The Architect Is In: An East Village Penthouse Taken Back in Time - Remodelista
Photography by Jay Camelo and Jeff Rudy for MNA. Remodelista readers voted the dining area of this penthouse loft in New York’s East Village as the Best Professionally Designed Dining Space in the 2013 Remodelista Considered Dining Awards. MNA’s clients, Alfredo Paredes and Brad Goldfarb, are design-world insiders–Paredes is one of the masterminds behind Ralph Lauren’s distinctive built environments, and Goldfarb is a special projects editor at Architectural Digest. “In the spirit of 19th century eclecticism, we recreated that romantic style for this apartment.”. When visitors enter the double-height great room, they’re greeted by Sid and expansive views of the East Village. East Village palazzo living: throughout the penthouse, the choice of materials and finishes evoke the handwork and patina of earlier eras. Design professionals themselves, owners Paredes and Goldfarb closely collaborated with MNA, and sourced all of the loft’s furnishings and artwork. In the galley kitchen, the architects continue the luxe-rustic look with white oak cabinets that have a wire-brushed and hand-rubbed tung oil finish. The vintage 1940s Italian lighting was sourced from Obsolete in LA; it was selected to complement the bluestone slab counter and Jaclo faucet with black ceramic levers. The partitioned kitchen is hidden from view but has easy access to the living area and terrace. Did you know that galley kitchens are the optimum layout for efficient meal production? In the living area, a large-scale monochrome artwork by Richard Serra hangs above a vintage fireplace mantel that Paredes and Goldfarb found for the room. The leather chairs are Alstead Club Chairs from Ralph Lauren. The stair hall, with its paneled wall, stone steps, and arched passageway, was inspired by a manor house. Rough-hewn tumbled limestone steps are paired with custom-designed blackened steel rails. Floor-to-ceiling curtains and a headboard made from Ralph Lauren Home fabric introduce layers of texture in the master bedroom. The closet doors are made from the same oiled-finish white oak and ER Butler hardware that is used throughout the project. Glossy and reflective surfaces, including solid stainless steel skirting on the Mercer Bathtub from Urban Archaeology, and a large-scale mirror and black subway tiles, create the illusion of expansive space in the master bath. In the guest bedroom, a fully stocked floor-to-ceiling bookcase behind the daybed creates a cozy welcome. The guest bathroom black and white shower tiles (from Alan Court and Associates) are laid out in a chevron pattern. A glimpse of the penthouse prior to its transformation.