Manhattan over old-fashioned: This New York duplex by Hines Collective is classic chic

Carrie Bradshaw may just love this apartment in New York! Why you ask? Picture her seated in the cosy breakfast nook with an eclectic view of Manhattan through a grand window in front, as she writes her column. Or sitting inside the extravagant walk-in closet with a sculptural bronze tree standing right in the centre. This is a penthouse reimagined by Hines Collective, sprawling a splendid 6,000 sq ft area.

Spanning over two floors with a staggering layout of 25 rooms, this penthouse embodies the city’s spirit with tinges of personalisation. Here, the idea of a concrete jungle meets Silk Road-inspired luxury. From the light tones of the living room to the earthy tones in the den and the oxblood crimson of the media room, the spaces unfold like the destinations along the storied Silk Route.

Postcards from Manhattan

Hines Collective emphasises the Manhattan cityscape, where every other nook of the home is stamped with floor-to-ceiling windows. Tucked on a rather soaring height, the vibrant movements of the city seem to quiet down, transforming into a postcard view.

Okay, neutrals have a certain je ne sais quoi

A palette, as light as the skyline takes over the interiors of the duplex. Each room is bathed in a nuanced shade of neutrals such as whites, browns and greys with a touch of deeper tones. Gilded hints on the classic palette are enhanced by furniture pieces, artefacts and other decorative curios by renowned names like Hervé Van Der Straeten, Achille Salvagni, Guillerme et Chambron, Pierre Paulin and Finn Juhl. 

Birds, herons and dragons!

“The Americans love to talk,” says Cecil Beaton in his iconic collection of essays titled New York. Every nook of each of the 25 rooms, personalised by Hines Collective in a span of nine months, creates a dialogue and stirs emotions, communicating the homeowner’s personality.

Seated at the dining table, the guests have ample to awe about. Not just the eclectic Manhattan streetscape, but also the bird motifs on the dining table and bronze French heron sculptures from the 1900s that would be interesting conversation starters. 

Through the interiors and decor of this apartment, they’ve painted a portrait of the homeowner’s personality. In the powder room, “We were then tasked with translating, in this case, a dragon, into the design,” says Devin Hines, founder of Hines Collective. 

Speakeasy bespoke

As the hammered gold bar lightens the mood, the dark oxblood crimson drips down from the ceiling to the walls in the “Speakeasy” media room, bringing Lady Gaga to the party and speaking to the homeowner’s personality. The personalisation doesn’t end here; it seems like for Hines Collective, the New York skyscrapers weren’t the limit. 

The love for all things couture was also taken into serious consideration, in all the bespoke elements and the primary closet. Planned as a combination of three rooms, the closet features an unplanned bronze sculptural tree—a product of a surprise building riser that was uncovered running directly through the centre of the newly combined space and the homeowner’s adventurous spirit. Due to the tight schedule, the riser couldn’t be moved. Hines Collective had about a week to pivot and completely change the design but the project was completed in time by encapsulating it within a large, bronze sculptural tree.

Speaking of purr-poseful personalisation, the outdoor performance fabrics were mixed into major upholstery pieces to accommodate the dog mom’s (the home owner’s) 70-pound puppy.

Stiletto Skies: Strutting through the Tribeca penthouse

Walking through the living area and making your way through the two-storeyed maze, leather-clad millwork, custom fabrics and wallcoverings always have your back.

The conversation of the deep tones of the living spaces quiets down to a white-noise lulling you into the comfort of the bedrooms and as you decide to start your day with a cuppa, you are engulfed by the comforting yet contemporary seating spaces. 

Sitting on the avant-garde chair in the primary closet, the sleek, simplistic space makes your outfit selection simpler. 

As the stress of work settles in, the view of the city from the office offers a serene respite. Walking to the den gives you a cooler space to work that is secluded from the buzz of the city yet blessed with its panoramic view.

As peers peer into the media room, its crimson hues remind you of your individuality. Ending your day with a cold pizza at the dining table, the birds fly your memory back to your passions. All this feels surreal, like the vibrancy of New York and like the dream of creating the dream in nine months.

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