Psst: We Just Renovated One of New York’s Most Exclusive Rooms

This article, part of the 35th annual "Best of New York" series, focuses on essential services and products for home maintenance and personal assistance in New York City. It highlights a range of businesses that cater to diverse needs, from interior design enhancements to practical domestic help and personal finance management. The selections aim to address common urban challenges, offering solutions that combine quality service with local convenience. Among the featured services is H&A Upholstery, a Brooklyn Heights-based family business renowned for its museum-quality upholstery work. They specialize in restoring antique and designer furniture, including pieces for institutions like the Met and the Brooklyn Museum, as well as personal items ranging from dining chairs to three-seat sofas. The article notes their expertise in handling both intricate antique horsehair pieces and modern thrift-store finds, offering services starting at $120 for a dining chair and $2,500 for a three-seat camelback sofa, with clients providing their own fabric. Merenda Wallpaper, a Queens-based studio, is presented as a go-to for sticker wallpaper application. Owner Sarah Merenda, who learned wallpaper installation from her uncle, has mastered the application of peel-and-stick varieties, addressing the growing popularity of this non-permanent and often more affordable option. She primes walls for better adhesion and charges a standard rate of $5 per square foot for both traditional and sticker wallpaper, ensuring replacements if the product is defective. Her clientele includes both residential renters and high-profile artists. For eco-conscious cleaning, NYC Steam Cleaning offers services for sofas and upholstery, prioritizing allergen- and carcinogen-free products. Owner Reuven Noiman and his team are recognized for their expertise in cleaning delicate fabrics like velvet and Haitian cotton, staying current with cleaning techniques through regular seminars. They offer 24-hour service for urgent cleaning needs, with a three-seat couch cleaning starting at $190. Baby Bodyguards provides discrete babyproofing services for discerning clients, including celebrities like Jay-Z and Beyoncé. Founders Courtney and Fred Ilarraza specialize in childproofing solutions that blend seamlessly with home décor, using gear that locks from the inside or retracts. They conduct consultations, securing furniture, locking cabinets, and installing custom safety barriers like polycarbonate panels for stair rails. Services begin at $350 for a single floor and $700 for a duplex, also advising on child-friendly home purchases. Brooklyn Lutherie, co-founded by Chloe Swantner and Mamie Minch, offers stringed-instrument repair and custom building. As one of the few women-run operations in the field, they provide a range of services from instrument setups (adjusting string height for playability, around $85) to fracture repairs ($50-$200) and complete restorations, recognized for their craftsmanship and reasonable pricing. They also host the Changeling Concert Series for local musicians. Christopher Satch, a former head of plant science and education at The Sill, serves as a "plant whisperer" for New Yorkers. He offers houseplant consultations, assessing clients' visions and apartment light conditions to recommend suitable plants, from potted geraniums for sun-drenched rooms to monsteras for dimly lit spaces with artificial lighting. He also diagnoses plant ailments via email, with rates starting at $100 per half-hour, plus plant and pot costs. Locals Surf School in the Rockaways provides a unique storage solution for surfboards, combined with a café and showers. Located in a luxury condo complex, it offers temperature- and humidity-controlled vertical lockers for up to seven boards, addressing the logistical challenges of transporting and storing surf gear in the city. Monthly storage rates start at $150, with annual options at $1,380, and electronic key-fob access for members. Financial planning services are offered by Pamela Capalad's Brunch & Budget. Capalad, a credited CFP, transitioned from wealth management to provide personalized financial guidance, initially over brunch meetings. Her full-time service offers income-based rates starting at $199 per month, including email correspondence and assistance with cash flow, debt repayment, credit assessment, and estate planning. She helps clients achieve goals such as homeownership, merging finances with a partner, or transitioning to freelance work. Finally, Wall 2 Wall NY specializes in temporary wall installations for apartments. They offer diverse room dividers, including seamless French doors, sliding walls, and freestanding bookcases, with options for frosted glass and sound insulation. Their services are noted for being more affordable than competitors, with a standard white wall with a door and lock costing $975 in Manhattan. Removal is free for the first two years and costs around $350 thereafter. #BestOfNewYork2019 #HomeServices #Upholstery #WallpaperInstallation #GreenCleaning #Babyproofing #InstrumentRepair #PlantConsultation #SurfboardStorage #FinancialPlanning #TemporaryWalls #NewYorkCity

Installing whimsical furniture accents like swings, hanging chairs, or hammocks, or practical items like pull-up bars, in a New York City apartment presents unique challenges and considerations, primarily due to building regulations and structural integrity. Before proceeding with any installation, it is crucial to obtain permission from the landlord, co-op board, or management company, as many buildings in NYC have strict rules against anchoring items into concrete ceilings or walls due to safety concerns and potential structural impact. While brownstones and houses may offer more flexibility, apartment buildings, particularly those with concrete construction, are often more restrictive. Expert opinions from professionals such as Jeffrey Streich of Prime Renovations NYC and Walter Marin of Marin Architects highlight the difficulties associated with such installations in NYC. They emphasize that while some installations are feasible in brownstones with higher ceilings and different construction materials, concrete buildings pose significant obstacles. Streich notes that most buildings prohibit anchoring into concrete, and Marin points out the distinction between 'live load' (dynamic movement like a swing) and 'dead load' (static weight like a hammock), both of which require different structural support considerations and entail safety issues. Dan DiClerico, Home Expert & Smart Home Strategist at HomeAdvisor, advises that approval is generally required when the installation involves the building’s structure, including ceiling joists and wall studs. If permission is granted and one proceeds with a swing or hammock installation, careful planning is necessary. The chosen location must provide ample space for movement – several feet in front and back, and about a foot on either side. DiClerico also warns against DIY attempts without proper knowledge, as improper anchoring can lead to structural damage or serious injury. For those unsure of their capabilities, hiring a professional handyman, costing between $150 and $200, is recommended. For swings, Streich describes a method involving mounting wood cladding to the concrete ceiling, securing the swing mounts with concrete nails, and finishing with a layer of sheetrock, similar to hanging a heavy chandelier or cabinets. For hammocks, a similar process is applied to walls. DiClerico outlines a DIY process for hanging hammocks or swings: first, locate a ceiling joist, ideally two-by-eight inches, using a stud finder. Mark the joist edges and install mounting hardware, such as six-inch eye hooks, in the center of the joist. Attach S-hooks to the eye hooks and then loop the chain or rope of the hammock or swing. Pull-up bars are generally simpler to install, typically positioned inside a doorway. DiClerico recommends ensuring the bar is securely anchored to the two-by-two-inch framing studs behind the door jamb using the provided hardware. For wall and door bar installations, standard two-by-four-inch wall studs are usually sufficient. For individuals seeking the aesthetic or functional benefits of suspended seating or exercise equipment without the hassle of structural modifications or seeking approval, frame-supported hanging chairs or hammocks are an alternative. These options require more floor space but bypass the need for ceiling or wall anchors. Similarly, many pull-up bars on the market do not require drilling, offering a less intrusive solution. Ultimately, the feasibility and method of installation depend heavily on the type of building, its structural components, and the regulations set by management or ownership. #NYCRealEstate #ApartmentLiving #HomeImprovement #DIYHome #InteriorDesign #RenovationPermits #BuildingRegulations #SafetyFirst

The article details the transformation of a 2,200-square-foot condominium in Chelsea, Manhattan, into a flexible and aesthetically cohesive living space, orchestrated by Lee Mindel and Peter Shelton of Shelton, Mindel & Associates. The client, a Minneapolis-based CEO of an international investment firm, sought a minimalist yet sophisticated pied-à-terre that could accommodate both his solitary living and visits from his two young sons. The apartment, originally a three-bedroom unit in a converted early 20th-century office building, presented several design challenges, including an intrusive architectural layout with aggressive walls and a lack of flow, failing to capitalize on its significant views of the Hudson and East rivers and the lower Manhattan skyline. Shelton and Mindel's approach focused on "undoing" architectural elements to create an expansive, unified space. They began by removing a wall between the living room and an adjacent narrow bedroom, allowing for a seamless flow between the living/dining area and the open-plan kitchen. To further enhance simplicity and openness, a uniform ceiling height was implemented, and closet doors were redesigned to appear more loft-like. Sliding wood panels were installed between the master bedroom and the guest room/children's room to provide flexibility. Radiator cabinets were integrated into the design under the windows, and large-scale custom rugs, along with raw-silk draperies, were used to define and refine the room's dimensions, giving it a sharp, clean finish. A key aspect of the design philosophy was to anchor the rooms with robust modernist furniture, selected for its quality and ability to impart a sense of order, structure, and strength without overwhelming the space. The furniture, sourced from various European countries and the United States, includes distinctive pieces such as a 1920s Fritz Henningsen leather armchair, a 1940s Fontana Arte coatrack, a 1950s Jean Prouvé console, and a 1950s Carlo Scarpa sconce in the entrance hall. The living room features a 1950s Poul Kjaerholm daybed, Børge Mogensen leather-and-birch chairs, and a Kjaerholm sofa upholstered in French postal cloth, alongside contemporary pieces designed by Shelton and Mindel. Art plays a significant role, with works like Richard Prince's cowboy photograph and Matthew Barney's 'Cremaster 3: Plumb Line' integrated into the living space. The dining area is furnished with a 1950s Prouvé Granito dining table and Børge Mogensen wicker dining chairs, illuminated by a 1970s Verner Panton acrylic sphere. The guest room/children's room features 1940s Prouvé compass desks and a trundle bed designed by the architects. The master bedroom includes a 1940s Jacques Adnet armchair, a 1950s Charlotte Perriand bedside table, and a custom headboard of natural hemp and black horsehair, complemented by a 1940s Josef Frank armoire and Richard Prince's photographic triptych. The design aimed to create a tranquil yet dynamic environment, where the volume, light, and carefully curated furnishings coalesce to give the condominium a strong sense of place, a rarity in condo conversions, achieving a harmonious balance that was met with universal approval. #InteriorDesign #ModernistFurniture #ManhattanApartment #ArchitecturalRenovation #SheltonMindelAssociates #LuxuryLiving #ContemporaryArt #SpacePlanning #CustomDesign

The Park Hyatt New York is the flagship hotel of the Park Hyatt brand, occupying the first 25 floors of a 90-story skyscraper in midtown Manhattan. This new building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Christian de Portzamparc, and the hotel's interiors were crafted by Yabu Pushelberg. The staff uniforms for women were designed by Narciso Rodriguez, while men's outfits consist of custom suits from Barneys. The hotel is strategically located across from the Russian Tea Room, in close proximity to Carnegie Hall, and a short distance from Central Park. The property is characterized by its emphasis on luxury and refinement, featuring high-calibre art from artists such as Sigmar Polke, Rob Fischer, and Richard Serra. The hotel's design incorporates geometric patterns extensively, visible on rugs, duvet covers, and faceted room screens, even extending to etched shower and toilet cabinet glass doors. The rooms boast comfortable beds and well-appointed marble bathrooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer diverse views, including 57th Street, Carnegie Hall, midtown panoramas, or long vistas into Central Park. A notable feature is the ability to open windows, even on higher floors, providing a sense of liberation. Bathrooms are stocked with exclusive Le Labo toiletries, specifically designed for Park Hyatt New York. Living areas include unique elements such as an upright leather trunk that functions as both a decorative piece and a safe. The personal bar is stocked with a selection of unconventional and high-end items, including truffle-infused crisps from Spain, Krug champagne, and licorice and fennel gum. The hotel features an American grill restaurant called The Back Room at One57, which offers a menu of impeccably presented dishes, with steak, rib-eyes, and Maine lobster being prominent choices. The quality of all food and beverages, including wines and coffee, is consistently high. However, the restaurant's atmosphere is described as somewhat subdued due to its dark decor, which includes dark drapery, dark-brown tables, black-leather banquettes, and dark wood panelling, combined with a lack of natural light and generic background music. This design aesthetic is noted as detracting from what is otherwise a high-quality culinary experience. In contrast, The Living Room, another of the hotel's spaces, is described as livelier. It features glinting, faceted screens that create intimate nooks and niches within the bar area. The bar's design is enhanced by its clear views of Carnegie Hall, which are visible through its windows, contributing to its cultural ambiance. #LuxuryHotel #NewYorkCity #HotelDesign #Manhattan #InteriorDesign #Hospitality #ChristianDePortzamparc #YabuPushelberg #NarcisoRodriguez