“It can be difficult due to the strict regulations and approval process that must be followed,” comments Praq Rado, president of Complete Construction NY, who has worked on or designed several spaces in the building. 

“Any changes had to be of the highest quality and had to be approved by the board before implementation, making the project more challenging as it took a great deal of time and resources to meet the board’s standards.”

“On top of that, the board had to be consulted on every detail of the project, and all plans had to be resubmitted for approval before any changes could be implemented,” he adds. “This process was both time-consuming and costly as it required a great deal of back-and-forth between the board and the architect.”

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However, the exhaustive procedure to preserve the historic building was all worth it when Rado and his construction and renovation team crafted a sophisticated yet personalised space for the young homeowner, who was an early stage luxury fashion investor.

“He has great energy and a very positive outlook,” recalls Rado. “While he travels a lot, this client loves to entertain large crowds, and that factor was taken into consideration when choosing materials as well as the layout of the space.”

“The homeowner loves blue tones, which were incorporated throughout the home without allowing the colour to dominate the space,” he explains further. “While the general parameters of the apartment are neutral and balanced with a deep ebony-toned wood flooring and stone counters throughout, the apartment also blended vintage pieces with custom modern furniture from all over the world.”

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The Papillons Swag pendant influenced by the iconic 1960 Calder mobile by Alexander Calder in the coved ceiling gallery hallway eased into the palatial parameters that were kept classic and clean with its white walls. 

This called to attention the architecturally significant attributes of the living area: the circa 1868 Tiffany arches with exposed and deconstructed steel columns that framed the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the outdoor landscape.

An original bedroom adjacent to the living room was converted into a media/music room where our client could host friends for movies and cocktails; while an open chef’s kitchen with a Calcutta marble island for bar dining complemented the space with its custom-installed tinted mirrors expanding the depth of the double-ceilinged loft.

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Drama pervaded throughout the individual rooms of the full-time residence, reflecting a masculine vibe. 

Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves elevated the moody home office; while the master suite was a plush oasis with dramatic paint to make a bold statement; and the primary bedroom had an Art Deco-style mirror wallpaper to create a three dimensional effect.

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The en-suite baths had dramatic cubic volume, each with its own combination of patterns and materials.

The spa-like master en-suite was refurbished with marble slabs, and the flooring was updated with historical European patterns. One of the bathrooms was upholstered in a commercial grade blue Belvedere velvet, paper backed and hung as if it were a wallpaper; while the other, grey-toned, had slabs inside the shower and wallpaper on the remaining walls.

“The client was very pleased with the end result and we believe the colours and wallpapers we used enhanced the beauty of the home, making it youthful and artistic, yet sophisticated and livable,” Rado concludes.

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