A focus on life as a young couple in a chic apartment in the West Village changed to establishing a home base to welcome children into a life as a family. Some aspects may be different now, but parents with talent and taste have a lot to say about what a family home looks like – much to the delight of anyone who visits.

The Gallery is the center and organizer of this apartment plan. A bedroom wing and Dining Room to the north and another bedroom wing and Living Room to the south. A Powder Room is discreetly placed behind a gib door and devoted pet dutifully awaits children returning home near the front door.

Centered within the Gallery is library of straw marquetry. Oak colonnettes were added to organize the existing room around furniture niches, light fixture details and artwork.

The entry into the Living Room through a pair of mahogany doors…

Two steps into a double-square Living Room added height – a welcomed enhancement to the proportion of this room. Highly ornate plasterwork at the ceiling remained and new, carefully placed enrichment in a few key areas such as window jambs and the overmantel allowed a harmony to settle within the room.

Breaking from norms, the Dining Room has two tables yet maintains a strong symmetry about the center of the room. A newly acquired antique mantel sits on axis with a spectacular rock crystal chandelier – requiring a capture of space within the ceiling given its height. This “pop-up” received a ribbon of Greek key in the frieze and pearls along the edge – a nod to the enrichment of the room.

Taking a cue from an existing overdoor, additional overdoors were added in the Gallery to give a place for new AC supply grilles. Steps rise to the light filled Primary Bedroom Suite hallway.

The existing volume of most rooms was maintained but each received a level of editing back but also adding functional details which respected the estate look of the apartment. A ceiling fixture in a bathroom was mounted on a new circular grille which hid exhaust fan return air. A curved chimney-breast in the bedroom provided just enough depth to mount a flat screened television which became a mirror in rest mode.

The existing kitchen and breakfast room received a complete surface refresh with new floors, windows and cabinet retrofit. Stone sills were added to select areas for interest and durability.