West Village Townhouse

On a street lined with homes from the 1800s, our clients wanted their own to be faithful to the neighborhood’s aesthetic. The façade’s upgrade included new weight and chain mahogany windows with restoration glass, new shutters, and salvaged brick. To create an underground level to house a Gym, Theatre, Spa, and mechanical equipment, we excavated 25’ into the earth and constructed underpinned supports for the houses on either side. To attract light down, we installed a slot walkable skylight in the narrow space between houses and installed a live green wall seen from the spacious Gym. The upper Terrace’s bronze railing surrounds a highly engineered glass floor leading to a Putting Green.

Entering the home through a blue street door, a sunburst straw marquetry pair of doors heralds some of the many decisions made throughout, including the Study’s horsehair paneled closet doors with wenge surrounds and bronze trim. The vaulted Kitchen’s floor is reclaimed Temple stone from a riverbed in Asia and flows out to the rear garden. The Living Room’s silver leaf niches, plaster relief wall, and wide plank Parquet de Versailles flooring are just some of the subtly sophisticated indications that this home is truly unique.

Architect: Steven Harris Architects
Designer: Studio Sofield
Photographer: Sarah Elliot