At the Belnord, Frederick Tang Architecture Creates a Modern Deco Home for an Art-Loving Family

On the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a traditional three-bedroom apartment at the Belnord received a contemporary update thanks to Frederick Tang Architecture’s thoughtful intervention and predilection to juxtapose disparate elements—to blend old and new, historical and contemporary, neutral and saturated, soft and hard. The resulting 3,000 square foot space blends the client’s initial stylistic impulses with a broader range of influences FTA brought to the table.

The apartment is owned by a couple who share the space with their three children. FTA had an existing working relationship with the clients, ensuring there was built-in trust with this project. Here, the clients asked FTA to transform a stately but generic three-bedroom apartment within the Belnord into a cool and comfortable home informed by aspects of Art Deco and infused with personality, with space to appreciate their growing collection of artwork.

The design kicked off with the clients sharing imagery of homes they liked, and a throughline quickly emerged: French Art Deco. The images evoked generous, taller proportions, clean lines, tone on tone coloring, and historic-meets-modern interiors. But rather than create a pastiche of the Palais de Tokyo, FTA sourced a complementary inspiration from leading. female designer Andrée Putman, who helped define a certain era of simple, striking (and unquestionably French) interior design modernism in the 1980s.

This wizardry at melding disparate influences into a rational aesthetic could only come from a practice as informed as Frederick Tang Architecture and its founder, Frederick Tang. “As an architecture practice, we are not afraid to reference. The Belnord already has a certain caché as a landmark 1908 apartment building, replete with moldings and apartments done in a Louis XVI style. But we never allow a reference to become the sole aesthetic cue from which the space unfolds. It’s about the harmony between the various influences we draw upon that creates a unique interior environment.”

The inspiration is made manifest in the large central dining area of the apartment, accessed through the entry hall. Here, a large framed photograph of a Brigitte Bardot-esque woman (June, 2010) by Alex Prager is prominently displayed on the wall, underneath which sits a vintage French Art Deco credenza sourced from 1st Dibs. A pendant light from Salon Design hangs above a custom dining table by Withers Studio. The vintage dining chairs by Antonin Suman have been reupholstered in Pollack fabric.

The living room continues this blend of vintage-meets-contemporary. A sofa from Egg Collective sits below a metal and glass globe pendant light from Giopato and Coombes. A large armchairby Charlotte Biltgreen for Invisible Collection is upholstered in Pierre Grey Rose Velvet, and sits beside a coffee table from Timothy Oulton. A smaller chair opposite the coffee table is vintage French Art Deco reupholstered in House of Hackney fabric. Additional lighting is provided by a wall sconce from Kelly Wearstler. The sofa faces a wall of custom millwork, providing the family with storage and space to display their collections and ephemera.

The millwork continues to the bedrooms. In the primary suite, FTA deployed two fabrics sourced from Dedar on the custom bed and headboard. A dramatic pendant light is vintage Murano Glass from 1st Dibs. In the guest room/den, a wall of custom millwork includes a cutout that allows a Maiden Home sleeper sofa in blue velvet to snugly sit inside. Above the sofa, an abstract floral wallpaper from Calico provides a chromatic counterpoint to the deep hued seating.

A father of two himself, Frederick Tang has an established track record of designing fun and unique bedroom spaces for the youngest members of a family. Here, the couple’s two younger children each got to work with FTA on the design of their rooms. For the older of the two, that meant creating a dark and moody environment painted a rich navy. A bed is inset to a wall of custom millwork cabinets with matching navy fronts. A Jean Prouvé chair sits across from the bed, over an area rug from Mark and Day. Window treatments from James Dunlop allow for sleeping in as necessary.

For the youngest child, FTA took cues from the 1960s and 1970s. For a space too small to include both a bed and a small sofa, FTA designed a den-like space with a custom built-in bed atop a felt-covered platform, creating a groovy hang-out zone stacked with comfy pillows to lounge upon.

The result of these various moves is both modern and referential, uniquely Frederick Tang Architecture’s work while still reverential to the design ethos of earlier eras. “We already loved the Belnord, and to create this spectacular home here, our adoration has only amplified,” shared the client.

“With three children growing older and eventually heading off to college, we knew this apartment needed to offer us a transition to eventual empty nest living. With FTA, we got just that and more.”

As Fred concluded, “At FTA, we embrace the act of mixing—between eras, moods, and references—because through that mixing you create conversations and dialogue across disparate pieces, reveal moments of surprise, and build delight into the spaces we design for our clients. Some others might shy away from a little bit of friction, but to us that’s where you find the interest and the beauty of a project.”

CREDITS:

Photography: Gieves Anderson,

Stylist: David Lȇ

Architecture and Interior Design: Frederick Tang Architecture (Interior Design

Lead: Barbara Reyes, Team: May Tilden, Nicole Giella, Hugo Ho, Melissa

Braxton, Frederick Tang)

Lighting Consultant: PHT Lighting

Contractor: Building Code Partners.