Brill Residence

A reflection of NMA’s skill in blending minimalist style with space efficiency and fluid functionality, this Upper East Side Manhattan apartment renovation gracefully accommodates an extensive program within a relatively modest 1,400 square feet.

Flexible, dual-function elements—a combined library and guest room, an area for art display and storage that serves also as a bar, bedroom cabinetry that converts to a work desk—help maximize open space. Meticulous planning yields a near-professional-grade kitchen, including an eight-burner stove and oversized refrigerator, in a space measuring only nine feet by twelve feet.

While modest in size, the primary bath boasts an array of spa-like amenities. A custom tub clad in vertical basalt slabs rises from the basalt floor to meet an integral tub deck/countertop of white marble, creating a “water table” across the room. Walls tiled with semi-reflective green-blue stained glass lend a three-dimensional effect. While even smaller, the guest bath gains a sense of spaciousness with walls, floor, and ceiling lined with green ceramic tile, a freestanding glass sink, and a shower delineated only by a single sheet of hanging glass.

Throughout the apartment, custom millwork with blue glass panels elegantly maximizes storage and display space while establishing a consistent design motif. A glass wall in the entry hall incorporates a custom designed color-kinetic lighting system that tints the wall in any color desired. Another unifying element is the basalt stone tile that covers the floor in every space, from the primary bedroom suite to the living room to the outdoor porch. Glass accents and artful lighting add sparkle to a sleek, modern apartment that is as elegant, inviting, and comfortable as it is efficient.

Photographer: John Morgan