East End Ave. Residence

This apartment renovation occupies the 19th floor of a post-war high-rise in Yorkville on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in New York City, where expansive views contrast with low ceiling heights and the inherent limitations of the building type. Working with longtime clients on their third collaboration with the firm, The Turett Collaborative approached the project as a highly personal residential renovation, shaped by an established relationship and informed by the technical realities of the existing building.

Architecturally, the project was conceived as a full gut apartment renovation focused on lighting, circulation, and long interior views. Low ceilings required shallow-profile fixtures and uplighting integrated into existing dropped beam coves, with compact track lighting used where needed to preserve headroom. Wall-focused illumination supports the clients’ art collection with controlled glare and clear sightlines. An existing greenhouse located outside the building envelope was reworked into a functional home office, requiring a careful balance between the comfort and finish of an interior workspace and the performance demands of an exterior condition. A sliding glass partition introduced in the living area maintains uninterrupted views and shared light across the apartment while allowing for acoustic separation and privacy when needed.

Interior design was developed in parallel, with existing furnishings and heirlooms reconsidered alongside new pieces. Custom millwork, shelving, and lighting frame art and objects throughout the apartment within a calm, restrained palette grounded by richly figured oak floors. The project reflects a process rooted in trust and familiarity, resulting in a residence shaped by careful design decisions informed by the clients’ personal sensibilities.