When Bennett Leifer began to think about the design of his 1,000-square-foot apartment in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park, the interior designer of the New York-based design firm Bennett Leifer Interiors saw it as “the chance to work without restriction.” Walking through the small apartment and witnessing the end result situated so naturally and elegantly within is akin to taking an intimate look into Bennett’s unrestrainedly personal design philosophy: “Always keep both form and function in mind.”
The rich greens of Bennett’s palm leaf de Gournay screen complement the purple tones in the carpet of his apartment’s foyer.
The first concept of form manifests in Bennett’s apartment as beauty and expression of personal style. “I like to think of my apartment as a jewel box of my favorite colors, artists, materials, and forms,” he explains, and this is evident in the elements in his apartment. A de Gournay screen, playfully adorned with palm leaves, stands in the living room, complementing modern art collectibles from David Goldes, Damien Hirst, Minjung Kim, and James Nares. All-white walls, accented by the dramatic dark brown of the wood floors, display Bennett’s art collection of serene landscapes and family members. Bennett’s apartment and the unique elements within, which reflect a clean neoclassical style, is a source of visual and emotional happiness.
Bennett’s design philosophy “encompasses restrained elegance and a careful balance of comfort and delicacy.”
Next, Bennett considers the lifestyle he wants his apartment to complement. This is where function, the second part of his design philosophy, comes into play. Flexibility is key, especially in an apartment of this size, and many of its elements, as well as their layout, serve multiple purposes. For example, the living room seating area is centralized and cozy, and is suitable for intimate conversations; yet, it is also situated near the dining table, from which chairs can be borrowed to create an environment for larger groups. “I thought to myself, ‘how do I want to live in this room?’” Bennett explains. With this design, he can envision experiencing quiet moments and enjoying larger-scale entertainment in the same space.
Bennett showcases multiple pieces of art in his apartment, which are highlighted by all-white walls.
And how to tie all of this together? “Draw from a certain point and stay the course,” Bennett suggests. He started with his own apartment in the grand foyer, adorning it with a black-and-purple carpet and complementing the purple tones with rich greens. From there, he took advantage of the logical branching of rooms from the central reception area to further define and focus each of the spaces.
