Residential ArchitectureKitchen and Bath

Gracie Square

Architects & Firms

New York City

It was a tall order for a petite Upper East Side apartment: the clients—a business executive and an artist—needed to dine, entertain, and relax with their four sons within the duplex's 700-square-foot ground level. Furthermore, it was a first-time collaboration between architect Jeannette Menasce, who designed the entire residence, and Ana Sternberg, CEO of Bazzèo by NYLoft, a boutique cabinetry company. Despite these challenges, the two joined forces and transformed the Gracie Square maisonette kitchen into a sleek, shape-shifting space.

Having spent nearly a year imbuing the rest of the maisonette with economical sophistication, Menasce had clarity on the program needs. “The design intent was to merge the different functions and activities of the kitchen,” she explains. To unify the kitchen, dining room, and den, she relied on strong, horizontal lines and a spare color palette of high-gloss white, rich walnut, and subdued grays.

The island, custom-made by Bazzèo with reclaimed hardwood, is the kitchen's centerpiece. While monolithic, its cleverly concealed base and dramatically chamfered countertop create the illusion of weightlessness. Along with obscuring appliances and storage, the island hides an inventive folded wing that converts the countertop into a dining table. Sternberg and Menasce enabled the storage system to become part of the room's overall design. “We suggested using the walnut in the cabinet interiors, so when you open the doors, it forms a backdrop,” Sternberg explains. This simple method of revealing different materials alters the room's atmosphere. “The space is constantly changing,” says Menasce. “Movement, in itself, is design.”

People

Formal name of project: Rubenstein Gracie Square Maisonette

Owner: David Rubenstein

Architect:
Jeanette Menasce
150 West 22nd St.
New York, NY 10011
p. 917.833.7652
f. 772.382.0650

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:
Architect of record:
Peter Bafitis and Maya Maxwell for RKTB Architects
http://rktb.com/home

Cabinetry design and development:

Iko Aviv and Ana Sternberg for NYLoft Kitchens and Home Interiors.
6 west 20th street NY, NY 10011 www.bazzeo.com

General contractor: Structure Contracting

Photographer: Cobi Babchuk

CAD system, project management, or other software used: Autocad 2012

Location:

Gracie Square, New York, NY

Gross square footage:

200 sq.ft. (kitchen area)

Total construction cost:

$210,000 (kitchen)

Completion date:

March 2013

Products

Doors
Sliding doors: Panels by Bazzeo by NYLoft,
Track system by Klein USA
(www.klein-usa.com/www2011/main/index.php)

Interior finishes
Kitchen: Line: ETRA and Ceres from Bazzeo by NYLoft

Millwork: Bazzeo by NYLoft

Paints and stains: Benjamin Moore

Solid surfacing: Caesarstone #1141 Pure White, edging detail designed by architect

Special surfacing:

Floor and wall tile: Floor: 24” X 24” Azul Bateig honed finish natural stone

Lighting
Interior ambient lighting: Skygarden pendants by FLOS

Downlights: Contrast Downlights

Plumbing
Sink by Elkay, Faucet/Dispenser by Dornbracht

Appliances: Refrigerator, Freezer Wine Fridge, Double oven and Hood by Miele.
Range by Viking

Other unique products that contribute to sustainability:
Bazzeo by NYLoft cabinetry door cores are made with Glacier Green MDF/HDF and carcasses are made up of 100% post and pre-consumer recycled materials.

KEYWORDS: New York City

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Anna Fixsen was a staff writer and editor for Architectural Record from 2013 to 2017, during which time she covered topics ranging from new projects to human rights, and edited Firms to Watch—a special section devoted to emerging architecture firms.