The Prasada - Upper West Side

Years ago our client purchased an apartment in the historic Prasada Building on Central Park West. The dilapidated four-bedroom, three-bath apartment had sweeping park views but little charm. With the help of Ernst Architects and Vella Interiors, 2Michaels carefully transformed the space into an elegant and inviting home. The gut renovation took about 18 months. The design process focused heavily on the kitchen, as the client required a "working kitchen." All appliances, cabinetry, and cooking surfaces needed to be easily accessible and within arm's reach. Additionally, the client’s love for mid-century design meant the space needed to be special and fully custom-made. We developed a cardboard model during the design phase to ensure all details met the client's precise specifications. The Living Room, Dining Room and Sitting Room all face Central Park. Prewar touches were added such as mouldings and new oak floors. We furnished each room with a mixture of new and vintage pieces. A pair of rare Gio Ponti chairs hold court in the living area while a set of Hjorth dining chairs from the 1940’s provide elegance and comfort. Vintage lighting from Fontana Arte, Stilnovo and Max Ingrand provide a soothing element. All three bathrooms required significant modernization. To address the client's aversion to fully tiled spaces and her preference for a Mediterranean aesthetic, we used Tadelakt, an ancient Moroccan lime plaster technique, for the walls. This approach creates a seamless, waterproof, and mold-resistant surface. The only exceptions were the use of vintage Gio Ponti tiles on the walls of the primary bathroom and the floors of the guest bathroom and powder room. A bedouin tent was the inspiration for the Primary Bedroom. Our client is a romantic and wanted an escape from the craziness of daily life. We tented the bed with a sheer wool fabric which can be open or closed off for privacy. A new study was created with low wrap-around bookcases made of teak and a built-in sofa for curling up with a good book.