New York City
It was a tall order for a petite Upper East Side apartment: the clients—a business executive and an artist—needed to dine, entertain, and relax with their four sons within the duplex's 700-square-foot ground level. Furthermore, it was a first-time collaboration between architect Jeannette Menasce, who designed the entire residence, and Ana Sternberg, CEO of Bazzèo by NYLoft, a boutique cabinetry company. Despite these challenges, the two joined forces and transformed the Gracie Square maisonette kitchen into a sleek, shape-shifting space.
The island, custom-made by Bazzèo with reclaimed hardwood, is the kitchen's centerpiece. While monolithic, its cleverly concealed base and dramatically chamfered countertop create the illusion of weightlessness. Along with obscuring appliances and storage, the island hides an inventive folded wing that converts the countertop into a dining table. Sternberg and Menasce enabled the storage system to become part of the room's overall design. “We suggested using the walnut in the cabinet interiors, so when you open the doors, it forms a backdrop,” Sternberg explains. This simple method of revealing different materials alters the room's atmosphere. “The space is constantly changing,” says Menasce. “Movement, in itself, is design.”
