This NYC apartment showcases a simplified traditional style – that's surprisingly perfect for a modern lifestyle

When you buy a 1926 co-op apartment in New York City you know that, along with the great views and vibrant location, you're taking on a big slice of the property's history.

The new owners of this 9th Street apartment in Greenwich Village were keen to keep that history alive with their house design but were also looking to simplify the look and create a space more compatible with modern-day living.

Interior designer Dan Mazzarini, founder and creative director of BHDM Design and Archive, and his partner Andy Grover took over the apartment in January 2021. 'We really wanted to pay homage to the building's rich history by keeping some of its original treasures, such as the charming mantle, the classic radiators, and the intricate cove ceiling plaster,' says Dan. 'At the same time, we aimed to infuse our own personal touch and style into the space.'

Take the tour to find out how Dan reached the perfect compromise of old meets new with his pared-back traditional style.

'Walking into the apartment, we wanted to home to feel very ‘us',' says Dan. In the entryway, visitors are greeted by a curated collection of Dan and Andy's favorite artwork. The gallery wall makes a smart backdrop for a vintage Biedermeier dresser that itself sets the tone for the transitional design scheme Dan has put together for the whole apartment.

'The walls are painted with my favorite Benjamin Moore Intense White and trimmed with Chantilly Lace, while the doors are finished in a glossy black by Fine Paints of Europe.

'The original space was divided into small, separate rooms that we didn’t need,' says Dan. 'We gutted the entire space and got rid of a bedroom to open it up for a more casual living and dining setting.' Post-renovation, his living room ideas are tailored, yet at the same time relaxed and welcoming.

Centered around the original 1920s fireplace and its updated Calacatta Arabescato marble hearth are a pair of vintage bouclé chairs and burl wood side tables. Deep wood tones and warm accents mix with earthy brown and rusty orange accent pillows and throws. 'We were determined to go without a TV in the middle of the room,' adds Dan. 'So we customized a mahogany credenza to anchor the space, incorporating a hidden TV lift cabinet to keep it out of sight.'

To complement the building’s historic charm, Dan custom-designed the living room’s warm gray, legionella chenille fabric sofa, and coffee table with a three-inch lucite top to create a light and clean atmosphere.

Dan's custom shelving along the back wall will inspire anyone looking for smart living room storage ideas, 'I designed a white, open bookshelf with a Calacatta Arabescato marble base shelf and metal mesh enclosed bottom cabinets,' he says.

Dan talked about simplifying the apartment's layout, and creating an open floor plan that was more conducive to contemporary living and entertaining. His dining room ideas really see that through. It's the ideal setting for entertaining, with easy access to the kitchen and living room. It's here that you also can appreciate the newly fitted white oak flooring, which runs through the whole space.

'I custom-designed a stately vintage French rose wood dining table to anchor the space. The slim profile, tubular metal mid-century modern chairs were sourced from eBay and re-upholstered with a soft beige calf hide,' says Dan. 'The Serge Mouille Three Arm Multi-Light Pendant is one of my favorite pieces, and has followed me into three homes thus far.'

A Josh Greene for Dowel black pedestal bust, an impulse purchase from Chairish, sits in the corner and draws attention in the light-filled room.

Just beyond the dining room, is an intimate galley kitchen. Many people find this a challenging arrangement but this is one of the best galley kitchen layouts we've seen, and it's certainly one of the most stylish.

Dan is delighted with his finished kitchen design. 'The high-gloss mahogany cabinets are a really unique touch that I still swoon over every day. And although it’s a smaller space, the kitchen was designed to incorporate all of the essentials – kind of like a luxe hotel suite,' he says.

The two-tone panel front custom kitchen cabinets are made of mahogany wood, in a dark brown, lacquered alcove, topped with a heavily veined extended Calacatta Arabescato marble countertop and backsplash. The upper cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Collingwood.

A sleek nickel gooseneck Waterworks faucet and large Rejuvenation door pulls provide the luxurious finishing touches.

The idea of a luxe hotel design scheme continues into the primary bedroom, where the look is tailored and sleek but still cozy. Dan custom-designed the black cerused oak canopy bed frame and the two identical built-in custom closets that flank the window.

'From a Barbara Barry desk with a glass top you can look out to the Empire State Building. It's a dreamy work-from-home setup,' adds Dan.

A light gray Innovations Agave wallpaper wraps the room with grasscloth texture, giving it a tactile contemporary twist and creating a relaxing bedroom setting.

'We also brought in the earthy oranges from the living room, with the bed dressed with tobacco leather pillows and a rich brown, woven blanket,' the designer adds.

Interior design: Dan Mazzarini, BHDM Design
Photography: Adam Kane Macchia