Upper West Side Landmark

Inside this historic beaux arts structure, built in 1908 on the Upper West Side, Lee joined two units into one cohesive five-bedroom, four-bath, 3,500 sq ft space

inspired by the original library. The homeowners, a family with two young children who have previously worked with Lee on their country house, purchased their neighbor's apartment intending to merge it with their existing space to create one single home. Lee aimed to reconfigure a thoughtful layout that would enhance the flow of the space while honoring the building's pre-war roots and incorporating the inherited architectural details seamlessly into the new floorplan. Lee removed multiple walls and a shared hallway to connect the two apartments. The generously sized kitchen, a fusion of two distinct layouts belonging to the respective homes, now features two separate "wings" with individual functionalities and utilities. Adorned with floor-to-ceiling subway tiles reminiscent of old New York's gilded age kitchens, the space is connected by a beverage station at its heart, embellished

with woodland-themed toile wallpaper from British designer Sian Zeng.

Lee drew inspiration from one of the apartments' original libraries, which featured wood carving details and intricate embellishments. In the library, Lee created a semicircular banquette in plush cerulean velvet, following the curve of the bay window and transforming the space into a

sun-soaked breakfast nook. Every original architectural detail was carefully preserved and repurposed. These elements set the tone of the dwelling while connecting the design to the beaux arts roots of the building. The design palette, inspired by the pre-existing pale sage, olive-hued tiles, and wall moldings, is accentuated by the theatrical views of the Hudson River. Steeped in the

rich history of New York, Lee's focus was not just a renovation; it was a transformative journey, where she reshaped the rich history of this New York home with a new narrative.