE SAME BUILDING, LOCATED JUST THREE FLOORS ABOVE MANN’S. THEY HIRED MR TO MAKE THE DESIGN ALTERATIONS.

THE APARTMENT THEY PURCHASED HAD BEEN DESIGNED SHORTLY AFTER THE 1967 BUILDING WAS COMPLETED AND FEATURED FAUX FRENCH APPLIED MOLDINGS AND GILDED FRENCH HARDWARE. ONE OF THE FIRST DECISIONS IN THE DESIGN PROCESS WAS THAT THE MOLDING NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. IN ADDITION, MULITPLE WALLS WERE TAKEN DOWN IN THE PUBLIC SPACES TO CREATE BETTER FLOW. FLOORING WAS REPLACED WITH LIGHT STAINED, WIDE OAK PLANKS, AND THE ORIGINAL GILDED HARDWARE WAS RE-PURPOSED AS COAT HOOKS IN THE SERVICE HALL.

THE KITCHEN WAS UPDATED WITH FLAT LACQUERED CABINETS, WHITE CORIAN COUNTERTOPS AND HANDMADE WHITE MOROCCAN WALL TILES. IN THE PRIMARY BATHROOM, COMMERCIAL GRADE PORCELAIN FIXTURES WERE USED FOR THE SHOWER AND VANITY AND PALE GRAY TERRAZZO TILES WERE CHOSEN FOR THE WALLS AND FLOOR. THE POWDER ROOM WAS RE-CLAD IN A HIGHLY GRAPHIC ENCAUSTIC TILE SURROUNDING NEW, BLACK PORCELAIN FIXTURES.

AS A RESULT OF THE WALLS BEING REMOVED IN THE APARTMENT’S PUBLIC AREAS, THE ENTRY GALLERY, DINING ROOM AND LIVING ROOM BECAME ONE OPEN ROOM WITH SPACES DEFINED BY FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS WHICH WERE KEPT TO A MINIMUM. IN THE GALLERY, A 21-FOOT WALL OF NEW WHITE VITSOE SHELVING WAS STYLED TO PERFECTION BY THE OWNERS. IN THE LIVING ROOM, A MULTI-DIRECTIONAL SOFA FROM WEST NYC HOME PROVIDES AMPLE SEATING AND AN EILEEN GRAY CHAISE WAS POSITIONED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BEST VIEW TO THE EAST RIVER. THE DINING AREA INCLUDES A BLACK STAINED, OAK, PEDESTAL-BASE TABLE, MIES VAN DER ROHE’S APTLY NAMED “MR” CHAIRS AND A PENDANT LIGHT FROM ATELIER ARETI CALLED “MIMOSA.”

MR’S OBJECTIVE IN THIS PROJECT WAS TO CREATE A NEW HOME FOR THE CLIENTS BASED ON ELEMENTS FROM MANN’S HOME THAT APPEALED TO THEM, ADAPTED TO THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS. THE RESULT IS A LIGHT-FILLED ASSEMBLAGE OF SPACES THAT HAVE BEEN CURATED SPARINGLY WHILE OFFERING MAXIMUM COMFORT FOR GRACIOUS LIVING AND ENTERTAINING.

PHOTOS: ANNIE SCHLECHTER