Clive Lonstein has articulated the interiors of a prestigious Manhattan apartment into a singular work of art to exhibit his client’s priceless collection.
Resident to one of Manhattan’s most prestigious addresses, Clive Lonstein’s latest project is set in an Art Deco building with views overlooking Central Park. Hailed as one of the five top-tiered buildings on Central Park West by the New York magazine, it has been home to many notable celebrities.
The clients, who are avid collectors, “wanted a space that showcased the art and made use of interesting, unexpected materials,” Lonstein explains. Designed as a gallery, the entrance to the residence greets you with vibrant contemporary artworks above the ebony marble floor, a prelude to further expositions yet to be explored.
The kitchen is dressed in Calacatta Viola marble, with Gaggenau appliances and woven leather chairs by Mark Albrecht Studio.
A vintage Italian Amethyst chandelier is suspended over an Oscar Niemeyer black metal dining table and paired with white leather Cassina Cab armchairs by Mario Bellini.
The art is not just on the walls; rather, all the elements within the rooms engage in the conversation. Vintage mid-century furnishings speak in the same artistic dialogue as sculptural pieces throughout the apartment. “We wanted to create a space that was modern but timeless, an environment that didn’t feel captive to any one time period but still peppered with contemporary moments of intrigue,” Lonstein reflects. Dramatic tensions are worked through, as dark stained panelled walls in the dining room enhance the artistic code of the space, accentuating pieces such as the vintage amethyst chandelier and the Cassina Cab leather dining chairs.
Art on display includes works by Odessa Straub, Judy Ledgerwood, Sarah Cain, Tammy Nguyen, Susan Mieselas and Scott Alario.
Lonstein says that “materiality remained top of mind throughout the entire project. We wanted to bring a modern twist to the space that still honoured the historical nature of the pre-war building, so we experimented with mixing traditional materials like plaster and marble with more vibrant and contemporary graphic stones to create an interesting juxtaposition.” Hues of various marble stones have been used to dress the spaces. In the living room, French lavender stone drapes the fireplace, accentuating the photographic work by Nona Faustine that hangs above—bringing focus to the hazy colour waves. In the kitchen and ensuite, the use of stone is intensified with intricately veined violet marble. The absence of competing elements further permits the stones to perform singularly as an abstract work of art.
The master bedroom is annexed by a soft palette of neutrals, displaying restraint. While art is still present within the space, it is at a reduced scale, as a sense of quietness presides through the selection of fixtures and finishes.
Upper West Side Apartment expresses how Clive Lonstein has cohesively exercised his curatorial skills to exhibit his client’s art collection through the interiors of this apartment while also making it collectively into a singular work of art.
The living room features vintage sheepskin chairs and a sofa by Viggo Boesen, a custom sofa by Anthony Lawrence Belfair, a Silas Seandel Geometric Bronze and Stainless Steel coffee table, and a wooden desk by Tove and Edvard Kindt-Larsen. The space also features artwork by Jackie Soccoccio, Brian Rochefort and Judy Pfaff.
In the family room, the Gianfranco Frattini round coffee table is surrounded by a pair of Pierre Paulin Groovy chairs and a Charles Pfister Standard sofa.
The gallery features a bench by Martin Martin Massé, with artworks by Barbara Kasten, Caitlin Keough, Catherine Opie, and Beverley Semmes.
‘Mylar Series #2’ (1970) by Miriam Schapiro.
The ensuite is clad in New York marble stone. It features the KORI sconce by Holly Hunt, plumbing fixtures by NANZ, and a bathtub by Devon and Devon. The artwork on the wall is ‘Rope Chain’ (2015) by Nicole Cherubini.
