6 min readStrolling down the avenues on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, architecture and design lovers are liable to lapse into a reverie, gazing up at the buildings and the jewel box residences that comprise them, towering just overhead. In the case of this late-1920s apartment project by designer Alexander D. Wilson, it would take a full-on renovation to achieve their daydream-worthy vision for a young family of four.
The brief was to refresh the space for modern living while maintaining the classic feel of a prewar apartment—and in true NYC fashion, time was of the essence. “The clients had to be moved out of their previous apartment by a specific date, so we were truly working against the clock,” says Wilson. “Plus, there were a few design hurdles along the way.”
Limited square footage was a persistent bugbear that required inventive solutions. The design team contended with finding the right dining set for a compact entertaining area, a primary bedroom with no closet space, and a “frighteningly” small service elevator that made furniture deliveries harrowing.
“If I recall correctly, more than one of our sofas was broken on site and reassembled by The Sofa Doctor,” Wilson muses, referring to a local furniture-cutting service.
Thankfully, once the seating was rejoined, the layout reconfigured, and the decades-old paint stripped (revealing layers of original wallpaper underneath), the soul of the home began to shine through. Now clad in beautiful new wallcoverings, soothing colors, and striking yet inviting silhouettes, the space is a modern, family-friendly homage to classic design.
“Achieving the clients’ directive of updating an Upper East Side, prewar apartment to be fresh and colorful while maintaining the historic integrity of the building is a true accomplishment,” says Wilson.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Alexander D. Wilson
Location: Manhattan, New York
The Space: A three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom apartment.
GALLERY HALLWAY
An airy transitional space designed to be lingered in, not rushed through.
The gallery functions as a transitional passage between this family home’s private and social spheres, though the verdant, multitextural design details integrated throughout invite occupants to casually linger and look around, rather than breeze through.
“The scenic wallcovering from Iksel brings the outdoors into the apartment, which is crucial during New York’s long winter months,” says Wilson. Adding to the atmosphere is the long window bench, which cleverly hides the radiator and AC in its base.
DINING ROOM
In this former library, old-world details meet modern form.
Previously the home’s library, the dining room is a master class in contrast. Traditional, modern, and contemporary motifs commingle around the table, outfitted with mid-century-inspired chairs. Twin built-ins, lined with Indian Kalamkari-style fabric, retain the literary atmosphere of the room’s previous purpose. “Despite this space being designed as a dining room, we kept the bookcases as they are original to the apartment and provided architectural interest,” notes Wilson.
LIVING ROOM
There’s plenty of room for everyone in this soft pastel social space.
No matter what social occasion the family is hosting, the living room provides ample options for accommodating them. “I find that the most successful and most used rooms are those that have multiple seating groups, which we achieved by creating distinct zones,” says Wilson, who attests that the room can comfortably host anywhere from four to 15 people at once.
Once again proving that opposites attract, the soft lavender wallcovering and traditional curtain fabric find a bit of edge, thanks to the large-scale geometric area rug and the convex mirror gleaming over the fireplace mantel.
FAMILY ROOM
A dynamic gathering area with a window to a more intimate nook.
The family’s main living area is located right off the kitchen, offering plenty of space for a group to circle the TV. Further back, a sunny alcove houses a small dining nook for a more intimate vibe.
“The wood-grain wallpaper is one of my favorites, because it lends a subtle texture and pattern to a space and makes room for bolder colors and patterns,” Wilson notes. “If you look closely, you’ll notice that we switched the direction of the graining in the nook for more visual interest.”
KITCHEN
Vibrant blue flooring gives this classic galley kitchen a design-forward edge.
This galley-style kitchen is a standard layout for NYC apartments, although Wilson says they were lucky to “inherit” a sizable space and a footprint that already worked. Unfortunately, the engineered hardwood flooring that came with the place had to go—they landed on marmoleum as the perfect update.
“Marmoleum is a thin material made out of linoleum, but with a marbled design in a plethora of fun colors,” Wilson explained. “This allowed us to keep the timeline and budget on track, while incorporating a fun element into the space.”
Finding subtle ways to maximize square footage and natural light without too many major alterations was another priority. For this, the designers worked with architect Nicholas Deramo of Studio NDA on all-new, classic white cabinetry that sections the space into three distinct zones: a main kitchen, a breakfast nook, and a wet bar.
Of the latter zone, Wilson says, “We used the same color paint on the cabinetry throughout the kitchen as a way to unify the spaces, but the bright green lava stone countertop makes the wet bar feel unique from the rest of the kitchen.” The mirrored backsplash also pulls natural light into an otherwise shadowy corner.
BREAKFAST NOOK
Mornings start in this casual corner, outfitted in worry-proof material.
For everyday breakfasts and quick coffees, this nook’s corner banquette pulls its weight and then some. The team vinylized the zig-zag Soane upholstery to ensure total peace of mind in case of a stray spill, and there’s even hidden functionality just within arm’s reach. “Studio NDA incorporated drawers in the frame of the banquette to allow for additional storage, which is always needed in New York City,” says Wilson.
POWDER ROOM
Rich tones and metallics make this half-bath a total gem.
This powder room is a lesson in puzzle-piecing a space so that it functions and flows exactly how you want. It was carved out of the dining room and scaled down from its original full-bath size, making it more sensible for the entertaining-centric wing of the home. Wilson notes that the peacock-blue wallcovering and polished, unlacquered brass hardware add a “jewel box” atmosphere to this petite W.C.
GIRL’S ROOM
Hints of chartreuse make this all-pink bedroom feminine but not childish.
For the clients’ “girly girl” daughter, a pink bedroom was a must-have, so the design team looked for ways to temper the sweet motif with a bit of zest.
“We used a citrus motif printed fabric from Galbraith + Paul with different shades of pink, chartreuse green, and orange,” Wilson says. The springy green shows up in the upholstered headboard, lampshade, and throw pillows. “It prevented the room from being one-note,” Wilson adds.
BOY’S ROOM
With its considered design choices, this sleep space is designed to grow alongside its occupant.
The entertaining-friendly ethos in this home extends to both kids’ areas; while the daughter’s room boasts two twin beds, the trundle bed in the son’s sleep space can easily pull out to host a friend for an overnight jam sesh. The room’s aesthetic needed only to provide a calming backdrop to his creative endeavors.
“We did not want the space to feel overly decorated,” notes Wilson. The linen wallcovering and navy trim allow for plenty of design flexibility and freedom as the boy grows up and his style continues to evolve.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Soft, serene hues balance the bustling cityscape views.
With its warm morning light and dynamic views over Park Avenue, this primary bedroom didn’t need a heavy hand to bring out its best qualities—just a central stylistic detail.
“The ‘Tree of Life’ wallcovering was our starting point and became the backdrop for all of the other elements,” explains Wilson. Soft blues and creamy whites pervade, extending to the custom closets and millwork, which were also designed by Studio NDA.
About the Designer
Alexander D. Wilson is a boutique interior design and decoration firm based in New York City. Since beginning his work in design a decade ago, Alex has specialized in sophisticated and comfortable spaces that are characterized by an adept use of color, pattern, and references to the past. Each interior project is infused with a keen attention to modern sensibilities. Originally from North Carolina, Alex studied Historic Preservation & Community Planning at the College of Charleston in South Carolina and completed graduate programs at Parsons School of Design and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts’ Summer Institute.
