The ProPerTy
A duplex apartment in a newly built block in Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), Brooklyn, New York.
On the first floor thereis a double-height living/ dining room, kitchen, utility room, WC, a study/ guest bedroom, child’s bedroom, a bathroom and a terrace. The master bedroom, en-suite bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, a WC, a recording studio and another terrace are on the mezzanine level above.
hallway
Sophisticated is the word that comes to mind when entering this New York apartment. But possibly ‘shock’ would have been more appropriate when owners Athena and Victor Calderone first moved in.
The couple bought their penthouse, located in Dumbo, Brooklyn, when it was still a twinkle in the architect’s eye. They visited in hard hats for two years as the construction progressed and found it exciting to be part of the process.
But Athena had a panic when she walked into the completed space for the first time. She thought it looked like a bad hotel lobby, with lots of metalwork, stark white paint and fluorescent lights.
After taking a breath, she decided to use her skill as an interior designer to transform the space. Her challenge was to take the ‘cold and austere’ setting and turn it into a warm, luxurious family home.
They installeda window at the top of the stairs to let light flood in, replaced the metal stair rail with a walnut panel and repainted the white walls in a moody palette of navy, grey and teal.
The family has had the vintage Sputnik light, (shown above) for 15 years. It goes with them each time they move and looks amazing whichever room theyput it in.
kitchen
The kitchen units and marble work surface were already in place when the family moved in, but Athena added the brass trim.
living/dining room
This stunning double-height space is the showpiece of the penthouse, with views over Brooklyn. Athena grounded the decorating scheme with a navy blue wall, then added rosewood furniture to reflect the rust-red exterior metalwork.
She wanted to use tactile, rich materials here, such as silk, velvet and leather – partly as a reaction to the bleakness of the space when they first moved in.
She wanted every vantage point to have an element of warmth, but stopped it looking too cosy by adding metal pieces.
Study
The study doubles up as a guest room and because it's so dark, it’s a great place for the family to watch movies.
master bedroom
After initial reservations about the property, it was the bedroom that convinced Athena to live here. She loves the way the light spills in each morning.
The walls have been kept off-white, putting the focus on the artwork. The bedis from Ikea, painted the same colour as the walls.
Bathroom
Natural slate, a petrified tree stump and botanical prints bring an organic warmth to the look.
Athena chose pieces that had history and patina to give the apartment character.
Kid's room
The couple's son is obsessed with skateboarding, so Athena wenton to a website and chose 20 boards in a pink, purple, blue and green palette to decorate the walls of his room. She calls the result ‘totalsensory overload'.
For more information about Athena's interior design work visit rawlinscalderone.com
Photography / Matthew Williams
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