Call it a diamond in the rough. When New York designer David Frazier and his fiancée, Holly Payne, studio director of architectural design firm McAlpine, first laid eyes on the Greenwich Village one-bedroom they would later call home, something clicked. “We looked for two years before we found it,” says Frazier.
The unit, part of a nearly 100-year-old building, was bursting with charm. “Architectural elements can be really hard to replicate in a rental,” explains Frazier. “All the moldings and the original parquet floor were intact, so that was a big draw.” To highlight the prewar flourishes, the couple leaned into cosmetic changes like replacing standard light fixtures and window treatments with custom pieces. “We splurged on things that would be really impactful but wouldn’t inhibit getting a security deposit back,” says Frazier. “This was a light renovation and heavy decoration.” From there, the bulk of the 900-square-foot apartment was painted white to spotlight an expansive collection of art and antiques.
In contrast, the home’s only bedroom was cocooned in an allover smoky green. “We wanted something super dark, super cozy, and just the total opposite of the rest of the apartment,” says Frazier, who chose a satin finish for the walls to bounce around the natural light and highlight the room’s original plaster. “Instead of trying to mask the imperfections, we wanted to celebrate them.”
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Living Room
With limited space in this New York City apartment, designer David Frazier divided the living room into two distinct zones: lounging and eating. Paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore. Dining table: Eero Saarinen, Knoll. Chairs: Lee Industries (slipper); vintage French (rattan); vintage Kaare Klint (safari). Pendant: Isamu Noguchi. Bookcase: Scott Antique Markets. Ram’s head: vintage, High Point Market.
Sheer curtains (in Fabricut Acreage linen) bathe the main room in soft light. Sofa: Lee Industries, Holland MacRae in Riva White fabric. Pillow fabrics: Mokum in Alpaca Velvet(gold); Zak+Fox Expedition (plaid). Chair: antique, Laurin Copen Antiques. Art (from left): Mike Rachlis, Spencer Herr. Rug: antique. Lamp: Workstead.
Bedroom
“We wanted to showcase the movement in the plaster, so we had the walls painted in a satin finish. It gives a certain depth that we wouldn’t have been able to achieve with a flat paint.” Paint: Studio Green, Farrow & Ball. Table: vintage, Loft Antiques. Drapes: Holly Hunt in Wisp Champagne fabric. Chairs: vintage.
Hallway
Rug: Brimfield Antiques Center. Chest: Scott Antique Markets. Art: Jack Sanders.
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