Two Story Transformation

Opening up the interiors and taking advantage of the riverside views of this Manhattan apartment brought this dated duplex into the 21st century.

When lead designer Michael Johnson of Michael Johnston Design Group and New York Architect Graydon Yearick were approached by longtime clients with plans to renovate their dated 1990s Manhattan duplex, they were up to the task. The directive: Transform the space to take advantage of the Hudson River views and re-focus the interiors so that they draw your eye outside while keeping your attention on entertaining family and friends inside.

“The team, the clients, and the spectacular setting of the raw apartment really made for the unique and striking finished product here,” says Doron Sabag, partner at SBP Homes, the general contractor for the project. “The spectacular light, space, and views from the apartment really provide an amazing backdrop for the designer’s work.”

SIMPLIFYING THE SPACE

“The floor plan was a maze of walls and hallways,” says Yearick. “We were able to simplify and calm the space while giving it a cohesive point of view and emphasizing the two-story nature of the space through a better, larger staircase and other visual connections between the two floors.”

COLOR AND COOL FACTOR

Inside, Interior Designer Linda Hoffman of Greenwich, CT-based Linda Hoffman Interiors, started with a clean slate and chose furniture and details that were elegant and tasteful but also fun and unique.

“I’m a big believer in layers, textures, and the relationships of items with each other,” says Hoffman. “When selecting design elements, don’t think of each item alone but how it relates to a whole. In design, it’s more about the sum of the parts.”

Artwork played a big role, too. While the couple had a few pieces in their collection, New Canaan, CT-based Heather Gaudio Fine Art sourced most of the works in the final design. Curators carefully selected works that reflected the calm yet colorful palette and the homeowner’s taste. The process was quite collaborative, says Rachael Palacios, gallery director at Heather Gaudio Fine Art. She adds: “It was a really gratifying experience to grace such a stunning space with beautiful art.”

BY KRISTAN ZIMMER • PHOTOGRAPHS BY JANE BEILES