Picture Perfect

USING ITS OWNER’S ART COLLECTION AS ITS GUIDING COMPASS, THIS PENTHOUSE MARRIES THE FORMAL ELEGANCE OF A MUSEUM WITH THE URBAN GLAMOUR OF THE BIG APPLE

- Michele Koh Morollo

London-based interior designer Nebihe Cihan is no stranger to the Big Apple— she studied at the Parsons School of Design and worked in retail design for fashion brands Catherine Malandrino and Michael Kors in New York. In fact, she lived for many years on 57th Street, in the same area where she recently completed the interior design of this stunning 3,576sqft penthouse. The three-bedroom apartment is the home of a modern art connoisseur who wanted an intimate, museum-like haven in the heart of Manhattan.

Enclosed in a newly built high-rise property designed by Rafael Viñoly, the penthouse was fitted with large windows that frame unparallelled views of the city. Its high ceilings provide large expanses of wall space that are ideal for showcasing its owner’s collection of modern art.

“My inspiration for this project was New York itself and the life of an art collector,” says Cihan. “In a busy city, I wanted to create a sense of tranquillity; I designed the layout and palette around the powerful views of Central Park.” She took a minimalist approach to the interiors, carefully integrating artworks throughout the space so they don’t scream for attention, but rather become part of the overall concept.

ARTISTIC CANVAS