800 WEA
800 West End Ave
New York, NY

This update to an existing pre-war apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side combines the owner’s modern taste with the original details and gestures of the 1926 building’s architecture. The new floor plan accommodates modern living by opening the kitchen and transforming the former maid’s quarters into a guest suite perfect for the owner's son. The kitchen, dining room and living room are connected by a series of framed, molded openings giving each space a definition while preserving a seamless flow between them. New baseboards, window moldings and door frames were designed as a contemporary, geometric interpretation of the pre-war style of Upper West Side apartments.

Each of the bathrooms was given a unique palette of materials and colors, creating an oasis of calm in the hustle of the city. The original tiny maid’s bathroom was enlarged and became part of a comfortable guest suite which includes a bedroom, dressing room/study and a bathroom. A custom mosaic floor in shades of green was designed to recall the Bianco Verde marble on the shower walls.

The kitchen was redesigned creating abundant storage to accommodate the needs of a kosher kitchen. A large central island topped with Corian unifies the space that was originally split by a structural steel column and roof drain. The kitchen island became the cozy heart of the home, embracing the natural tendency to gather around food and drinks.
The clients were committed to the idea of sustainability. This was reflected on many levels from the dual flush toilets that conserve water, to the compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout the apartment. Although a central air system was installed it is to be used only on the hottest days; each room has a ceiling fan to be utilized while possible.