A couple of empty nesters on New York City's Upper West Side had a vision to turn their 1930s prewar apartment into an entertainer’s paradise. Being renters, however, they were limited in how much they could actually change. Enter local interior designer Sarah Lederman, who was able to turn their Art Deco-style living and dining rooms into an adults-only space that's still family-friendly enough for visiting grandchildren. And all without risking losing their security deposit.
“The client’s children had moved on and now have children of their own,” says Lederman. “They wanted the apartment to feel more modern, approachable, and able to be used for holidays and entertaining.”
Lederman achieved that by creating two distinct seating areas in the living room, one plusher and more comfortable and the other a spot where guests could congregate for drinks before a dinner party.
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“The furniture groupings in the living room didn’t previously maximize the amount of seating that the room can accommodate,” explains Lederman. “And the furnishings were a bit dated and more formal than what fits the client’s lifestyle.”
For the spacious dining room—a New York rarity—Lederman sourced a set of vintage Milo Baughman dining chairs, reupholstered in a stain-treated fabric, and a dining table, which arrived just in time for Thanksgiving. She framed the view from the window with a custom polished brass curtain rod and curtain panels in fabric depicting tonal autumn leaves in shades of sepia.
Lederman further modernized the entire space by lime-washing both the entry and living room. To create a wallpaper-like moment in the entry, she then hired a decorative painter to design a custom mural with tree silhouettes that reflect the Central Park view from the apartment’s windows.
“The client wanted wallpaper in the entry but, because it flows right into the living room with no trim or separation, there was really nowhere for the paper to end,” says Lederman. This was her solution.
The lime-washed walls also added texture and created a neutral backdrop upon which to highlight the client’s art collection, which they had acquired over many years.
“When everything is fairly neutral, it’s important to play with texture and form to create visual interest,” adds Lederman.
Living Room
“We wanted to create more seating opportunities but also still leave a pathway to access the room beyond,” says Lederman. “These two arrangements are flexible in that the chairs can be moved around to create one large grouping or be kept separate.” The rug is Armadillo, the armchairs are custom by Luther Quintana Upholstery, the leather sectional is custom by Luther Quintana Upholstery, the woven chair is vintage Yngve Ekstrom from Chairish, the standing lamp is Urban Outfitters, and the bookshelf is Gestalt New York.
A few of Lederman’s favorite elements include vintage John Hutton for Donghia rattan side tables from Chairish; an RH sofa; shearling CB2 pillows; and sculptural plaster lamps with linen shades from Lucy Montgomery.
“The custom leather banquette is a truly special piece that I designed based off a mid-century Scandinavian settee I had saved in my tear sheets folder for years,” says Lederman. “The back tucks neatly beneath the chair rail, which makes it feel deliberate and bespoke.” The coffee table is a Warren Platter reproduction, and the pillows are vintage textiles.
Dining Room
When their first-choice dining table showed up damaged, twice, right before Thanksgiving, Lederman sourced a replacement from Julian Chichester just in the nick of time for the holiday. "We all agreed it was even better than the original selection, which was one of those happy accidents that happen every so often in design," the designer recalls.
Lederman blended form and function in the dining room with vintage Milo Baughman chairs from 1stDibs, a Lulu & Georgia rug, a Future Perfect ceiling light, lamps from Lostine, and a Hollywood at Home sideboard.
Entrance
“We always knew this would be the spot to showcase their Alex Katz art, and I love the way the decoratively painted trees play against the enlarged florals,” says Lederman. “In the evening, this room glows softly under the Noguchi lantern. Though the client prefers neutral and warm tones, we added bits of green accents on the center table from Anthropologie to pull out some of the secondary colors in the piece.” Petite woven leather stools by Stowed Home provide a place to take off shoes at the end of the day.
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