Active families need family-friendly homes with plenty of breathing room, ample outdoor space, and cozy places to work, watch TV, or play games. Unfortunately, such dwellings aren’t so easy to find in the heart of New York City. So when the couple who live in this stunning penthouse in NoMad had an opportunity to expand it after the duplex unit next door came up for sale, they grabbed it. And with the seasoned guidance of designer Damon Liss, they combined the two units to create an inspired, expansive home with everything they and their two young children could want or need.
“It’s rare to get a full-scale home in the sky,” says Liss, noting the spectacular 270-degree views and amenities here that rival creature comforts more commonly found in a large house in the suburbs. “The family’s wish list was extensive—a great room with living and dining spaces, an eat-in kitchen, a media room, study and library, a play space, a golf simulation room, and four bedrooms inside, plus a plunge pool, a sauna, grilling stations, multiple seating and dining areas, and lots of greenery outside.” Avid art collectors and aficionados of good design, they also wanted all these spaces to be crafted with inviting warmth and understated polish.
In the foyer, a ceiling fixture from The Bright Group hangs above a table from Good Colony.
A coffee table from The Invisible Collection complements a custom sofa by Magdalene Bespoke in the living room.
Dining chairs from Espasso surround a table from The Invisible Collection in the dining room.
In the kitchen, bar stools from Thomas Hayes Studio surround an island covered in a stone from BAS Stone. The cabinetry is custom by Lennie Construction Corporation.
In a wine cellar, the shelves are by Amuneal, and the stool is by Pierre Jeanneret.
A sectional from Dmitriy & Co is covered in a Holland & Sherry fabric in the den. The coffee table is from BDDW, and the rug is from Carini Lang.
The ceiling fixture is by Matthew Fairbank, and the rug is by Marc Phillips Decorative Rugs.
In the primary bedroom, a chair from StudioTwentySeven is paired with a desk from The Future Perfect.
In the primary bath, pendants from Coil & Drift hang above a countertop and sink from ABC Stone.
The terrace, with landscape design by RKLA Studio, offers sweeping views of Manhattan.
A sofa from Kettal and chairs from RH surround a fire pit from RKLA Studio.
With the experience and savvy to pull off such a tall order, Liss, along with his in-house interior architect Katherine Eckert, melded the two units with seamless finesse. The process, though, was hardly without challenges. Combining two units in any building comes with certain hurdles to overcome, such as removing a kitchen and merging layouts and materials. But this 5,700-square-foot dwelling—complete with wraparound terraces and a roof deck—sits atop an Art Deco structure originally built in 1927 and recently converted to condos, so the spaces came with inherent quirks that had to be worked around to suit the family’s style of living. “The different pitches of the roof lines offered a lot of architectural interest, but they also presented challenges for new interior elements, such as window treatments and chandeliers,” explains Eckert. Other dilemmas included moving a riser to accommodate a large island in the new kitchen, transforming a utilitarian stairwell into an artful circulation zone, and revamping ceiling lights to address the demands of reconfigured rooms.
After gutting the two units and resolving structural issues, the designers pulled the two sides together with new floors and oak millwork to unify the home with a sense of warmth and intimacy. “The trick in a large home is to create interest and visual movement but keep it cohesive,” says Liss. “It’s a fine needle to thread, and we used oak to link the rooms but finished it with varying degrees of richness—from the bleached oak in the kitchen to the richest finish in the den—to change the mood from room to room.” Richly textured rugs, wall coverings, and natural fabrics in a range of neutral tones serve a similar purpose.
While a thoughtful mix of contemporary furnishings ground the home with sophisticated comfort, several significant vintage pieces, such as a rare 1960s ceiling fixture by Studio BBPR for Arteluce and a quartet of Marco Zanuso lounge chairs in the living area, add cheer with lively pops of energy. “Our design approach is cohesive, curated, and buttoned up, but there’s always a level of lightness,” says Liss. “There’s no home we design without little notes that make you smile.” In this home, such bright notes can be found around most every corner.
