A painting by Chris Ofili hangs in the home office, which is furnished with a handcrafted Throne Chair by Mauro Varotti bookended by Matt Castilleja’s ebonized oak and lacquer bookshelves.
A painting by Chris Ofili hangs in the home office, which is furnished with a handcrafted Throne Chair by Mauro Varotti bookended by Matt Castilleja’s ebonized oak and lacquer bookshelves. Photography by Nicole Franzen.

November 5, 2021

Words: Jesse Dorris

Kelly Behun Melds Modern Art and Design in This Manhattan Apartment With Sweeping Views

111 West 57Street, with its landmarked 1925 Steinway Hall by Warren and Wetmore and new tower addition by SHoP Architects, is a true work of art overlooking Central Park. So who better to design its Studio Sofield interiors than Kelly Behun, who’s been bridging the worlds of fine art and architecture since founding her studio in 2001?

Behun’s Tower Residence 34 spans the full-width of the tower, with 4,500 square feet across three bedrooms and three and half bathrooms—and perfectly-framed views of Central Park. “What I love about this apartment is how it feels as though it was magically dropped into the geographic center of Manhattan, with the city appearing to unfurl equally in all directions around you,” she says. “So you will see that there are echoes of the neighboring gilded roof in the living room’s custom chandelier, that the green silk velvet on the sofa harmonizes perfectly with the trees in the park, and the dusty lavenders and greys that evoke both the sky and skyline that this home feels so much a part of.”

Behun custom designed or curated every piece in the residence. For the artwork, she partnered with advisor Valerie Cueto to place a collection including work by Phoebe Washburh, Gonzalo Lebrija, Manolo Valdes, and Alexander Calder. “The building is a beautiful marriage of modern luxuries with quintessential old world details,” Behun says—and, thanks to her, of modern art and design as well. 

The entry, with clear views to the north and south, layers a vintage Karabagh Runner over a floor of white macauba.
The entry, with clear views to the north and south, layers a vintage Karabagh Runner over a floor of white macauba. Photography by Nicole Franzen.
The Great Room offers custom seating by Kelly Behun, including a pair of arm chairs in linen, suede, and lacquered oak made in collaboration with Narciso Rodriguez.
The Great Room offers custom seating by Kelly Behun, including a pair of arm chairs in linen, suede, and lacquered oak made in collaboration with Narciso Rodriguez. Photography by Nicole Franzen.
A painting by Chris Ofili hangs in the home office, which is furnished with a handcrafted Throne Chair by Mauro Varotti bookended by Matt Castilleja’s ebonized oak and lacquer bookshelves.
A painting by Chris Ofili hangs in the home office, which is furnished with a handcrafted Throne Chair by Mauro Varotti bookended by Matt Castilleja’s ebonized oak and lacquer bookshelves. Photography by Nicole Franzen.
Ted Lawson’s 2020 mdf, stainless steel, and lacquer artwork hangs above the Great Room’s dining banquette in mohair and a cersued oak dining table and chairs, all custom designed by Kelly Behun Studios; the c. 1968 chair and ottoman are by Olivier Mourgue.
Ted Lawson’s 2020 mdf, stainless steel, and lacquer artwork hangs above the Great Room’s dining banquette in mohair and a cersued oak dining table and chairs, all custom designed by Kelly Behun Studios; the c. 1968 chair and ottoman are by Olivier Mourgue. Photography by Nicole Franzen.
The primary bedroom includes a custom bed of white oak upholstered in ivory velvet with tambour detail, and a pair of Kassandra Thatcher table lamps.
The primary bedroom includes a custom bed of white oak upholstered in ivory velvet with tambour detail, and a pair of Kassandra Thatcher table lamps. Photography by Nicole Franzen.
In the secondary bedroom, Kelly Behun Studio for Hudson Valley Lighting brass and ceramic table lamps with linen shades illuminate a hand-painted wallpaper with ink washing on Japanese paper.
In the secondary bedroom, Kelly Behun Studio for Hudson Valley Lighting brass and ceramic table lamps with linen shades illuminate a hand-painted wallpaper with ink washing on Japanese paper. Photography by Colin Miller.
A blown-glass, ash, and cherry chandelier by Jérome Pereira hangs over Matt Castilleja’s custom solid rift sawn white oak dining table; the kitchen’s custom cabinets are chateau gray oak, its countertops and backsplash stepped crystallo white quartzite, and its appliances Gaggenau.
A blown-glass, ash, and cherry chandelier by Jérome Pereira hangs over Matt Castilleja’s custom solid rift sawn white oak dining table; the kitchen’s custom cabinets are chateau gray oak, its countertops and backsplash stepped crystallo white quartzite, and its appliances Gaggenau. Photography by Nicole Franzen.
A custom, polished-nickle bathub designed by Studio Sofield and crafted by William Holland, with exclusive Studio Sofield-designed bronze fittings hand-cast by P.E. Guerin, sits within the primary bathroom’s walls and radiant-heated floors of veined white onyx.
A custom, polished-nickle bathub designed by Studio Sofield and crafted by William Holland, with exclusive Studio Sofield-designed bronze fittings hand-cast by P.E. Guerin, sits within the primary bathroom’s walls and radiant-heated floors of veined white onyx. Photography by Peter Murdock.

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