Bling Meets Modesty in the Manhattan Home

This young New York firm is the brainchild of Lindsay Weiss and Noah Turkus. Weiss handles the architectural side and is known for combining historic and modern elements, while Turkus drives the interior design projects. Many of the duo’s clients are young Manhattan and Brooklynites. “We don’t have a signature look,” says Turkus. “We approach each project with fresh eyes and get to know the client. We strive for an eclectic, curated mix.”

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Luck was on Noah Turkus’ side when he and his partner Lindsay Weiss were tasked with redesigning the interior of a young couple’s one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. “The client’s mother is a decorator, so she has the design gene,” explains Turkus, of the New York-based Weiss Turkus Projects. Another piece of luck? The designers were able to incorporate art and furniture that the couple already owned, such as a gold mirrored sideboard and a collection of works by Alexander Calder.

The gold mirrored sideboard was the launching point for the interior design of the apartment. “She likes to have a little bling but always in a sophisticated way,” tells Turkus. To balance the mirrored sideboard, the design duo flanked it with two brass etageres with marble-topped shelves.

The couple wanted ample seating in their living room, which the designers delivered by anchoring the space with a large, neutral and textured sofa. To give the space interest, they added two armchairs (one from Baker, the other by McGuire) with sculptural silhouettes. “We didn’t want traditional overstuffed armchairs,” notes Turkus.

To liven up a small, windowless dining area, Weiss and Turkus selected a bold Kelly Wearstler wallpaper with gold accents. “The wallpaper was a no brainer as it defined the niche and worked with the colors in the living room,” says Turkus. They topped off the space with a dramatic chandelier from Thomas O’Brien for Circa Lighting. A large mirrored cabinet helps to brighten the space. Turkus reused the client’s existing Hickory chairs, but had them upholstered in an indestructible vinyl from Tribeca-based Pollack textiles that mimics elephant skin. The vintage, marble-topped dining table was designed by Osvaldo Borsani.

The master bedroom alludes to the couple’s experiences growing up in beautifully appointed spaces, and features classic elements such as grass-cloth wallcovering. The designers spent an entire day arranging the gallery wall behind the bed, which showcases a mix of oil paintings and watercolors. The watery tones of the blue and bronze silk and the wool rug set the foundation for the room. The blue is repeated in the Pollack-upholstered headboard, as well as the blue curtains. The overall look is one that balances masculine and feminine elements.

The final touch was incorporating the couple’s art into the finished space, and the design team had a great trove to work with, including a wall hanging from Tony Duquette and a series of number prints from Robert Indiana. “Art is that last layer of completion that is often overlooked, but we were lucky that we had so much to work with,” shares Turkus.

Photography Courtesy of Dana Meilijson

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