Before and After: A Sleek and Sexy Midtown Apartment
MAT SANDERS / DECEMBER 14, 2015
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM MACCHIA
For their latest renovation, Dan Mazzarini and Brian Humphrey of New York–based interior design firm BHDM found inspiration in a unique place: how their client dressed. The homeowner—a lawyer—had a distinct personal style that was polished and put-together whether in a suit and tie by day or in a more casual look by night. The result? A space that, in Mazzarini’s words, is “manicured and masculine but approachable and livable.”
Scroll for the full before and after of this modern Manhattan home!
BEFORE
AFTER
BHDM set an edgy, modern tone with a Gotham-inspired fireplace design in the living room. “We wanted something that would update the apartment but still acknowledge the original deco origin of the building,” explains Mazzarini. Mixing new and vintage pieces gave the room a layered look that balances sharp lines in the architecture and furniture with soft texture in upholstery, rugs, and pillows. A sleek, masculine vintage TV cabinet lacquered in black added the perfect finishing touch.
BEFORE
AFTER
Given their client’s love of books, BHDM reimagined the second bedroom as a dark, sexy library with charcoal walls. To strike the perfect balance between polished and comfortable, Mazzarini and Humphrey juxtaposed custom bookshelves made of wood, bronze, and leather with plush seating and drapes.
BEFORE
AFTER
BHDM balanced bold color with grounding neutrals, giving each room its own signature pop. “Orange leather lined the bookcases in the library. A bold, red piece of art by Karen Revis marks the kitchen, while navy-blue drapery and bedding help nurture the master bedroom,” says Mazzarini. The duo then accented each room to build the color story through wall art, tabletop décor, and throws in the same hue.
BEFORE
AFTER
Throughout the apartment, BHDM approached artwork content and layout thoughtfully in order to enhance the personality of each room, including finding new homes for existing art. According to Mazzarini, “Reframing and relocating them to new homes in the renovation helped to breath new life into these pieces.”
BEFORE
AFTER
Above all, BHDM prized the homeowner’s personal style as inspiration throughout the space. “The goal for our projects is to have our designs be as unique as our clients,” remarks Mazzarini. “If there is a thread that seems to run across all our work, it seems to be a residential, livable quality.”