SIXTY FIRST STREET APARTMENT

This apartment renovation stripped away walls and excess and invited the city back inside a human-sized lens, or simply, a mirror, surrounded by natural materials. The apartment’s developers capitalized on the nearly limitless panoramic views from Columbus Circle to the Queensboro bridge. Afforded by the 1927 construction and air-right purchase of the neighboring Barbizon Hotel, surrounding building heights on Third and Lexington Avenues are virtually limited in perpetuity. Existing wall-to-wall mirrors, brass accents throughout and a shut-in galley kitchen proved distracting. A muted and natural palette of wood, grays and greens was introduced while several walls were removed to open up the galley kitchen. Custom Scavolini cabinetry with uplift cabinets and basalt counters provided twice the amount of counter space and a new seating area. Existing parquet flooring was replaced with engineered chestnut stained white oak. Natural oiled walnut wall boards and three distinct cuts of sparkly gray New York schist were used to line the interior of the master bathroom. The schist is the exact match to the boulders found in the “backyard,” Central Park just downstairs. A simple five-foot diameter circle mirror took the place of the mirrored walls, offering a new lens to the city and focusing the apartment on the dining table.