All photos ©J Grassi.
New York City’s luxurious Sky tower reveals new design options.
By Stacey Staum
Sasha Bikoff Interior Design: “I tried to bring a European moody element to the space. I suspect the renter at Sky to be well-traveled and intellectual,” Sasha Binkoff says.
Interiors by Erik Galiana: Erik Galiana’s design has pieces of furniture serving multiple functions, creating a space that is both beautiful and efficient. “One of the major design elements we used was a bookcase that divides the space’s public and private areas,” he says.
For some of New York City’s most discerning tenants, designing their homes just became more convenient. The Moinian Group is partnering with six designers to offer in-house services at Sky, its 71-story tower in the coveted Midtown West neighborhood.
Sky recently unveiled a cluster of model suites designed by a handful of both up-and-coming and established New York City designers. The model suites show prospective tenants the luxury afforded to residents of Sky, and allow them to envision how their future homes at Sky might look.
The six design teams working on the model units each developed a completely different aesthetic for their apartment, yet each apartment exudes refinement and class in its own unique way.
Sasha Bikoff of Sasha Bikoff Interior Design describes her style for the project, explaining, “I tried to bring a European moody element to the space. I suspect the renter at Sky to be well-traveled and intellectual. The Timothy Oulton deep red tufted velvet couch against the Slim Aaron’s photograph of Lake Como kind of take you to another world, and created an escape from city life.”
For Bikoff, the residence lies at the intersection of form and function. “New Yorkers care a lot about a comfortable couch and a place to kick back after a long day at work. I wanted to have that in my space, and not just have it be stylish, but also offer maximum functionality. In model units, we often see people using settees as opposed to couches or consoles for dining tables, and this isn’t what the lifestyle is about. It’s not just for show; it’s for daily use.”
For Erik Galiana of Interiors by Erik Galiana, his design seeks “to appeal to the largest audience possible by creating something that multiple people would walk into and say, ‘this feels like home to me.’”
Galiana’s design of his model residence has pieces of furniture serving multiple functions, creating a space that is both beautiful and efficient. “One of the major design elements we used was a bookcase that divides the space’s public and private areas,” he says. Galiana also added additional drawer space by having one dresser under the television, and an additional dresser as one of the nightstands beside the bed.
Churchill Living’s design utilized neutral tones to maximize the natural light and views, and incorporated multifunctional furniture. Eileen Guinnessey explains, “We chose furnishings with clean design elements to match Sky’s design ethos. Design elements were chosen to maximize the functionality of the space while maintaining the ambiance from the natural light of the floor-to-ceiling windows. We went with subtle design choices that do not distract from the views, but someone with a discerning eye will see the details and recognize luxury living instantly.”
Jack Ovadia of Ovadia Design Group cites the residence’s clean lines and open spaces as “the driving force to my design. You can walk into my apartment and it feels like an extension of the Sky brand.”
Ovadia’s design is geared towards young New York professionals, but feels that the Sky brand really is for people of any style. His residence allows decorative features to make the boldest statement. “In this project, we provided all the furniture and decorative features in the apartment. The idea was to give a neutral backdrop and let the artwork and cool furniture pieces express themselves with individuality, such as brighter patterned fabric and artwork that pops,” he says.
Churchill Living: “We chose furnishings with clean design elements to match Sky’s design ethos. We went with subtle design choices that do not distract from the views, but someone with a discerning eye will see the details and recognize luxury living instantly,” Eileen Guinnessey says.
Ovadia Design Group and Bijou Covering: Jack Ovadia of Ovadia Design Group worked with Bijou Covering, wallpapering the wall and ceiling above the bed to make it feel like a custom built-in. “Wall coverings create detail where none exists,” says Jason Kaen of Bijou.
Daniela Schneider, founder and chief designer officer of Quadra FS, paid close attention to layout in the design of Quadra FS’s model residence. “We wanted to present the space in the best possible layout, which we achieved by creating two distinct yet cohesive spaces. The open-flow floor plan from the living room to the bedroom was married through color, texture, form and light, creating the best solution for this unique space,” she explains.
Quadra’s design aesthetic marries Sky’s clean lines with a softer touch. “You can see the straight lines and hard elements of the architecture from the unit, so we wanted to juxtapose those features on the interior through soft colors in warm tones, an assortment of textures and curvilinear shapes to bring the unit to life. The multitude of woven fabrics creates a rich, creamy palette to contrast with the natural materials of concrete and metals,” Schneider says.
While each unit is unique in style and design, certain elements are evident in all of the spaces. Foremost in this trend is an unwillingness to block out breathtaking city views from the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the walls of each apartment. Schneider and Guinnessey used clear glass or lucite furnishings to provide unobstructed views, while Ovadia used low furniture to achieve the same effect. On the 43rd floor of Sky, it really is all about the view.
High-end materials and interesting textures also dominate each model residence design. Bikoff used Brazilian agate geode slabs to form occasional tables, and incorporated restored antiques from the 1920s and 1940s to complete the design style. Galiana included a pouf made of cowhide, providing additional seating for guests. Ovadia worked with Jason Kaen at Bijou Covering, wallpapering the wall and ceiling above the bed to make it feel like a custom built-in. “Wall coverings create detail where none exists,” Kaen says.
Quadra FS: “We wanted to present the space in the best possible layout, which we achieved by creating two distinct yet cohesive spaces. The open-flow floor plan from the living room to the bedroom was married through color, texture, form and light, creating the best solution for this unique space,” Daniela Schneider explains.
Sky offers prospective tenants the option of furnishing their apartments through the designers, allowing for a turnkey experience upon move in.
Rockwell Group: David Rockwell, founder and president of Rockwell Group, describes Sky’s design as a “contemporary interpretation of modern loft living. We developed a luxurious, but more informal, materials palette with natural and handcrafted materials and finishes, such as marble, walnut, brass and stone.”
“We create lifestyles and vertical neighborhoods for sophisticated renters that could purchase condos at this point in their lives, but choose to rent with us,” says Natasha Vardi, senior vice president of residential properties at The Moinian Group, which developed, owns and operates Sky. “With every property we develop, we always set our standards high. As the renter becomes more sophisticated, we need to not only meet expectations but to far surpass their expectations. Sky is not only different from Moinian’s other projects, it is different from every rental in New York City at large.”
This difference can be found in the unrivaled amenities offered at Sky, including lifestyle concierge and art displayed throughout the property, inviting the feel of living in a gallery. Perhaps the most sought-after amenity at Sky is the Life Time Athletic club, a one-of-a-kind fitness and lifestyle center. The 15,500-square-foot training space includes two outdoor pools with lounging decks; cycle, Pilates and yoga studios; wood-paneled dining rooms; a refreshment lounge; and a residents’ lounge with a pool table, library wall and a fireplace.
The design aesthetic created by Rockwell Group lends contemporary sophistication to the Life Time Athletic club, as well as the lobby and residential units. David Rockwell, founder and president of Rockwell Group, describes Sky’s design as a “contemporary interpretation of modern loft living. We developed a luxurious, but more informal, materials palette with natural and handcrafted materials and finishes, such as marble, walnut, brass and stone.”
The residential units boast open kitchens with rich walnut cabinets, plank flooring and custom marble kitchen islands. The bathrooms offer showers with vertical-striped tiling, sculptural surface-mounted basins and custom vanities made of blackened metal with timber drawers and shelving.