BUILT IN 1869, THIS TOWNHOUSE IS LOCATED ON ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED BLOCKS ON MANHATTAN’S UPPER EAST SIDE. THE CLIENT, AN ACADEMIC COLLECTOR OF ART AND ANTIQUES, WAS MOVING FROM AN APARTMENT ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE INTO A HOUSE WITH SIX FLOORS, SO THE CHALLENGE WAS TO FILL THE VERTICAL SPACE. MANY OF THE IMPORTANT ANTIQUES ALREADY IN THE CLIENT’S COLLECTION WERE INCORPORATED AND SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT NEW ACQUISITIONS WERE ADDED.

A KEY OBJECTIVE WAS TO BRIDGE THE CLIENT’S INTERESTS WITH THE EXISTING ARCHITECTURE, COMBINING NEOCLASSICISM WITH DECO TOUCHES. ON THE FIRST FLOOR, A NEW POWDER ROOM WAS ADDED IN WHICH A DECO DRESSER WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A SINK AND VANITY. LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR ARE THE TOWN HOUSE’S MAIN PUBLIC SPACES. A CONTEMPORARY ONYX MANTLE WAS DESIGNED FOR THE LIVING ROOM, AND THE SPACE WAS FURNISHED WITH A PAIR OF JULES LELEU ARMOIRES AND POTTERY BY AXEL SALTO FOR ROYAL COPENHAGEN. THE DINING ROOM WALLS WERE PAINTED A GLOSSY MELON LACQUER AND A FONTANA ARTE CHANDELIER BY MAX INGRAND, WAS SUSPENDED FROM THE CEILING, BOTH OF WHICH COMPLEMENTED A PAIR OF PIERRE DUNAND OVERSIZED ACCORDION PANEL DOORS FROM 1950S FRANCE. UPSTAIRS, THE LIBRARY HAS DECO DETAILING AND IS COVERED IN PALLADIUM LEAF. THE FOURTH FLOOR IS HOME TO AN EXPANSIVE PRIMARY SUITE COMPLETE WITH HIS-AND-HERS CLOSETS, BATHROOMS, STUDY, AND TERRACE, AND THE TOP FLOOR CONTAINS A LARGE OFFICE FOR THE OWNER AND A SMALLER ONE FOR HER ASSISTANT, ALONG WITH MAID’S QUARTERS.

PHOTOS: ERIC PIASECKI