Fresh Color and a Smart Layout for a New York Apartment
At the top of interior designer Eddie Lee’s design wish list was having a space that allowed him to entertain large groups of friends. He took a 1,000-square-foot apartment in the vibrant Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City and patiently waited to make any changes so he could get the details just right. He worked closely with architect Edward Wendt of Now Workshop, and together they redesigned and changed the layout, adding new materials and finishes from the floors to the walls and ceiling.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Eddie Lee and his dog, Buddy
Location: Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City
Size: 1,000 square feet (93 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
“I love the custom sectional tufted sofa, designed by me and made by Anatoli’s Restoration in Brooklyn,” Lee says. “It’s perfect for entertaining or for piling up and watching movies.”
The ink on vellum artwork is by Lia Halloran, and for a bright pop of color, Lee brought in a purple Husk chair from B&B Italia. The side table is late 19th-century English from Big Daddy’s Antiques in Los Angeles, and the coffee table is Lucite and glass 1970s American.
Charcoal rug: Patterson Flynn Martin
Who lives here: Eddie Lee and his dog, Buddy
Location: Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City
Size: 1,000 square feet (93 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroom
“I love the custom sectional tufted sofa, designed by me and made by Anatoli’s Restoration in Brooklyn,” Lee says. “It’s perfect for entertaining or for piling up and watching movies.”
The ink on vellum artwork is by Lia Halloran, and for a bright pop of color, Lee brought in a purple Husk chair from B&B Italia. The side table is late 19th-century English from Big Daddy’s Antiques in Los Angeles, and the coffee table is Lucite and glass 1970s American.
Charcoal rug: Patterson Flynn Martin
A vintage 1940s French pommel horse sits to the right of the fireplace. Tying in the colors of the room is artwork (above the fireplace) from Ernest de la Torre, purchased at Design on a Dime.
The portraits of redheads are from the Red Hot 100 series by British artist Thomas Knights. The photo over the sofa is by American artist Jen DeNike.
In the living space is an original wood-burning fireplace that serves as a great focal point in the room. “My favorite part of the fireplace is the New California glazed brick in cobalt from Clé Tile in Sausalito, California,” Lee says. He had the accent tile installed upon moving in.
Shelving to the left of the fireplace allows Lee to creatively display his collections. Arranging the books by color creates a visually appealing element in the room.
Shelving to the left of the fireplace allows Lee to creatively display his collections. Arranging the books by color creates a visually appealing element in the room.
Old photographs, a vintage sake vessel and cup, and Lee’s great-grandfather’s Bavarian stoneware stein from the late 1800s add personal touches to the living room area.
Lee and Wendt gutted and redesigned the kitchen area. They used the space to create an open kitchen-dining area that flows into one room.
Countertops: Caesarstone; appliances: GE Monogram and Bosch
Countertops: Caesarstone; appliances: GE Monogram and Bosch
When Lee purchased the apartment, it had much lower ceilings with storage space above. Lee decided that he would rather have higher ceilings to create a more open feel and got rid of the storage space to raise the ceiling.
Lee’s favorite part about the kitchen is the open living-dining area, which is ideal for entertaining. “The dining table is custom, designed by me and made by Soleil Furniturein Roslyn, New York,” Lee says. “It’s a live-edged bleached teak slab on a counter-height iron base.”
Non Random ceiling pendant: Moooi; chairs: by Calligaris from Jensen-Lewis
Lee’s favorite part about the kitchen is the open living-dining area, which is ideal for entertaining. “The dining table is custom, designed by me and made by Soleil Furniturein Roslyn, New York,” Lee says. “It’s a live-edged bleached teak slab on a counter-height iron base.”
Non Random ceiling pendant: Moooi; chairs: by Calligaris from Jensen-Lewis
“An open kitchen works for the way I live,” Lee says. “I often entertain casually and set up a bar on the island and a buffet on the dining table. Lee bought the art from theScope Art Fair during Art Basel weekend in Miami.
Barstools: From The Source
Barstools: From The Source
A vintage 1950s Harvey Probber sideboard and a 1950s German ceramic lamp complete this vignette in the dining area while providing additional storage.
The photo is titled Sad Bear byJill Greenberg.
The photo is titled Sad Bear byJill Greenberg.
The walls in the kitchen-dining area were changed to hand-planed oak and Phillip JeffriesManila hemp, creating a clean, textured and cozy atmosphere.
The colors and textures on the front door were a nice surprise during renovations. “Decades of paint layers were revealed as the contractor sanded the door down to the base metal,” Lee says. “I had him stop midway through. It felt like an archaeology dig — I love seeing the history of finishes.”
The light fixture is from Morocco The cabinet is 1840s Biedermeier from Niall Smith Antiques.
Photo: Karl Simone
The light fixture is from Morocco The cabinet is 1840s Biedermeier from Niall Smith Antiques.
Photo: Karl Simone
Near the entryway is a small book nook. “I’m a big reader, so I wanted a cozy reading room that could double as a guest bedroom,” Lee says. “It’s a small room, so I cantilevered the shelves to save space. The custom daybed is from Plantation Design in Los Angeles. They do fantastic custom upholstery and casework.”
The framed artwork is a rubbing from India that Lee’s mother received as a wedding present.
Gilt pendant: Modern Forms
The framed artwork is a rubbing from India that Lee’s mother received as a wedding present.
Gilt pendant: Modern Forms
Lee added texture to the wall In the hallway that leads from the bathroom to the bedroom with vinyl Belgian linen in Dutch Dusk from Phillip Jeffries.
Atop the dresser is a 1920s American lamp from High Style Deco in New York City. Completing the vignette is a contemporary oil painting by American artist CMarZ fromChristopher Anthony in Palm Springs, California.
Dresser: Restoration Hardware
Atop the dresser is a 1920s American lamp from High Style Deco in New York City. Completing the vignette is a contemporary oil painting by American artist CMarZ fromChristopher Anthony in Palm Springs, California.
Dresser: Restoration Hardware
“My bedroom is small but cozy,” Lee says. “I had the headboard made by Plantation Design to fit wall to wall. I mirrored one wall to open up the space and covered the opposite wall in Phillip Jeffries grass cloth to balance out the mirror, and give warmth and texture.”
Bed linens: washed Belgian linen, Restoration Hardware
Bed linens: washed Belgian linen, Restoration Hardware
Lee completely redesigned the bathroom. He added mirrors on the walls to make the space feel larger and more open, and aRuntal towel-warming bar. His favorite features are the new steam shower and pebble flooring.
Lee credits friend and broker Robby Browne for helping him find this space. He loves his Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood for its vibrant atmosphere full of restaurants, bars, clubs, shops and theaters as well as its close proximity to Central Park, Hudson River Park and the new Westside Railyards development.“It feels like something is always happening in the neighborhood,” he says.