1125 PARK AVENUE

Carnegie Hill, Manhattan, New York
Interior Renovation - 3,000 sq. ft.

Architect: NAVA
Interior Decoration: Penny Drue Baird of Dessins

Located within a prewar Park Avenue cooperative, this residence was reimagined to balance contemporary living with the architectural character of the building. The renovation introduced a sequence of calm, gallery-like interiors designed to showcase the owners’ collection of contemporary art while restoring a sense of elegance to the apartment’s original layout.

The design approach focused on refining spatial relationships and introducing carefully detailed architectural surfaces that serve as a quiet backdrop for art and daily life. Walls and ceilings were simplified to emphasize proportion and light, while bespoke millwork and integrated furnishings bring warmth and texture to the interiors.

The result is a residence that reconciles the tradition of a classic Park Avenue apartment with the sensibility of contemporary urban living—an interior defined by restraint, craftsmanship, and a close dialogue between architecture, art, and everyday life.

“The project is about returning this place to its traditional roots while maintaining a youthful aura.”

— David Ruff
Architectural Digest, May 2011

Throughout the apartment, architectural surfaces are designed to function as a gallery-like backdrop. The scale and placement of openings, shelving, and lighting were carefully calibrated to support the display of paintings, photographs, and sculpture.

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