Interior designer Sam Masters has achieved what many New York City dwellers only dream of: securing a prewar, one-bedroom apartment in the vibrant heart of the West Village. This coveted urban sanctuary is the culmination of a 16-year journey through six different apartments, a testament to his persistence and vision.
The West Village Dream
Masters’s aspiration to inhabit the West Village dates back to his early days in Manhattan. He recalls looking up at the charming windows along Bleecker Street and envisioning a life within them. While acknowledging the area’s current “overrun and a little annoying” nature, he embraces its enduring allure, capturing a distinctive 2000s-era New York City ambiance with a nod to the iconic ‘Sex and the City’ vibe, complete with the inherent character of aging plaster and thin windows that contribute to its lively soundscape.
A Palette of Earthy Tones and Clever Solutions
The apartment’s foundation is set with Farrow & Ball’s Pidgeon paint, gracing most of the walls within the 420-square-foot space. The compact kitchen, described by Masters as more of a “scullery,” received a significant upgrade with Farrow & Ball’s Olive paint for both walls and cabinetry. Hardware from Rejuvenation adds a refined touch. In a remarkable display of DIY spirit, Masters personally sourced and installed a marble countertop, demonstrating an exceptional commitment to achieving bespoke luxury within rental constraints.
Ingenuity in the Bedroom and Living Area
The bedroom exemplifies compact living with sophisticated storage solutions. An IKEA Pax wardrobe, enhanced with Fornasetti wallpaper, houses clothing, while a wheeled box discreetly stores shoes beneath the bed. The headboard is a creative feat of magnetic pleated fabric. In the living room, which Masters describes as evoking a “very French and pied-à-terre-y” feel, compact armless loveseats and a café table provide intimate seating. The petite fireplace, a true urban luxury, is adorned with non-functional rattan sconces that cleverly conceal wall imperfections. Vintage metal chairs, acquired from a past role at the Greenwich Hotel, add a layer of personal history.
Masters’s approach to storage in the living area is equally considered, balancing a more-is-more aesthetic with refined systems. Books are artfully stacked, while a modular Vitsoe 606 unit provides an adaptable and elegant storage solution, perfect for the transient nature of city living.
Masters embraces maximalism, adorning every surface with vintage treasures and art, transforming his apartment into a “teensy dollhouse” that is both joyful and personally resonant.
Business Style Takeaway: Sam Masters’s West Village apartment exemplifies how thoughtful design and resourceful problem-solving can create a luxurious and highly personal living space, even within a compact footprint. This approach not only enhances the quality of daily life but also crafts an environment that reflects a discerning taste and a strong personal brand.
According to the portal: www.architecturaldigest.com