An Upper West Side apartment renovation blends classic prewar charm with pet-friendly design. Taste transformed this 1,200-square-foot Manhattan home to accommodate our clients and one very big personality: Indie, their beloved Bernese Mountain Dog.
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Upper West Side, New York
Prewar Perfection
Project Partners
Architect: Leila Colbert Architecture
Builder: Concept General Contracting, Inc.
Upper West Side Apartment Renovation
Few real estate markets are more competitive – or more crushing – than Manhattan’s. When our clients lost out on a fully renovated apartment in their favorite prewar building on the Upper West Side, they were heartbroken. But luck intervened: another unit in the same building soon hit the market. Despite its dated interiors and daunting renovation needs, the couple (an opera singer and her entrepreneurial husband) moved quickly to secure the 1,200-square-foot space.
Right after closing, they enlisted Taste Design and architect Leila Colbert, known for her expertise in navigating New York's permitting process, to lead the transformation. They added builder Lloyd Wolencheck of Concept General to form the project’s core team. Together, they set out to honor the apartment’s classic prewar character while reimagining it for contemporary life.
From day one, the clients had two clear requests: plenty of seating for grandchildren and family when they gather for the Macy's Day Parade, and a home that could accommodate the third member of the family, Indie, their 100-pound Bernese Mountain Dog. Indie would have free rein of the apartment, so durability and pet-friendliness were central to every design decision.
From Dark Apartment to Light-Filled Home
The priority was to rethink the layout. Originally, the kitchen, dining room, and living room were carved into separate spaces connected by a long, narrow hallway. “When you walked in, the first thing you saw was a bathroom at the end of a dark corridor,” Patti recalls. “Not exactly the welcome we were going for.”
Patti and Leila developed a more functional floor plan, removing the hallway and the walls dividing the shared living spaces. The result was a light-filled, open-concept living area that instantly felt more spacious and connected. With uninterrupted sightlines, the natural light and views of Manhattan improved dramatically.
Eliminating the hallway also made room for a generous entry with a closet, a full guest bath, and an attached laundry room – major functional upgrades. A built-in bar was added to support the couple’s love of entertaining.
Pet-Friendly Interior Design
Layout reconfiguration: A narrow hallway and separate rooms were removed to create an open-plan layout, giving Indie freedom to move without bumping through tight spaces.
Durability: Resilient upholstery, historically inspired parquet floors, and performance materials were chosen to withstand the wear and tear of daily life with a large dog.
Custom window seats: Built-ins conceal in-wall AC and radiators, doubling as Indie’s favorite perch to watch the bustling street below.
Rug upgrade: Initially hesitant to invest in a luxury rug, the client fell in love with a wool-and-silk option Patti presented, and discovered the high-quality materials held up beautifully to Indie's wear and tear.
Blending Classic Prewar Architecture with Modern Design
Like many prewar buildings, this one presented its own quirks, especially when it came to temperature control. To integrate in-wall air conditioning units and radiators without disrupting the architecture, the team designed custom window seats that conceal them completely. Installing the AC units was particularly challenging, requiring a worker suspended seven stories up in a sling. But once complete, the custom window seats became a defining feature, beloved by both Indie and the clients’ grandchildren.
Throughout the home, historically accurate parquet floors were installed and paired with a custom Taste molding package to maintain the apartment’s architectural integrity. Walls were finished in a neutral palette to showcase the couple’s art collection, featuring several pieces from Taste’s Artists in Residence, Kelly Milukas, Alyn Carlson, and Alison Gibbons Watt. In the kitchen, Panda White marble, lacquered cabinetry, and brass hardware add sophistication. Durable finishes and thoughtful details ensure the apartment is as practical as it is polished, ready for our clients, their guests, and their big, lovable dog.
Full Project Gallery
Photographer:
Kyle J. Caldwell
