History Meets Modern Luxury In A Manhattan Loft

Details

contemporary family room sitting area...

A thoughtful layering of materials, furnishings and artwork transforms a raw loft space into a welcoming home designed with family living in mind.

contemporary great room foyer bronze...

To make the loft space of a Manhattan apartment feel less vast, designer Linda Ruderman created two intimate sitting areas. In the great room (foreground), a pair of Avedon floor lamps from Holly Hunt flank a custom slope-arm sofa wearing Rogers & Goffigon fabric, while cerused-walnut club chairs from Studio Van den Akker tout a Holland & Sherry textile; the leather stools are from Biasi & Co., and the irregular-edge rug is Kyle Bunting. The bronze center table is from Jean de Merry.

contemporary living room silk and...

A silk-and-wool rug from Rug Art delineates the second sitting area, the living room, where Ruderman designed both the sofa clad with Rogers & Goffigon fabric and the orange barrel chair upholstered in Dedar fabric. The Dennis Miller Associates club chairs are covered in Jane Churchill linen on the front and Holland & Sherry leather on the back, and the sculptural coffee table with a bronze-smoked-glass top is a Steven Haulenbeek design. The black-oak shelving, bronze floor lamp and pedestal drink table are all from Holly Hunt.

contemporary dining area navy leather...

Located next to the kitchen, the custom banquette by general contractor Frank Pompa features Spinneybeck navy leather on the seat and a vibrant textile on the back. Stools from CB2 provide additional seating, the glass-topped table is from RH, and the Jiun Ho light fixture is from Dennis Miller Associates. Mr. Brainwash's I Love You piece, created from stickers and spray paint on plywood, adds a splash of whimsy.

contemporary dining room orange chairs...

Architect Anthony Minichetti carved out a formal dining area next to the living room. Here, a Paul Jenkins painting commands one end of the room, while a Phillip Jeffries canvas-linen wallcovering backs a bronze mirror from Hudson Furniture; Ruderman designed the cabinet fabricated by Daniel Scuderi Antiques. An Alison Berger chandelier hangs above the walnut table from Dennis Miller Associates, which is surrounded by Profiles chairs clad in Holland & Sherry leather and grounded by a silk-and-wool floor covering from Rug Art.

contemporary kitchen exposed wood beams...

Exposed wood beams frame the open-concept kitchen outfitted with custom dark-stained white-oak cabinetry by Christopher Peacock, Calacatta marble countertops, a six-burner Wolf range and antiqued-bronze hardware. The cerused-walnut barstools from Studio Van den Akker are upholstered in Spinneybeck faux leather.

contemporary bedroom antique brass and...

Ruderman designed the master suite's paneled headboard and upholstered it in a Colefax and Fowler material that infuses the space with a soft, textural element. Antique-brass-and-frosted-rock-crystal pendants from Dennis Miller Associates are paired with faux-shagreen-wrapped nightstands that were also custom pieces by the designer. A bench from A. Rudin wears faux fur by Weitzner.

contemporary bathroom freestanding white tub...

Each of the units in the renovated historic building came with beautifully appointed bathrooms. Among the amenities in this one are the stand-alone tub backed by a dark marble panel and a custom vanity.

When architect Charles Haight designed a warehouse in 1883, it’s unlikely that he would have envisioned it being transformed into 53 residential units, let alone a place where high-profile celebrities hang their hats. So what’s the draw? Likely a combo of historical provenance and luxury design, which is what attracted a young couple seeking a cozy home for their growing family.

To accommodate the couple’s desire for something less loft-like and more in keeping with a traditional apartment, designer Linda Ruderman and architect Anthony Minichetti combined the original rustic beams and high ceilings with ebonized-wood millwork and wide plank wood flooring to imbue warmth.

“The existing wood column grid drove the layout of the main living spaces and the private areas consisted of infill to create a master suite and two additional ensuite bedrooms,” explains Minichetti.

Along with furnishings swathed in wools and velvets and custom patterned rugs used to delineate the various spaces, there are special his and her features. Of the latter, Ruderman says, “We designed a blue-lacquered DJ console for him and a closet with compartments for everything for her to make their home even more personal.”

In the end, it was the thoughtful layering and attention to detail that made this historic house a home for many years to come.