A Sky-High Sanctuary: Capturing a Greenwich Village Triplex
Editorial Interior Photography: European Modernism Meets New York Luxury
There is a distinct kind of magic that happens when Italian and French modernism meet the New York City skyline. Suspended above the rooftops of Greenwich Village, this triplex is a masterclass in balance—unifying three distinct floors into a seamless sanctuary of art, design, and light.
The story of this home is as compelling as its interiors. The owner, a discreet philanthropist and avid art collector, seized a rare opportunity to acquire the floor below her existing duplex—formerly owned by fashion designer Michael Kors. The intention was clear: to stitch together spaces for reception, contemplation, and creation, while extending her rooftop garden down to the lower terrace.
Photographing this space was an exercise in chasing the perfect editorial aesthetic. The apartment is in constant dialogue with the city outside. I found myself particularly drawn to how the low-angle, directional sunlight of a Manhattan afternoon casts dramatic shadows across the sweeping, custom-designed curved staircase, highlighting the tension between the reinterpreted Versailles-style parquet and a 17th-century Italian marble console.
A Curated Narrative
Interior architect François Merlet beautifully orchestrated the volumes, blending the free-spirited lines of the 1970s with 1950s European modernism. It’s an interior that welcomes an impressive collection without ever feeling ostentatious.
In the reception rooms, a pair of 1940s Danish sofas elegantly frame a classic Pierre Paulin Élysée table. The textures here are rich and deliberate. Moving into the open kitchen, the clean, sharp lines of VIPP cabinetry are brilliantly offset by an expansive, colorful Élitis wall fresco (La Passion De Diego), proving that everyday functional spaces can still offer a bold visual experience.
Spaces for Contemplation
As the light shifts through the day, the upper floors transform. The library and atelier serve as a retreat—a place to slow down and work surrounded by a lifetime of collected objects. A monumental double desk by Jacques Jarrige anchors the workspace, accompanied by Axel Einar Hjorth Lovö chairs. The walls are punctuated by striking yellow Alain Richard A19/F sconces, originally from the Centre Pompidou, and powerful black-and-white portraiture by Zanele Muholi.
The master suite continues this intimate narrative. A delicate powder-pink bathroom, adorned with custom marble mosaics and Bec Brittain Shy sconces, gives way to a bedroom that houses a remarkable Louise Bourgeois engraving, Blue Is the Colour of Your Eyes.
Ultimately, this Greenwich Village triplex is more than just a renovation. It is a deeply personal curation—a lived-in gallery that breathes with the changing seasons of New York, providing an endlessly inspiring canvas for the lens.
Project Credits:
Interior Architecture: Atelier François Merlet
Architecture: Bergen Street Studio
General Contractors: Lisa Otterbeck, SF Construction
Selected Art: Louise Bourgeois, Zanele Muholi, Hilda Palafox