A few years ago, after decades of weekending in Manhattan, Westchester empty nesters finally bought their own pied-à-terre in a newly developed Greenwich Village midrise – the fulfillment of a lifelong wish. “I’ve been visiting the city since I was young to see theatre, music, art and entertainment,” the client describes.
Impressed with the portfolio of interior designer Larysa Sendich of Nesta Studio, as well as with her professionalism and upbeat attitude, the new homeowners took the advice of a friend and hired Sendich to tailor the space to their personalities. In contrast to the deep-brown, green and maroon tones in their longtime single-family home, they envisioned a simpler, lighter design. “As you get older in life, you want less stuff,” she explains. “I wanted Larysa to stretch my imagination.”
Seeking to create a quiet respite in the heart of the bustling, often noisy city, Sendich selected a palette of soft colors rendered in subtle textures. Although neutral, the walls throughout, for example, are clad in a textural matte plaster that appears to shift in tone with the changing light. “It adds another layer, and the light bouncing off it kind of moves your eye around the space,” Sendich explains.
The shimmery walls contribute to the almost gallery-like feeling in the long foyer hallway, where a circular mirror with a silver application by a local craftsperson hangs over a handmade bench combining imperfect stone, steel and gilded wood – two of the many bespoke pieces woven throughout the home’s design. “I was lucky to work with a client who has such a great eye and appreciation of craft and art,” Sendich says.
Rather than adhering to convention by designing separate areas for living and dining, Sendich created a salon-style space with three distinct seating areas that better suit her clients’ needs. In a corner near the window, for example, a custom chaise in light blue creates a spot to relax and read, or to enjoy a casual meal at a small, wood-topped bistro table with vintage Swedish modern chairs.
Wallcoverings also play a key role. Linen-clad walls foster a calming ambiance in the primary bedroom, where custom oak side tables with ebonized frames flank a headboard covered in upholstered silk. Paired with an elegant, handblown pendant light in a cloud-like shape, a woven silk wallcovering likewise softens the weighty stone sink in the sophisticated powder room. “New York can be hard and difficult, and I wanted to create a calm space for them,” Sendich admits.
Indeed, the result gets high marks from the happy owners, who compare it to a high-end hotel. They are quick to give all the credit to Sendich, who never stopped until they were satisfied. When a custom chair didn’t sit quite right, for example, she sent it back for modifications straightaway. As a result, it – and everything else – is perfect. “This place has such a special feeling,” the client remarks. “I feel so happy to be here.”
Photography and styling by Nesta Studio.
For more like this Greenwich Village pied-à-terre, be sure to check out this delightfully simplistic California home.
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