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A Chelsea Pied-a-Terre in Jean Nouvel’s New Building

Housed in one of architect Jean Nouvel’s new buildings in Chelsea, this NYC pied-à-terre got a complete renovation spearheaded by In Situ Design. Despite it being in a new building, the firm oversaw the reno from project conception and interior design to completion to create a a home that wasn’t cookie-cutter. The building comes with incredible views of Manhattan and the Hudson, and the gigantic tilted windows look out upon a sea of industrial landscapes.

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Nicknamed the ‘vision machine’, the building’s massive perimeter windows made everything you placed inside the space appear diminutive. With angled walls and a narrow space plan, the typical furniture placement wouldn’t bode well so In Situ Design got to work.

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Living in this kind of building, with floor-to-ceiling windows and picturesque views, meant your eyes would constantly be focused on the outside so the goal was to bring it back to the interior. Custom furniture was built oversized, all super narrow and long helping to trick the eye. The color palette and materials used were inspired by all the things you see from the view – weather, the river, pier, and billboards.

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Panels were installed with built-in niches and secret cabinets that mimic the lines of the windows.

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When you enter the space, you’re greeted with a hand-painted silver entryway and a sliding wall with cut-outs that reference the building’s east façade.

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In front of the massive wall of windows sits a 20 foot long steel window seat outfitted with green velvet cushions.

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In the dining room, there’s a 12 foot, cantilevered table made out of steel and Black Limba wood, similar to the piers on the river.

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An island made from blue resin that’s back painted in silver leaf appears to float almost like a body of water.

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A folding wall screen upholstered in wool and silk separates the sitting room from the main bedroom.

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The master bedroom features a silkscreened headboard of an English topiary garden.

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The guest bedroom’s headboard is a silkscreened image of a French parlor.

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Photos by Edwin Zawadzki.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.