When a couple has two young boys, it pays to be practical—but that doesn’t mean you can’t be chic. This classic Georgian-style house in Scarsdale expertly accommodates the day-to-day needs of a young family while maintaining a sophisticated air, with every room incorporating “tactile, clean, and shapely forms,” as judge Katie Ridder remarks. Throughout the house, there are multiple places for the family to gather, as well as formal spaces for entertaining. One of the most impressive additions to the house is the new mudroom, defined by rich chocolate tones and bench seating—an inviting space that can even hold its own against the sumptuous living room. “The entire house is a wonderful interpretation of traditional design,” says judge Matthew Patrick Smyth.
Former industrial spaces can make for wonderful living quarters, but designers face considerable challenges in the conversion process. For his work on a two-bedroom condominium in the West Village’s Printing House, a former printing plant, designer Tim Campbell achieved what judge Amanda Nisbet calls a “cozy, inviting, timeless interior in an inherently awkward space, making it modern and fresh.” Given the tall ceilings, less-than-conventional layout, and window placement, Campbell chose a tranquil color palette of pale blues, creams, and grays, accented with pops of indigo and raspberry, to create a sophisticated and comfortable blend. “The colorful accents and textures are a professional, original design statement,” says judge Barbara Sallick.
The buildings along Park Avenue appear to march in step with little to distinguish them. But in this apartment, surprises abound. “This is a refreshing, open, nontraditional layout for Park Avenue, with an adventurous interpretation of modern materials and a sculptural approach to their selection,” is how judge Carl D’Aquino describes the project. Once owned by Frank Sinatra, the three-bedroom apartment had been divided into small, awkward spaces. The removal of partition walls made it instantly airy and chic. Unusual for a Park Avenue abode, rooms are now defined by sliding translucent-resin panels, and the kitchen is open to the dining and living areas.
