“Rich minimalism” is the phrase used by Drake/Anderson, a New York City design firm, to describe the interiors of this sprawling apartment on a high floor in an iconic Tribeca tower in Manhattan. The owners, a couple with homes on both coasts, are repeat clients of the firm. They bought two 3-bedroom units from the building’s preconstruction plans and combined them to create a 7,300 square-foot four-bedroom aerie with its own gym and wine cellar. The resulting apartment has two great rooms, “east” and “west.”
This living area is one of two seating groupings in the east great room. “We decided to really play up curvaceous and sensual forms as our choices for furnishings, and that also added a contrast to the very square and block-like structure and design of the building itself,” said Drake/Anderson co-founder Jamie Drake. The strategy included emphasizing immovable forms, like the structural column on the left, which Mr. Drake had covered in a highly polished slightly metallic Venetian plaster. He also crafted an ebonized wood cabinet to hide a refrigerator and microwave. Design challenges, notes Mr. Drake, often become “real assets.” This area of the room cost approximately $300,000 to furnish. Here are some of the design elements.
This area of a living room in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood cost approximately $300,000 to furnish. Here are some of the design elements.
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The Sofa
The sofa, with a gentle curve, was purposely placed on an angle to “look out towards the view to the East River and Brooklyn and Long Island in the distance.” // Price: Christophe Delcourt sofa, $22,895 at Avenue Road. Andro fabric, $3,405 at Zimmer + Rohde.
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Floor Lamp
An understated brass floor lamp by Salgado Saucier, placed next to the sofa, provides task lighting and “gives you the warmth of a fire to gather around, by bringing the light down,” said Mr. Drake. // Price: $2,738 at The Bright Group.
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Chairs
A pair of slipper chairs by Patrick Naggar provide additional seating. // Price: $21,120 at Ralph Pucci International. Fabric by Sandra Jordan, $2,821 at Holland & Sherry.
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Bench
A Caste bench was strategically placed to round out the seating area without blocking views. // Price: Bench, $13,500 at Holly Hunt. Fabric, $7,128 at John Boyd Textiles.
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Coffee Table
Centering the grouping is a large bronze coffee table by Eric Schmitt. “It has a polished bronze top so it is mirror-like, with a watery reflective quality, without being a mirror.” // Price: $43,200 at Liaigre.
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Triptych
The same could be said for a polished bronze triptych by Garnier & Linker, set on the marble counter. // Price: $28,500 at Maison Gerard
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Small Table
A small table was placed in a corner of the room for the couple to have tea or a casual supper. “It’s a beautiful piece of sculpture in its own right and creates an anchor in the corner in the distance.” // Price: Jiun Ho table, $23,150 at Dennis Miller Associates.
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Floors
Rift oak wide board plank floors were installed throughout the apartment because they are “light without being bright.” The rug placed on top in this space is a tone-on-tone mohair and wool design. // Price: $40,175 at Edward Fields
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Chandelier
A bronze, brass and glass chandelier, also by Eric Schmitt, echoes the room’s circular themes and was described by Mr. Drake as “planetary.” // Price: $57,225 at Liaigre.
Stephen Kent Johnson/OTTO
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Appeared in the March 11, 2022, print edition as ‘A Living Room Embraces Its Curves.’
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-manhattan-living-room-embraces-its-curves-11646841677
