Village Pied a Terre Gets Artistic Makeover
In the heart of one of the busiest cities in the world, Greenwich Village still feels like an intimate neighbourhood, with tree-lined blocks, independent bookshops and restaurants that have been around for decades. On East 9th Street stands a 1925 co-op designed by the renowned architecture firm Helmle & Corbett. It is home to an apartment designed by Sarah Henley, founder and principal of Henley Design.
Sarah Henley says of this particular corner of New York, ‘It has always had a creative energy and felt like the perfect setting for these clients.’ The clients, an Academy Award-winning film industry creative and an artist, have a strong sense of what they like and are wonderful collaborators.
Sarah Henley and her team had worked with these clients on their summer home in Rockport, Massachusetts, so she knew them and their aesthetic well. They wanted this space to feel distinct from the other project and to serve as a pied-à-terre as they live mainly in California. The clients asked Sarah Henley to create a cosy, art-filled sanctuary.
The apartment was restored by the previous owners in a predominantly white and grey palette, but lacked character and warmth. Sarah Henley was immediately struck by the soaring arched vaulted ceilings in the living room with their original plasterwork, as well as the lofty windows. The apartment enjoys extraordinary light for a New York home.
Sarah Henley worked with Brooklyn-based art advisor Phoebe Grip to source fine art, including two works by contemporary painter Eric Aho for the den and entry foyer. A commissioned Sara Dykstra piece informed much of the living room palette. The earthy tones of the neighbourhood also provided inspiration.
The living room was Sarah Henley’s biggest challenge; she layered lush textiles with warm tones for the rug, furnishings and window treatments, and selected furniture with enough scale to hold its own in the space. Focal points at varying heights bring the eye upward, while the curved pelmet picks up the geometry of the ceiling and helps visually anchor the vast window wall.
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In practice, this development means that the clients can now enjoy a cosy, art-filled sanctuary in the heart of New York, which will serve as a perfect retreat for them to spend more time in the city and eventually make New York a bigger part of their lives. This space will also allow them to host family and friends, creating lasting memories in their new pied-à-terre.
The den is a small space between the entrance and the kitchen that had to serve as dining room, lounge and guest bedroom. Sarah Henley and her team gave it the flexibility they needed with a custom sofa bed and extendable dining table. Rather than trying to make the room feel bigger, they leaned into its size with darker, more enveloping colourways.
The caramel-coloured Holland & Sherry amber silk wallcovering in the main bedroom is a highlight.
Sarah Henley looked at the building’s art deco history when sourcing furniture and lighting, including a French oak side table, a 1920s magazine rack and several contemporary pieces inspired by the art deco era.
Before the final reveal, the clients had seen very little of the renovation, so were floored by the finished results – both the richness, texture and colour that had been added to the blank canvas, and the attention to detail which saw Sarah Henley even adding a nook for their beloved dog Grover’s food bowls in the kitchen.
It is clear that Sarah Henley has created a space that is not only beautiful but also functional and meaningful to the clients. The apartment’s unique blend of art, design, and history makes it a true gem in the heart of New York City, much like a Beaux-Arts townhouse that blends different styles to create something unique.
