A Poul Henningsen floor lamp and a vintage Milo Baughman chair upholstered in a Schumacher fabric occupy a corner of the main bedroom, while a Gio Ponti mirror hangs above an antique Italian dresser nearby. The rug is by Stark. “I prefer rugs to sit four inches away from the wall because it gives the furniture more space to breath and helps open up small rooms,” explains Reid.
Before they could get to the decor, however, Reid had to tackle what he calls a “kooky floor plan”—the result of two different units having been combined years ago. “The space wasn’t being used efficiently,” says Reid. “There was a cramped galley kitchen with a dining peninsula that jutted into the main living area, so we ripped out the peninsula and replaced it with a formal dining area.” The kitchen makeover entailed swapping out the upper cabinets in favor of open shelving, painting the lowers, and installing new appliances, lighting, and sink fittings. “There’s more room to breathe now,” explains Reid. “Jon is a great cook and they like to host dinner parties, so it was important to give them a cohesive, functional space for entertaining.” In addition to a formal sitting area adjacent to the dining area, there’s a cozy den that’s used for both movie nights and casual get-togethers. “We were having trouble conceptualizing a layout that would maximize the square footage, but Alex was able to guide us,” says Pierce. “Now, the living area feels so open. When you walk through the front door, you can see directly out the southern windows to the World Trade Center. Having lived in the city for 10 years with no view, that feeling never gets old.”
Another tricky space was the pentagon-shaped guest room that doubles as an office. Because the room is petite and features an angled wall, the bed had to be placed on a diagonal and a custom desk was built around the radiator to take advantage of every last inch. (This small-yet-mighty room has more than proven its worth during the pandemic, serving not only as a home office but a landing pad for the couple’s new Peloton bike.) “Alex designed this room to be multifunctional despite it not being huge,” says Pierce. “He really thought about how to leverage each space.” Reid was so meticulous about the floor plan that he even took into account the couple’s Welsh terrier, Scout, creating special niches for her dog beds.
In a pre-war co-op apartment designed by Alexander Reid, a Phillip Jeffries grass cloth envelops the den, which features a custom sectional upholstered in a Dedar velvet, a Jon Gasca cocktail table, a vintage Milo Baughman side table, and a vintage Swan chair by Arne Jacobsen. The radiator is concealed by a custom oak credenza, the light fixture is by Apparatus, and the rug is by Stark. Sconces by David Weeks Studio hang on a gallery wall that spans different mediums, from lithographs to oil paintings to black-and-white photographs.
In a pre-war co-op apartment designed by Alexander Reid, a
Phillip Jeffries grass cloth envelops the den, which features a custom sectional upholstered in a
Dedar velvet, a Jon Gasca cocktail table, a vintage Milo Baughman side table, and a vintage Swan chair by Arne Jacobsen. The radiator is concealed by a custom oak credenza, the light fixture is by
Apparatus, and the rug is by
Stark. Sconces by
David Weeks Studio hang on a gallery wall that spans different mediums, from lithographs to oil paintings to black-and-white photographs.