CASE STUDY

17th Street, New York City

CASE STUDY

17th Street, New York City

This Manhattan apartment has been home to the same owner for more than fifteen years, and the subject of an ongoing collaboration with Donald Cantillo Architect.

The first phase was a complete renovation, combining two townhouse apartments into one. The second phase, completed in 2024, developed the interior further, with colour, material and architectural detailing brought more strongly into the scheme.

Colour, Material and Control

Warm rose walls, deep navy joinery, brass details, botanical prints, vintage lighting, custom rugs and bespoke architectural features, including gilt pilasters and antique mirrored panels, give the apartment its distinctive character. The scheme is highly layered, but carefully controlled. Each finish has a role within the wider composition.

In the principal bedroom, Donald Cantillo Architect installed a full-width antique églomisé screen behind the bed. Its scale and surface treatment made it the defining feature of the room. The bed therefore had to be more than a fitted piece. It needed to hold its own against the screen, sit correctly within the available dimensions, and support the architecture of the room.

Refining the Specification

Fleming Howland was commissioned to make the bed. Over several months, Don Cantillo worked directly with our workshop to refine the final specification: Antiqued Red leather, tight vertical fluting, antique chrome studding and natural dark oak. The overall length was held to a strict 88 inches, making proportion and execution especially important. The fluting gives the bed structure, the leather brings depth of colour, and the studding defines the edge without overwhelming the piece.

Refining the Specification

This was a bespoke commission developed around the room, not a standard design placed into it. The final piece reflects the value of direct collaboration between architect and workshop, where proportion, finish and function are resolved together.