Inside Out: A showcase for those who transform their residences into homes
via innovative intervention
Location: Harlem
Size: 4000 sqft, Renaissance Revival Townhouse
"The basement closed the deal for me because if that much care was devoted to its clean-up and preservation, imagine the attention paid to the rest of the house!" So said the new owner of this Stanford White palace in central Harlem when describing why he bought it.
Originally built to serve the middle class in 1891, this row of homes remained empty for almost 30 years after they were completed...
Do you have an idea for a house tour? Let me know! jill@apartmenttherapy.com
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A couple of years ago, one developer took an interest and painstatingly restored this townhouse to something very similar to its original grace. The current owner appreciates each of these details each and every day.
Considering his approach to design a "lifelong unconscious find," the owner says he bought nothing but blinds upon moving into his 4 story building. For example, he had no idea 20 years ago, when he purchased a Renaissance Revival bedroom and dining room set at a Michigan family farm that he would one day live in a Renaissance Revival home in New York City. The pieces work so well in the home, that even the top of one of the bureaus was served perfectly as a fireplace guard in for one of the upstairs fireplaces.
Clearly, the owner integrated a bunch of influences when arranging his home. It is not just the breadth of interests but rather the relationship of each object to the next. 18th century silver co-exists happily with early 19th century furniture, 1960's dishes, and 21st century paintings. The ease of access and the warmth of the host makes a visit both awe-inspiring and casual.
The owner's main goal, as an artist, is to have the design of his home compliment his paintings. His second hope is that when people come over, they will want to stay a while. When the owner is in his house, he feels like everything is as it should be. One can't really ask for more.
Years lived in: 3 months
My Style: timeless and easy to clean
Inspiration: Doing what makes you happy.
Favorite element:That it all makes make the art look good.
What friends say: "You live in a piece of a wedding cake"
Best advice: "At least try it for a while" and "when moving take a long time to pack so you can label everything carefully."
Dream Source: Fulton Street (Lower Manhattan) between 1770 and 1840, a national center for furniture manufacturing--where one could get anything custom built.
Originally Posted April 4th, 2007
Wow. An amazing amount of space, and a spectacular shell. That built-in bench... you could not get me to ever move from there.
I think the kitchen could have gotten closer to original spirit of the house, the built-in shleves pale in comparison to original woodwork, and there seem to be just a few disconnects between "shell and filling", but I suspect that will continue to settle out in the next several months.
An amazing collection of furniture. And those knife boxes!!!
An enviable space overall. Thanks for the tour!
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
That's insanely beautiful, and I'm just talking about the boiler room! Heck, you could rent THAT out for someone to live in!
But seriously that's some gorgissimo place you have there. Congratulations on a job beautifully done.
view Curtis's profile
I am deeply in love with the knife boxes... and the antique flatware.
view Nisha's profile
Please oh please remove the table and chairs from in front of the sitting bench. It's entirely too lovely to share the spotlight.
view SJO's profile
This is a "Smallest Coolest" entry, right?
view Rick's profile
If I ever have to live in New York City -- I would want to live in your place. (It's true. I would take Stanford White grandeur over small space living.) There's a good book I was looking at a month, or so, ago. It's called:
Harlem, lost and found : an architectural and social history, 1765-1915 / Michael Henry Adams ; photographs by Paul Rocheleau ; preface by Robert A.M. Stern ; foreword by Lowery Stokes Sims.
It had LOTS of photographs and some text that I skimmed. If I remember correctly there was a row of Stanford White townhouses in that book. Do you know if your place is in that book?
Tony G.
view Weasel Dearest's profile
Rick: no, because its 4000sqft. Small Cool is 650 and under. And they won't be posted until Friday.
view olya's profile
olya--
I think he was kidding.
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
So, the House Warming is..........what was that date?
It's wonderful. And the art is wonderful.
view JacksonMarie's profile
The TV room could use some work.
And this replica brancusi is ... untasteful.
Otherwise, very nice place, but really... do you need 4000 sqft?
view loki's profile
What's he supposed to do, subdivide it and rent it out?
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
>>>What's he supposed to do, subdivide it and rent it out?
Yes! I'll take half.
view Cassis's profile
love it, especially how the paintings punctuate the wedding-cake whiteness with their vibrant color. i particularly like the round one next to the bed. or is that an antique with a painted underside?
my partner would drool over the basement. we give our basement that much love, too. or we try to.
view Tom's profile
What amazing attention to detail. I can tell much love went into this home. I especially love the way the fireplaces are painted.
view peggy's profile
Sorry to jump the gun - I read the info after looking at the slideshow. (I just get so excited when there is a new slideshow). As I was looking at the pics, I was thinking how wonderfully the art worked with the place. Then I read that you are the painter! That large yellow painting is beautiful! I love when art and home dialogue.
view peggy's profile
Truly, a beautiful home. However, I agree with you SJO...the garden table and chairs in front of the bench struck a sour note with me. Otherwise, a home that glows with the best of the past and present.
view ClaraE's profile
I like your stately choice in bedroom furniture. The gargoyle chunk in the fireplace is also a nice touch.
view XT's profile
>>> What's he supposed to do, subdivide it and rent it out?
Sell it and live small?
view loki's profile