Plenty of interior designers set out to create contemporary spaces in historic homes, but few get to work within walls erected by legendary architects. New York City–based Christie Ward and Staver Gray, principal designers of Ward + Gray (which also has studios in London and Miami), got the rare opportunity when they were tasked with the gut renovation and complete redesign of a 3,000-square-foot downtown residence that was designed in 1888 by William Tuthill. The Gilded Age mastermind is most famous for Carnegie Hall, the Renaissance Revival–style theater in midtown Manhattan, but he also designed residences up and down the East Coast, including the three-story townhouse that Ward and Gray would work with Shadow Architect to restore.
“A lot of the original charm of the home had been removed over the years, so we wanted to add back in as many details as possible to bring it back to what it potentially once was when it was built in the late 19th century,” Ward says. “The house didn’t have any paneling details or millwork features, so we sought to incorporate more of those traditional elements to relate to the year it was built, while still including all of the contemporary features someone would want in a home today.”
So, when the design duo started brainstorming their expert transformation of such a storied space, they turned to a reliable source of inspiration: The City Residence: Its Design And Construction, penned by Tuthill in 1890. Explains Ward: “We pulled the living room paneling inspiration from a home he had designed in the early 1900s. In the den, the shelving inspiration came from a pharmacy Tuthill designed in the late 1800s. What he had originally designed as medicine canisters, we reimagined to fit the homeowner’s book collection.”
They did deviate from a classic Victorian path at some points, though—namely in the kitchen, which hadn’t been renovated since the 1960s. “It was really in need of some freshening up,” Gray notes. “We designed the layout by imagining how the couple would use the space,” she adds. “In the morning, when the light comes through the front windows, we designed a window seat for the breakfast nook there. And in the back, where you’d want a more intimate and moody space, we put the dining room, which does not get as much light as the front of the home due to the way it’s positioned.”
The team also took a more contemporary approach on the third floor, which they designed to feel like a hotel suite. After all, the firm’s projects include some of the country’s most stunning hotels, including Wildflower Farms in upstate New York, 1 Hotel’s beach club in Miami, and the Sanderling Hotel in North Carolina, among others. “We wanted the upper floor to be entirely self-sufficient for the couple—not wanting to trouble them to have to go anywhere else first thing in the morning,” Gray says. “The primary suite is equipped with a coffee station in a corridor that runs through the primary bedroom to the bathroom, with a very private reading nook nearby.”
Though many of the spaces (including the entire parlor level, which comprises the living room and library) reference the glamour of the Gilded Age, Ward and Gray infused them with a modern touch, blending old and new seamlessly. “The idea with the design of this house was to keep the bones as traditional and true to Tuthill as possible but have a bit of fun with the furniture and lighting throughout,” Ward says.
Living Room
“The main parlor living room has the original crown molding and a new wainscot around the perimeter, based on Tuthill’s pattern designs,” Shadow Architect’s Larry Cohn explains. Sofa: custom, in Larsen fabric. Vase (on coffee table): vintage. Antique mirror: 1stdibs. Pillows: Jasper.
Den
“We designed the shelving details alongside three-quarter-high reeded wood paneling to create a more unexpected paneled room design. We had many early ideas of this space—imaging first a more traditional library feel,” Ward says. “However, we wanted to find a way to make the space unexpected and unique, which lead us to a more midcentury reeded wood detail.” Window treatments: custom, in Fermoie fabric. Swivel chairs: custom, in Watts of Westminster fabric. Coffee table: vintage. Rug: Ward + Gray.
Table lamp: custom, Ward + Gray. Sofa: custom, in Pindler corduroy velvet.
Kitchen
“The kitchen was definitely a gut job. It was outdated and closed in on both ends, with a large washer and dryer closet on one side and a white laminate desk area in front of the windows. The former desk area is now the built-in banquette and breakfast nook (with original shutters saved and reinstalled),” Cohn explains. Range: Lacanche. Cabinet paint: Drop Cloth by Farrow & Ball. Island marble top: Calacatta Gold by ABC Stone. Cabinet knobs and pulls: Devol.
“We wanted to find a contrast to the beige kitchen cabinetry we designed, so we felt black would be the right choice to truly pop against them,” Gray adds. Pendant: Urban Electric Co.
Breakfast Nook
“This banquette draws you in and makes the kitchen the ideal place to spend your morning.” Pendant: vintage. Painting: Sleep and Comets by Mike Perry. Table: Matthew Cox. Back cushions: custom, in Guy Goodfellow fabric.
Primary Bedroom
Drapery: custom, in Tillett linen. Chairs: custom, in Schumacher fabric. Bench: vintage. Marble mantle: custom.
“The existing primary bedroom was quite choppy, without a nice flow from the bathroom to the bedroom. We thought it best to create a space that you could easily move through and intuitively use. We modified the layout to create a corridor that runs from the bedroom to the bathroom, with a powder room just off the bedroom and closets that flank the bathroom.” Chairs: custom, in JB Martin mohair. Rug: antique. Sconce: Urban Electric Co.
Primary Bathroom
“While we were working on the project, the couple got engaged in Rome, so we wanted to find a way to make a subtle nod to that story. We designed this marble patterned floor tile that was inspired by a floor we once saw in a Roman church,” Ward says. Mirrors, linen cupboard, sconces, and vanity: custom.
Guest Bedroom
Bed: custom, in Pierre Frey fabric. Bench: custom, in George Spencer Designs fabric. Bench pillow: custom, in Clarence House velvet. Bed throw pillow: custom, in George Spencer Designs fabric with Samuel & Sons fringe. Art: clients’ own. Nightstands: Chelsea Textiles.
Guest Bathroom
“We custom designed this vanity to mimic the scalloped design we did in the shower by the plumbing fixtures,” Gray says. “The vanity legs are teak and polished nickel.” Medicine cabinet: RH. Plumbing fixtures: Waterworks.
Q&A
House Beautiful: What was the problem you were brought in to fix in the kitchen?
Ward + Gray: The kitchen is quite narrow, so we worked to find ways to make it feel more open without changing the footprint. The first thing we felt could be improved was the use of materials in the space. The existing kitchen had dark-stained wood cabinetry throughout, which only made the space feel darker and oppressive. We felt that going with a lighter, brighter cabinet choice would help bounce light off the windows into the room. Additionally, we knew we wanted to create a space for the couple to have breakfast or their morning coffee that wasn’t the formal dining room. Differentiating the two spaces was important for us to create more life in the kitchen and make it the heart of the home. The breakfast nook we added to the space draws you into the room and makes it the ideal place to spend your morning.
HB: Any creative uses of space?
W+G: We found a beautiful antique cabinet for the den at an auction and had it retrofitted into a bar. When you open the cabinet, there’s a great surprise: an antique mirror and an onyx stone countertop. It’s equipped with a sink, glassware, liquor bottles, and anything you may need to create a cocktail right from the den.
HB: How did you save money/DIY/get crafty?
W+G: We wanted to use quality materials throughout the home’s bones, honoring the finishes and the craftsmen behind them. However, we did try to save a bit when it came to the furniture and lighting. We were clever about sourcing antiques, looking on auction websites or in-person to find quality pieces that were not overpriced. We were specific about what we were looking for and put alerts on auctions so that when the time came to bid, we would be ready. We custom designed a lot of the large furniture pieces—such as the sofas and beds—working with manufacturers we regularly work with on our hotel projects.
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