Inside a New York City Penthouse That’s a Work of Art Inside and Out
If the past three years have taught us anything, it’s that private outdoor space—especially in major cities—is worth its weight in gold. So when interior designer Heather Wells began work on a Greenwich Village duplex penthouse to serve as a home-away-from home for a young St. Louis family, it became clear that the home needed to be spectacular, inside and out.
Enter landscape designer Stephen Eich of Hollander Design, who worked with Wells to transform a sprawling terrace just off the living room into a lush oasis that’s pitch-perfect for family gatherings and entertaining. Eich prioritized blush, peach, and purple hues in the plantings—a departure from the typical white-and-green New York City garden look—via agastache, lavender, and autumn joy sedum blooms, among others.
That vibrant palette persists indoors. “We talked a lot about the colors of the vegetation,” Wells tells ELLE DECOR of the collaboration. “The clients can handle color, which is fantastic. So there’s a very eclectic mix of furniture in saturated colors.”
That ethos is immediately evident when one crosses the threshold from the balcony to the living room: vibrant, large-scale artworks by Rashid Johnson and Jennie C. Jones play off a goldenrod sofa, a kaleidoscopic sculpture by Julia Kunin, and two Thing stools by Konekt Studios. Not so coincidentally, the latter two artisans are based out of New York. “The theme was very much about craft,” she adds. “We wanted it to feel very crafted and textural, so you can see the hand in everything. So we focused a lot on East Coast makers.”
The penthouse also serves as a bona fide gallery for the couple’s ever-growing art collection. The dining room area, for example, pairs a serpentine chandelier by Frederik Molenschot with a neon yellow painting by Tishan Hsu. A jewel-like chandelier by Frida Fjellman, meanwhile, descends through the staircase, with a Simone Leigh sculpture at the base and a Howardena Pindell artwork on the second floor. “I think when a client has taste, it comes out in both clothing, decorating, and art,” says Wells. “They have a connection. So it was nice to be able to play with that a little bit.”
Living Room
Interior designer Heather Wells intentionally left wall space open and white in areas like the living room to create room for artworks like this piece by Jennie C. Jones (left) and Harmony Hammond (right).
Living Room
An artwork by Rashid Johnson anchors the living room’s back wall.
Dining Room
The clients’ art collection played a major role in the interiors. Here, in the dining room, a Tishan Hsu painting pairs with a chandelier by Frederik Molenschot from Carpenters Workshop Gallery.
Sun Room
A sun room just off the dining area features a pendant by Nacho Carbonell.
Outdoor Terrace
Hollander Design worked on the terrace, which overlooks the Statue of Liberty, and incorporates evergreen elements that will keep the colorful garden fresh year-round.
Kitchen
Wells worked with Amuneal, a furniture and fabrication studio based in Philadelphia, on the brass hardware for the kitchen cabinets.
Media Room
The media room pairs an Achille Salvagni from Maison Gerard chandelier with a painting by Alex Hubbard.
Office
A small office area combines moodier blue and purple hues.
Staircase
A chandelier by Frida Fjellman anchors the stairs. The artwork is by Howardena Pindell.
Primary Bedroom
The primary bedroom has its own private terrace, which is ideal for sunsets.
Primary Bedroom
A sitting area in the primary bedroom. The artwork is by Matthias Bitzer and the table by Mathieu Lehanneur.
Primary Bathroom
A painting by Becky Kolsrud adds a pop of color in the primary bathroom.
Private Terrace
The landscape design for the primary bedroom terrace focused more on privacy. Stephen Eich of Hollander Design calls it an “inward facing oasis,” and relied more on robust shrubs than perennials.
Guest Bedroom
Inside one of the secondary bedrooms, the wall art is by Elaine Cameron-Weir and the light fixture by David Weeks.
One of the biggest departures from the client’s predominantly white primary residence in St. Louis (which Wells also designed) is the media room. The purple walls and blue upholstery create a moodier vibe, though the space mainly functions as a hideout for the couple’s two daughters—albeit a plenty chic one with its chandelier by Achille Salvagni and an Alex Hubbard painting.
It’s this synergy of art, play, and the great outdoors that makes the residence the ultimate vacation home and party spot. From their lofty terrace, the homeowners can peer over New York Harbor, catch views out to the Statue of Liberty—and garnish their libations: “We have culinary herbs that are all tucked within the boxes,” explains Eich. “We always joke that it was their cocktail garden—they could go and muddle some mint or pick some basil before cocktail hour or dinner.” With a set-up this sweet, who wouldn’t be tempted to overstay their welcome?
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