With sweeping Central Park views and thoughtfully tailored details, this Upper West Side residence became the unexpected catalyst for a bicoastal expansion for Chelsea and Martha, the mother-daughter team behind The Kingsway Co. From custom furnishings to a reimagined floor plan, every inch of the 800-square-foot apartment was designed to deliver classic, cozy, and quietly luxurious living—complete with the ultimate New York City amenity: in-unit laundry. Captured by Raquel Langworthy this project marked a pivotal moment for the Southern California-based duo, bridging the gap between their West Coast roots and their new design presence in Manhattan.
From The Kingsway Co.… This project was such an unexpected rollercoaster. Sherman Square was actually our first project in New York City, and we were brought on before the client had even officially closed on the unit. We met in the original space, which had a very 2000s bachelor pad feel, and discussed the potential to rework the existing floorpan to include an additional bedroom, an open plan kitchen, and the ultimate Manhattan luxury – in unit laundry. The buyer’s agent, Karen Burman of Douglas Elliman, was also present at the meeting and got some early insight into our vision.
While the interiors left a lot to be desired, the view was definitely the crown jewel. Located on the 40th floor of a classic doorman building on the Upper West Side, this east-facing unit has 180 degree views of Central Park. Every room has a direct sightline of the entire length of the park, including the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. You can even sit on the balcony and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade go down Central Park West.
This project was the ultimate exercise in space planning. Coming in at about 800 square feet, we had our work cut out for us with a long list of must-haves. We designed an incredibly intricate run of custom kitchen cabinetry, utilizing the wall space down to the quarter of an inch, to achieve an open layout that included a massive french door refrigerator, double oven, panel ready dishwasher, counter seating, concealed trash and recycling, an appliance garage, and most importantly, a stackable washer and dryer.
Another unusual space challenge we faced was sourcing adequate high end furnishings that were appropriately small, a task that proved to be more difficult than it sounds. Unfortunately, many of our beloved vendors just don’t manufacture pieces at the scale we needed here. To remedy this, I reached out to our friends at Cura Home and together we collaborated on a handful of custom focal pieces, like the dreamy hunter green barrel chair, that fit our needs perfectly without the overwhelm of your standard oversized furniture.
By reworking what once was a completely enclosed galley kitchen and creating a banquette dining area in a previously underutilized corner, we freed up the formal dining area and turned it into a beautiful second bedroom.
It was a long and arduous process filled with red tape. Working within the extensive rules and regulations of both a high rise and in such a densely populated area meant things moved incredibly slowly. It was exactly two years to the weekend between our first site meeting and the final install. Coming off the tail end of Covid delays, most of that time was lost to paperwork filing wait times and we swore we’d return to working exclusively in Southern California as soon this project was complete. Thankfully, that was a promise we did not keep, and have since gone on to take numerous other clients in the area. As of 2024, we transitioned to being a bicoastal firm, and more than half of the new clients we took on were New York City based. Sherman Square is absolutely the project we have to thank for this expansion and I am so grateful for all the subsequent experiences and opportunities that followed.
Step inside with the video tour below.
Discover the talent behind the story… Interior Design: The Kingsway Co. · Photography: Raquel Langworthy · Videographer: Vibe Haus · Marble & Stone: Geraci Stone Gallery
