NYC Apartment, By Sandra Weingort

The house comes with a great potential to be cozy, with its extraordinary light and height. The blank, white space needed some soul. Weingort conceptualized the interiors to bring in rawness and character, as well as accentuating the double-heighted ceiling. The existing concrete slab in the ceiling was exposed by hand. The client, being a Buddhist student, wanted a calming oasis in the midst of the fast-paced city that is New York. In his words, Mollá desired “the home of a 70‐year-old modernist Japanese man”—even though he is much younger himself! His admiration and respect for Japanese culture is reflected in his new home. The living room has an open bar on one side and floor-to-ceiling windows on the other, which makes the space feel open and bright. The dining area is off the living room, and beyond that are two bedrooms that are minimally furnished with pops of color from textiles and artworks. The powder room also follows the theme of warm tones and contemporary art.

Weingort's use of contrasting interior design features - like high ceilings paired with low-lying furniture - serves to emphasize the feeling of space, light, and air in the room. With plenty of natural light streaming in, she decided to use deep, rich colors and raw materials like steel on the coffee table and mixed wood elements. Rather than looking depressing or drab with such dark tones, the space is infused with a cozy and intimate ambience. The homeowner enjoyed working with Weingort because they shared a love for Japanese and midcentury furniture and objects, as well as his astounding collection of contemporary art. Even though they only had four months to complete the project, she trusted him and the process was efficient. The designer and homeowner were both very excited when they went on their sourcing expedition for furniture and accents. They found many lovely pieces that helped transform the apartment into a haven filled with art, tranquility, and contrast.