rockaways rowhouse

Situated a half block from the ocean and a quarter mile from the Beach 67th St Subway Station, this residence is a beach retreat within the limits of New York City. The owner, whose fashion import business is in Manhattan, wanted private sunbathing areas, outdoor spaces to entertain and relax and interior spaces filled with European and custom-designed furnishings reflecting their fashion sensibilities.

Due to the proximity to the adjacent neighbors (this is still the city of course), repair was needed at the back garden to naturally screen the outdoor gathering space. The perimeter planting beds were raised and filled with native trees, shrubs and perennials selected to provide color and interest throughout the year. In the lowered center of the garden is an outdoor “living room” ready for evening cocktails with friends. As each year passes with the plantings continuing to mature, the space feels more isolated from the neighboring gardens.

Inside each room was renovated to reflect the client’s desire for a romantic atmosphere reminiscent of an apartment in an old European city. The kitchen is kept bright with glossy white cabinetry accented with white marble backsplash and counters and anchored with an island shrouded in paneling in a dark gunmetal color. Each bathroom has its own character, luxurious preparation space in the master suite, dark romantic powder room off the living areas and fantastical exhilaration in the guest bath. Custom casework and furniture was fabricated by Bo Hagood’s MADE Inc in Portland, Oregon. These pieces help tie together function and aesthetic which weren’t available from manufacturers’ available lines of furnishing.

The renovation is topped with a third-floor sun deck tiled in Ipe wood pavers and furnished with furniture meant to while away lazy summer afternoons. The view out to the ocean is refreshing and the scene constantly changing. It’s no wonder that the location could be confused with a California beach community filled with laid back surfers.