Residential
A modern interior design is approached by creating curated journey — equal parts strategy, storytelling, and sensory experience. Rather than simply filling a space, we begin by decoding how our clients live, identifying the rhythms, rituals, and emotional cues that shape their day-to-day life.
Each room is built with intention: thoughtful layouts that elevate flow, materials selected for both beauty and longevity, lighting plans that sculpt atmosphere, and bespoke details that make the home feel unmistakably personal.
Sultry’s process blends data-driven design with creative intuition, ensuring that every space feels streamlined, functional, and effortlessly stylish. Ultimately, the result isn’t just a home—it’s a tailored environment that enhances how people move, feel, and connect within their space.
Design Overview: Upper East Side Pre-War Duplex
The redesign of this pre-war Upper East Side duplex centered on honoring the architectural heritage of the home while elevating it for modern living. The client’s primary focus was on the refinement of architectural details—bringing new life to the space through meticulously added moldings, enhanced lighting plans, and an intelligent airflow strategy engineered to support seamless heating and cooling throughout the residence. The result is a tailored environment where historic character and contemporary comfort coexist with effortless elegance.
From the outset, the team approached the project with a deep respect for the building’s original bones. Many of the home’s existing moldings had been lost or compromised during past renovations, so the design intent was to reintroduce the classical language of pre-war architecture. Custom crown moldings, restored wainscoting, and re-profiled door and window casings were selected to match the era—each detail adding depth, shadow, and visual richness to the rooms. These architectural enhancements not only frame the space but also subtly elevate the client’s existing furnishings and art collection.
Lighting became one of the most transformative components of the project. Pre-war homes are notorious for uneven illumination and limited wiring pathways, so a multi-layered lighting scheme was engineered to solve both aesthetic and functional challenges. The final plan integrates discreet recessed lighting, updated fixture points for chandeliers and sconces, and hidden LED coves that gently highlight the moldings. This combination created a luminous balance throughout the duplex—ensuring each room can shift between warm, intimate ambience and bright, task-oriented clarity depending on the client’s needs.
The airflow system was another key focus. The client requested a solution that improved overall comfort without disrupting the architectural integrity of the space. To accomplish this, the renovation incorporated smart air-circulation pathways and upgraded mechanical components. Slim-profile vents were strategically positioned to disappear into the architecture, while ductwork was reconfigured to optimize airflow between levels. We also repurposed the homes fireplace stack to reduce the need for circulation vents and make each rooms current fireplace a register for air return. This ensured consistent heating and cooling performance without invasive visual distractions. The result is a quietly powerful climate system that supports modern comfort while allowing the pre-war charm to remain front and center.
Ultimately, this project reflects a client deeply invested in the nuance of craftsmanship. Every molding profile, lighting temperature, and airflow register was carefully studied and selected to create a home that feels timeless, luminous, and impeccably considered. The redesigned duplex now stands as a sophisticated blend of historical restoration and contemporary refinement—an Upper East Side residence reborn with precision and grace.
pied-à-terre
The modern Kitchen
For this NYC pied-à-terre, the goal was to transform a compact kitchen into a sleek, modern sanctuary that feels as elevated as a full-time residence—while maintaining the ease and flexibility expected in a part-time home. We took a highly tailored, technology-forward approach, seamlessly integrating smart appliances and electronic conveniences without ever allowing them to interrupt the clean visual lines. Every piece of tech in this kitchen—from concealed charging stations to under-cabinet lighting systems—is tucked discreetly behind millwork panels or hidden within custom drawers. Even the outlets were designed flush into the countertops and backsplashes, ensuring that functionality never compromises aesthetics.
A major focus of this renovation was crafting a kitchen that feels as refined as the rest of the apartment. We introduced modern black cabinetry with richly fluted millwork, paired with warm brushed-gold hardware that adds dimension without excess ornamentation. To complement the cabinetry, we specified a softly ribbed tile backsplash and a durable, high-performance countertop that offers both sophistication and everyday practicality. The result is a space that feels sculptural yet inviting—minimalist, but far from cold.
Equally important was our commitment to sustainability and wellness. In a city like New York, where indoor air quality can make a profound difference in daily comfort, we were intentional about using low-VOC paints, adhesives, and sealants throughout the kitchen. These selections help reduce off-gassing and create a healthier environment, especially crucial in a compact pied-à-terre where every square foot counts. We also sourced cabinetry materials from suppliers who prioritize sustainable forestry practices and used energy-efficient appliances that support the client’s long-term interest in environmentally conscious living.
Overall, the redesigned kitchen balances the intelligence of modern technology with the warmth of thoughtful craftsmanship. It’s a multifunctional, wellness-minded space that feels completely tailored to the client’s lifestyle—equal parts polished, practical, and future-ready.
design intuition,
advanced resources.
Guided by insight, intuition, and impeccable taste, we create spaces that forecast the future of design.
Our firm is celebrated for identifying trends early and elevating them into signature experiences.
This visionary approach ensures every client’s home feels both current and enduringly iconic.
Design Overview: Revival of a Georgian Masterpiece
The redesign of this Georgian Revival residence in Saddle River, New Jersey celebrates the union of historic grandeur and modern-day convenience, honoring the home’s 1901 architectural origins while elevating it for contemporary living. From the outset, the goal was to enhance the residence in a way that respected its provenance yet delivered the level of comfort expected in the 21st century. Every design decision was approached with a reverence for the past and an eye toward durability, authenticity, and craftsmanship. The result is a home that feels elegantly rooted in tradition while functioning seamlessly for modern life. This thoughtful blend of old and new defines the project’s ethos. It creates a gracious, luxurious living experience that transcends eras.
Central to the redesign was the restoration and recreation of the home’s historical millwork, which had suffered from decades of piecemeal alterations. We reinstated period-appropriate crown profiles, hand-carved accents, and solid-wood door casings that echo the home’s original lines with remarkable precision. The decision to use solid woods—not veneers—ensures the architecture will continue aging beautifully for generations. Each molding was primed, sanded, and finished by hand to achieve the depth and shadow play characteristic of early 20th-century craftsmanship. This attention to detail brings richness and re-highlights the homes stunning double entry foyer. In doing so, the architecture once again commands the presence it held more than a century ago.
The walls throughout the home were adorned with premium, hand-printed wallpapers crafted by Schumacher, chosen for their historical motifs and artisan techniques. These wallpapers are produced through traditional block-printing methods, giving each panel subtle variations and tactile character that cannot be replicated by mass production. Their patterns were selected to harmonize with the home’s Georgian moldings, creating a rhythm that feels both classic and exuberantly fresh. The wallpapers lend depth, warmth, and personality to each room, transforming circulation spaces into moments of visual delight. Their craftsmanship reinforces a sense of heritage and permanence. It is the kind of quality that allows a home to feel exquisitely made, not merely decorated.
One of the most striking architectural features restored in this project is the black-and-white Calcutta marble floor in the front foyer. Installed originally in 1901, the marble had dulled and settled unevenly under more than a century of footfall. Our team resurfaced, leveled, and polished the stone meticulously, revealing the dramatic veining and crisp contrast that had been lost to time. The revitalized flooring now glows with a mirror-like sheen that greets guests with immediate grandeur. This polished surface stands as a testament to the enduring quality of early stone craftsmanship. Its revival became a symbolic anchor for the entire home’s transformation.
Convenience played a critical role in the modernization of the residence, ensuring the home is as technologically supportive as it is historically elegant. Automatic closet lighting was installed throughout, triggered quietly by door hinges that activate soft, energy-efficient illumination the moment a door opens. This creates a sense of thoughtful luxury in even the simplest daily rituals. The technology was intentionally hidden within the millwork to preserve the purity of the architecture. These details enhance the user experience without intruding visually on the historic narrative. It is convenience executed with subtlety and respect.
A standout feature of the renovation is the chandelier cleaning assist system discreetly installed in the main foyer. This system allows the grand central chandelier to be raised and lowered at the press of a button, located within a hidden panel in the front coat closet. The mechanism eliminates the need for ladders or professional equipment every time cleaning or maintenance is required. It ensures the chandelier remains sparkling, safe, and accessible. While technologically advanced, the system is concealed so completely that it never interrupts the historical ambiance of the space. It embodies the project’s vision of invisible convenience.
For an added layer of functional charm, a service bell calling system was revived and modernized throughout the home. Drawing inspiration from early 20th-century servant-call mechanisms, this reinterpretation uses push-button plates crafted in brushed brass to blend seamlessly with the architectural hardware. Each button communicates with a discreet hub that alerts designated household zones, quietly enhancing operational flow during entertaining or daily living. The system restores a sense of period authenticity while supporting modern hospitality standards. It draws from history but serves the lifestyle of today. This feature has become one of the home’s most delightful nods to its past.
Throughout the project, the guiding principle was to create a residence that lives beautifully, honors its lineage, and anticipates modern needs. Every finish, from solid hardwoods to sustainably produced wallcoverings, was selected for longevity and environmental responsibility. Each technological upgrade—from automated lighting to hidden control systems—was integrated to be felt, not seen. By merging craftsmanship with convenience, the redesign ensures that the home’s next century will be every bit as elegant as its first. The final result is a Georgian Revival that feels simultaneously timeless and forward-thinking. It is a home reborn with dignity, polish, and thoughtful sophistication.