Name: Mike Lubin
Location: Upper West Side — New York, New York
Size: 1500 square feet — 2 bedroom penthouse
Years lived in: 9 years
Oddly enough, Mike's home is akin to a collection of late 19th and early 20th century curiosities carefully arranged inside the early 80's nightclub, Studio 54. Mike does not shy away from his penchant for the disco era and its infamous style.
Twelve years ago — 88 years after original construction — the co-op members of Mike's building got together and decided it would be a good idea to build an extra unit on their roof. Two years later, Mike moved in. During the construction of the penthouse, Mike had the rare opportunity to guide the design of the final product toward his personal taste and preference.
Now he lives amidst water towers, the city's skyline, and the heretofore hidden gardens and roof decks of neighboring buildings in the neighborhood.
With his partner and their 9-year-old son, Mike lives amidst luscious black hallways, silver-sequined bathroom curtains, leopard printed rugs, as well as Chinoiserie, a pagoda-inspired living room, elegant window seats lined with silk, and incredible oriental rugs. Mike's son's room is more old world than new, replete with a standing world globe, musical instruments, and muted primary colors.
Mike has succeeded in bringing together an incredible mix of patterns and palettes to create a home in which both children and adults can feel comfortable and wowed.
Apartment Therapy Survey
Style:: Eclectic
Inspiration: Tony Duquette, Diana Vreeland, Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge
Favorite Element: Experiencing the garden from inside the apartment.
Biggest Challenge: Making an unconventional space work to accommodate a family.
What Friends Say: People who come over are often very surprised which I take as a compliment.
Proudest DIY: Hanging the bathroom window nine years ago with silver sequin curtains I bought on a whim from a remnant shop.
Biggest Indulgence: Nightly fires all winter.
Best Advice: Don't ask people for their opinion. Take your own risks. A famous decorator suggested I paint my black lacquered foyer walls "beige."
Dream Source: The Yves Saint Laurent sale at Christie's in 2009
Resources:
DINING ROOM
- • Parson's Table: Conran
• Wallpaper: Scalamandre
LIVING ROOM
- • Classic Sofa
• Artistic Frame
• Slipper Chair: Hinson and Co.
• Mirror: Mecox Garden
• Rug: Mansour
MASTER BEDROOM
- • Leopard Carpeting Enstein Moomjy
• Night tables: Laurin Copen Bridge Hampton
• Shoji Screens. Miya Shoji
To see details of Mike's kitchen, check out Mike's Penthouse Kitchen on the theKitchn.com
Images: Jill Slater
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Comments (31)
Such a Beautiful and Luxurious home - but I'm not getting the Studio 54 reference...
...there's not a bit of disco-tinsel here - It's a fairly traditional space with touches of 70's chrome to keep it interesting.
And Mike doesn't live in a "coop" - That's a small building where chickens live...
...he lives in a Co-Op.
For more disco elements, please check out the slideshow.
That plummy red is pretty but it totally competes with the lovely light woodwork and black trim. Maybe a more lighter chinese red would make it more warmer, or a warmer sunny gold would set off the black and white accents more to pull it together. But what a view.
Maybe the disco element is the mirror above the fireplace? That's kind of blingy. If not, I can't find it!
The red paint has too much blue in it. And I would have done something entirely different with the space - it seems a bit too bourgeois to me. I don't have a family, though.
Jill--
I looked at the slideshow - Twice.
Still not seeing anything more than eclectic Traditional.
Sure this place has a black hallway, a chrome chair and animal-patterned carpets - but that doesn't make it a space reminiscent of any disco I've ever been to, much less Studio.
Please move that beautiful secretary from your study to your living room! That sad bookshelf/bar is simply not living up to your standard.
Now, about that LR paint color... the red is just not working. I'd love to see the walls in a soft gold, with a brown (or maybe a Chinese red?) ceiling. You could also do the walls in a warm off white -- it would glow with that light.
Small things. You have a lovely place. I can't even imagine living in NY in a space like this.
I guess there are a couple disco-y elements but the overall feel isn't Studio 54 at all. It's an incredible place but I really don't like the decor at all.
A colorful and richly appointed home with such an interesting collection of "finds". I had to smile when I saw the owl andirons in the fireplace---my mom had the same set! ;o)
http://sparky-youngbloodstudios.blogspot.com/
I love the tiger rug! Where did that come from?
WOw, this house has everything...sexy, french country..modern..it's incredible.
I especially love that dining room...so pretty!
now, if there was some kind of drapes in the living room..that would warm up the room a bit.
The kids room looks like a kids room! My favorite part!!
The red is very dramatic but really love the dining room hanging lantern! You can find this iron lantern at our website The Designer Insider, thanks for showing some of our unique lighting.
The Designer Insider
http://bit.ly/dhBLKu
It's not often that I come across an AT post that makes me literally sit up straighter and exclaim out loud.
What an awesome apartment- love everything- and whenever I saw the leopard carpet-well, I had to go back and check out the status of said owner of such fabulousity.
Sigh. "Has partner". I was so hoping this was my future ex-husband.
Alrighty- back to the post. Yes, I saw the Studio 54 blingy 70's disco references. Totally get it and love the mixture and juxtaposition of styles and colors.
And what's with all the negative comments about paint color and furniture arrangements?
Just don't understand the need for snark.
SUBLIME APARTMENT!!! Great job!!!
More please...
I want that master bathroom! Window seat next to the tub!
Wow. Just wow.
I just want to move right in, even if not every single detail is to my taste, it just works together. It's got a perfect mix of "decorated" and "homey", great colors and whimsical touches. And the outdoor space is fantastic.
The only thing I can say is - this is absolutely marvellous and I would love to see more of it. Beautifully done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
need a venetian mirror like the one above the fireplace!
Wow - This place is wonderful! There's a very established style that is consistent through-out. And it screams luxury --- lived in, comfortable luxury! Thanks for sharing!
The adjacent dining room and living room in that gorgeous color are dazzling. I usually prefer light colored walls because I'm a light fiend, but this is so gorgeous (again, my favorite word), especially the wallpaper. The couch and dining chairs too are a great arrangement.
Best home ever?! The peephole is creepy -- if I was a nine year visitor it might freak me out -- but the rest is pitch perfect.
Kudos to Jill, too, for focussing on the sumptuousness of the rooms, not "vignettes".
What the heck? This is maybe the first time I've seen red in a living space that I could actually live with. And the wallpaper is gorgeous.
Too many things to mention, but I really love it.
beautiful and highly original apartment, loved the mix of luxury, comfort and fun
Also, for those criticizing the wood trim; it reads as yellow, a perfectly respectable complement to red, and it works especially well with the wallpaper.
Thank you for posting something interesting and a great personal space my goodness it was getting really boring around here.
Dear AT community: I want to thank so many of you for the most supportive and thoughtful comments. It's a little scary to have one's personal space exposed this way. Especially as a "non-pro"! This apartment was conceived to feel like a comforting getaway from the harsh gray and breakneck pace of NYC- and to be Fun (hence the disco reference which I didn't mean to be too literal). Again, it means the world to me to read so many kind messages. Thank you. Oh yeah- the tiger rug came from ABC carpet.
-Mike
This living space is gorgeous...lots of light and dramatic colours. I wouldn't change a thing. Interested in vacationing in a small town in southern Ontario? The contrast would blow you away. Thanks for sharing..it does take courage.
WOW...Inside and outside, I love it all. What a fantastic job you have done. I only wish I could come and visit and see it all in person. What a pleasure to be in NY, and to live in such a wonderful place
Beautiful.
I love, love, love the outdoor space. The bedroom and bathroom are crisp and soothing. But then there's this gaudy safari 1995 red thing going on. That wall paper overpowers the modern space. Perhaps an accent of the pattern inside a cabinet would make it stand out more than a whole sea of it. Also, everything in the living room is positioned below the middle of the wall, which to me detracts from the height by cutting it in half. I think the space is amazing, though, and you are lucky to have so many windows!
a dream - i love this space. if lived here perhaps i would do a couple of things differently but that is not relevant as it is not my home.
i have to say that i especially love the dining room and outdoor space. i can only imagine the fantastic dinner parties and garden parties that can host.