1 The apartment came with dark wenge floors, which I immediately knew would show every speck of dirt and dust and quickly fade with the floor-to-ceiling windows. I knew they had to change.
2 Upon entering the apartment, you're met with this long, gallery-like hallway. Right now, I keep a library of old magazines there, but at some point, I have to purge and make some design choices. Notice the floors have lightened up...I'll explain the whys and hows of that process in an upcoming post.
3 The view from the entry into living room.
4 I fell in love with these figures during a trip to China and bought them. I'm not sure yet where I'll put them, but for now, they seem comfortable on their pedestals in the hallway. I added the additional tiara.
5 This is the furniture from my studio apartment on the Upper East Side.
6 I bought this sofa years ago from a consignment shop in Connecticut and since had it re-upholstered twice: first in a beige cotton duck and now in this gray wool. I had the throw made from one of my mother's old fur coats.
7 Coming from my old studio apartment, I'm still getting used to having all this space.
8 I decided to put my bed in the living room for now so that I can enjoy the incredible views.
9 Looking back down the hallway from the living room to the front door.
10 One of the piers on the Hudson River outside my living room window.
11 The view looking North. It's so peaceful.
12 The south view. Sometimes it feels like I'm floating in the clouds. I want to keep the interiors simple to maximize that feeling.
13 My balcony view.
14 Off the living room is my dining room. It's currently serving as my closet. Has anyone seen my green gingham tie?
15 A powder room is located off the main hallway.
16 Also off the main hallway is a
guest bedroom. Looks like a few garment racks got out of the dining room.
17 This is the hallway leading to my bedroom. It includes a wall of windows on the left and a wall of closets on the right. Those glass doors must go!
18 The master bathroom is adjacent to the bedroom. I love the stone floors.
19 My actual bedroom. Now not quite as dreamy as my set up in the living room, but it will be.
It's hard to believe that for more than a year I've been living in a modern Manhattan high-rise, surrounded by glass walls, dark floors, little furniture and some wild design ideas. (Why not put a white baby grand piano in a 2,500 square foot space?) It's been a bit of an adjustment, coming from a tiny studio on the Upper East Side filled with antiques and damask. However, as the year has progressed and moved into the next, and as I have lived in the space and experienced the light, noises and room flow, my ideas have tempered (I don't play piano and don't really know anyone who does), and I've actually made a few design choices. (I can comfortably live with modern.)
For the next year, I will be sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the design process in this daily blog, from my choices and inspirations to actual interaction with experts on how to execute these ideas (without going broke). Follow my journey, a design work-in-progress with all its successes and pitfalls, here and in a bi-monthly Martha Stewart Living magazine column, on my weekly radio show on Sirius channel 112 and in television segments on the Martha Stewart Show.
Most importantly, I look forward to your feedback and interaction, sharing your renovation photos and design ideas.
Starting simple, here is the apartment as is.
Kevin Sharkey 
