Friedman Residence

The original two-story structure, built in 1889 as a firehouse for horse-drawn equipment, was converted to residential use in the 1920s. Our renovation is conceived as a vertical procession from street to skyline: a transition from the restored 19th century façade up through a new two-story high dining room, and culminating with a contemporary third story indoor/outdoor living room and terrace, which merges the interior with the Manhattan horizon. The first floor consists of a single car garage and studio apartment with private garden; the second floor includes the dining room, kitchen, powder room, master suite and library; and the living room, semi-enclosed terrace with hot tub, and guest bedroom and bath are located on the third floor. An elevator links all three floors.

Major materials include limestone and dark-stained oak floors, cherry and dark-stained oak cabinetry, limestone, marble and stainless steel countertops, and bathroom sinks carved from solid blocks of marble. Bathroom walls are finished with either polished green or honed beige limestone slab and matte white subway tile. A third floor wall finished in brown back-painted glass runs from the living room bar to the semi-enclosed outdoor terrace. Exterior fascias and trim are finished in Nordic Brown copper. Third floor custom sliding doors, window, and guardrail trim are oiled mahogany.