Ty ColeThe Upper West Side is an ideal place for families. This historic Manhattan neighborhood is bookended to the west and east by Central and Riverside Parks. It also hosts a host of cultural institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History. You run the risk of being labelled an outsider if you don’t walk the tree-lined side streets in a stroller or with a dog, or with a stroller full of dogs,
Joan Michaels and Jayne, twin-sister designers from the Upper West Side, can attest to this, especially as they transformed a seven-story brownstone on West 88th Street recently into a home for a photographer and her husband, their daughter and two dogs.
2Michaels was chosen by the clients to design a cozy and inviting space for entertaining and living. It is eight blocks away from their house. Both of their families are large and frequently visit town to stay. Joan states, “There’s always some thing going on.”
Claudy Jongstra created a massive tapestry that unites the living and eating areas. Ty Cole Getting the aesthetic right was the hardest task. Jayne says that Jayne is very visual, which is a characteristic one would expect from a photographer. 2Michaels’s love for color and texture is what made the twins so special to Jayne. Jayne says that although they are quite different, Jayne and her husband can agree on certain points. While the husband is drawn to Shaker-style furniture, his wife prefers outsider art and collects it more. Joan states that any space that looks like it is a hotel makes her cringe.
All levels of the brownstone are connected by a dramatic staircase. The Stork Nest Chair is made by Atelier Demiurge Editions. Ty ColeBecause the communal areas in the house are large and expansive, furniture and art choices had to be extra large. Jayne recalls feeling anxious when she first walked through the house. She says, “It felt almost like an airport. It was so big.” It can feel very personal when there is so much space. You will soon find that small furniture is going to be absorbed.
They created two separate living areas on the first floor. The dining area features an Asher Israelow table measuring 11 feet and a Claudy Jongstra asymmetrically cut textile that runs across the wall. Joan states that the textile brought together all of the rooms on the first floor. It’s not predictable.
The tranquil main bedroom has a rocking chaise from Igor Rodrigues. Joan says that the walls throughout the house were white. It looked so bland, so sterile.” The clients initially wanted them to keep them the same, but it was difficult to convince them. She adds, “We told them that it wasn’t they.”
The homeowners accepted the offer and a variety of shades of blue were added to the front parlor, study and primary bedrooms. Joan states that the home has a warm, inviting feel.
This is the perfect atmosphere for a family with three children (plus many houseguests), and a daughter who is precocious. She spends her time reading, cuddling up on couches, practicing at the grand piano, or in the living room which overlooks the well-tended garden. It’s the perfect house for anyone looking for a home on the Upper West Side.
Charles CurkinArticles Editor at ELLE DecorCharles Curkin covers all things related to architecture, interior design and real estate. He has also written previously for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
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https://tophouseimprovement.com/decor/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ranch-style-houses/