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Tranquil Townhouse

by habituallychic

02 . 24 . 09

I was looking for a a living room concept recently and came across the townhouse that Nate Berkus designed for Katie Lee Joel and it reminded me how much I loved this home when I first saw it. While I enjoyed looking at the spread in Domino, I always liked looking at the photos online without them obscured by text or folded in the middle. I’m also sure that everyone has seen it before but sometimes it’s nice to revisit an old favorite especially when it has a beautifully serene color palette and simply perfect furnishings. Also, makes me wish I lived in a pretty townhouse in the West Village. Sigh.

Photos by Paul Costello

24 Comments
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  1. Catherine February 24, 2009 | 4:42 am

    What a beautiful natural palette. Of all the natural details to notice . . . I am in love with the coffee table. So delicate and classic.

  2. Suzy February 24, 2009 | 5:03 am

    The living room is perfection!

  3. Style Redux 2 February 24, 2009 | 5:11 am

    Really pretty-I love the last photo with the Frances Elkins loop chair especially.

  4. hms February 24, 2009 | 12:30 pm

    This is where I have a problem, and I see this stuff all the time.
    Would anyone really feel comfortable sitting an a room such as that first room? If you were visiting this person and they lead you into that room and sat down to talk or have a visit, would you want to do it there?
    See that’s the thing for me. It looks somewhat okay to the eye, the colors, the little pieces but this is not “Sense and Sensibility” or “Emma”. This is real life; real time and It all looks like you’ve hairsprayed your tendrils into place, so they don’t move and stay perfectly perfect. The other “living” room is much more condusive to breathing and sitting and crossing your legs and not sittiing like you have a torso cast on.

  5. Serendipity February 24, 2009 | 2:04 pm

    Love the chairs in the dining room and the head statue in the bedroom.

    Sara

  6. Lisa Borgnes Giramonti February 24, 2009 | 2:13 pm

    Love the formal living room, perfectly designed for sparkling witty repartee, as well as the cozy “snuggery.”, perfect for cocooning yourself from the world. The color palette is divine, but then isn’t Nate as well?!

  7. Carrie February 24, 2009 | 2:17 pm

    I love the color palette and clean lines in all these pictures. And I know these pictures are staged but I love how the rooms/spaces are not cluttered yet still stylish. Just beautiful, thanks for sharing these.

  8. Abby February 24, 2009 | 2:59 pm

    I’ve always loved this photo spread too, since the first time I saw it in Domino. I think my favorite shots are the kitchen, which those floor to ceiling windows and cafe style table and chairs. Who would love to start their morning there with a little coffee and internet time! Great post!

  9. Jennifer February 24, 2009 | 4:27 pm

    This is one of my favorites too.

  10. Jennifer February 24, 2009 | 4:28 pm

    This is one of my favorites too.

  11. Robin February 24, 2009 | 4:44 pm

    Is there any reference to the paint in the living room/dining room? It is a silvery grey color similar to what I’m searching for. Thanks!

  12. Averill February 24, 2009 | 5:47 pm

    This was one of my favorite spreads in domino. I loved Joel’s kitchen — so lovely!

  13. dwellings and decor February 24, 2009 | 7:51 pm

    Stunning! That first space is to die for! The colors palette is gorgeous!

  14. Habitually Chic February 24, 2009 | 11:47 pm

    Catherine – I really love the coffee table too! I’ would like to find something similar with a lower shelf for my living room.

    Suzy – it looks like your style!

    Style Redux 2 – Since I’ve posted that chair, I keep seeing it everywhere or maybe my eye just notices it more now. It’s on the cover of March 2009 Traditional Home too!

    HMS – I can see your point but in the room’s defense, the front door is to the left as are the stairs. Since it’s the very first room you walk into, I think that’s why it’s so formal. They don’t lounge around in it. It’s a chic and elegant space for cocktail and parties for the celebrities who live there I think. I also think it reflects that the home is in NYC which is more formal than a home in a suburb might be.

    Sara – the dining chairs are antique and fabulous! I love them too!

    Lisa – I love how the colors in the room all relate. The upholstery fabrics echo the wood frame on the mantle and the wood on the sofa. I don’t think that was a cooincidence. Nate has a great eye for detail!

    Carrie – I was joking today that I would move in there in a heartbeat but then I would muck up the whole thing with all my clutter and stuff! I’m sure they cleaned up but that’s why I love it! It’s how I wish I could live!

    Abby – that kitchen is amazing! I would die to have a place like that!

    Jennifer – glad you liked it too!

    Robin – I was wondering if I should post the paint colors. They are perfect! The living room is Benjamin Moore Pale Smoke #1584 and the guest bedroom which I also love is Benjamin Moore Cliffside Gray.

    Averill – it’s in my dream house file folder!

    Dwellings and Decor – I agree! The colors are what make it work!

  15. pve design February 25, 2009 | 4:48 am

    I call this sophisticated cozy, is there such a thing?

  16. Anonymous February 25, 2009 | 1:53 pm

    I love that drama is created by proportion and texture. I am not a fan of too much pattern or prints so this is a much welcomed breather from the KWID fabrics (not that they aren’t beautiful).

  17. Anonymous February 25, 2009 | 5:49 pm

    I love this apartment. Love the colors, the furnishings, the overall feeling it evokes.

    It doesn’t look like the most comfortable space. But I don’t care… I’d just walk around looking at it and feeling fabulous.

  18. wide open spaces February 25, 2009 | 7:25 pm

    I’ve yet to see an interior of Nate’s that I wouldn’t move into immediately.

  19. Elements of Style February 26, 2009 | 12:59 pm

    I have always LOVED this space- especially those huge windows in the kitchen….*sigh*

  20. Andrea February 26, 2009 | 3:28 pm

    Where are the light fixtures from? This is by far one of my favorite “tear-outs” of the last year.

  21. Michelle February 26, 2009 | 7:59 pm

    I love this. I couldn’t see myself living here, but I wish I was that kind of glamorous.

  22. Jill February 27, 2009 | 3:55 pm

    I’ve always loved those Greek key chairs!

  23. Scott Fazzini March 2, 2009 | 12:06 pm

    I try to hate him (in a petty and very jealous way – you’ve gotta agree that it should be easy to hate someone so beautiful, talented, and successful) but I just can’t help but love the fella’!

  24. seesaw designs March 2, 2009 | 7:51 pm

    what an amazing platte!