A refined, relaxed respite best describes designer Alex Yanke’s recent West Village project.
A place to escape city life for a moment
The directive from his client, a woman in her early 30’s, was a “restful environment ideal for entertaining and escaping from the hurried pace of New York City,” Alex shares. But the goal, too, was to incorporate her diverse decorative influences. “The design evolved to blend vintage furniture, custom upholstery and woodwork, as well as statement light fixtures to reflect the client's individuality,” shares the designer and head of San Diego-based Westbourne Studio.
A new way of working
Located in a new building designed by Tel Aviv-based Gottesman-Szmelcman Architecture, the project also posed a new arrangement for Alex. “Historically, we collaborate with architects from an early stage on new construction residences or hand-in-hand with clients on major renovations. For this apartment, we worked within the footprint and embraced the material palette existing within the space, so in some ways our process was different. The open plan and large exposures of this corner unit were architectural highlights that we aimed to celebrate.”
A melding of Belgian influences and midcentury modern style
That blank canvas informed the designer’s approach. “The architecture provided a clean slate for our design and we turned to the client in order to understand her personality and lifestyle. We were initially inspired, as always, by minimalist Belgian influences to design a space in full juxtaposition with the frenetic bustle of the city below. However, the client was also greatly inspired by contemporary art and midcentury furniture. Ultimately, the design is eclectic and features statement pieces curated to add visual interest to an otherwise neutral and calming environment.”
To that end, he sourced a variety of vintage pieces, from an Adrian Pearsall sofa and a Costela lounge chair by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler to a coffee table commissioned from Axel Vervoordt. Other pieces of note include an artisan-crafted—and Charlotte Perriand-inspired—dining table by Rob Pluhowski, and a birds-eye maple console by Jerry Nance.
The primary bedroom transformed into a supreme refuge
The hallmark of the home is a serene primary bedroom. “To transform the primary bedroom into a true refuge, we softened the walls and ceiling with a mineral plaster application in a warm white. This created the ideal tonal backdrop for a custom bed of De Le Cuona linen,” says Alex, who also installed concealed black-out shades and a sheer roman shade in luxe alpaca fabric by Sandra Jordan, to, as he puts it, “add textural contrast against the walls and establish a veil distinguishing the poise of the bedroom from the enduring energy of New York beyond.”
As tranquil as the end result is, the project itself wasn’t without some impediments. “Any time you design or furnish a high-floor apartment in New York, there are obstacles,” shares the designer. “Logistically, our 13-foot-long, custom headboard for the primary suite posed a challenge for delivery and installation, requiring upholstery on site.” That extra effort proved more than worthwhile, though. “The end result is refined but approachable and livable,” says Alex. “Our signature aesthetic celebrates rare and vintage elements as well as bespoke pieces to be collectively used and enjoyed.”
