A hip, young couple purchased an apartment for its size and good views but with a feeling— dark with overdone details and kitschy touches— that embodied the opposite of their personality. They enlisted Katz Architecture to create a series of spaces with a sense of openness and light that would feel right for formal gatherings and day-to-day family needs. They also required a whole new system for essential clothing storage.

The architectural solution relied upon classical and modern influences to satisfy the clients’ needs. By modifying the entry and the walls around the dining room KATZ created a formal gallery and an open plan kitchen that included a marble top island. To refresh the living room and reflect light, a new mother of pearl fireplace surround was added and the walls were finished in glossy Venetian plaster. Storage was increased wherever possible; in the living room the addition of built-in bookcases also concealed the radiators, while in the master suite, storage needs were met with a wall of closets with paneled antique mirror doors.

The apartment became a cozy place for the family as well as a great backdrop for the occasional cocktail party.