Frederick Tang Architecture skillfully merged two Upper West Side residences into a single 2,800-square-foot sanctuary that honors a family’s Indian heritage while balancing communal living with sophisticated, flexible design

By combining two neighboring residences into a single, seamless 2,800 square-foot, four-bedroom home in Manhattan, Frederick Tang Architecture (FTA) has created a fluid and highly flexible sanctuary for a couple and their three children - a space that gracefully balances communal life with the need for privacy and sophisticated design.

The design is a deeply personal response to the family’s heritage and aesthetic passions. Inspired by their Indian background, the clients sought to integrate materiality, particularly stone, into their home. This was coupled with an appreciation for vibrant color and "painterly strokes", a nod to a beloved grandfather who was an artist. The resulting interior design centers on richly colored and patterned stone surfaces, establishing a luxurious and unique palette that permeates the apartment.

The functional challenge of the merger was solved with unexpected spatial solutions. As Frederick Tang, founder and principal of FTA, explains, "Every New Yorker’s fantasy is to tear down the wall and join the space next door... We really thought about how every member of the family might go through their days." Instead of simply retaining one of the existing kitchens, FTA found a new, central location for it, adjacent to the living room and anchoring a large, open space that accommodates the family's frequent large weekend dinners.

This open area is a study in texture and color. The kitchen is defined by a striking stormy blue Phoenix marble backsplash from ABC Stone. The centerpiece is a black soapstone island, a rounded, asymmetrical pentagon that serves as a casual dining hub. In the adjacent dining area, a custom table by FTA is crafted from shimmering quartzite platinum crystal stone from Bas Stone, its surface overlooked by a sculptural Bolle chandelier from Giopato & Coombes, floating like an ethereal cloud. This sculptural language, initiated by the tambour-like fluting at the base of the dining table and kitchen island, is a repeating motif throughout the apartment, continuing into the custom slatted white oak millwork of the living area.

Perhaps the most ingenious aspect of the design is its narrative of "revealing and concealing". As FTA Design Director Barbara Reyes notes, the home had to be beautiful yet practical for a growing family. "The story of this home is about revealing and concealing," she says. This is most evident at the entry, where a convertible library and sitting room transforms seamlessly into a guest room and a concealed work-from-home office behind elegant sliding panels in deep blue and marbled patterning. A Murphy bed is tucked away, providing function without clutter. Vaulted ceilings, with curvature that echoes the tambour motif, lend a sense of grandeur to the space upon entry.

The private quarters are organized into distinct zones at opposite ends of the apartment. Past the communal living area is the "kids' zone," which includes a small nook with custom-cushioned cubbies for each child, leading to bedrooms with playful yet sophisticated elements, such as wallpaper from Flat Vernacular. The "adults' zone," adjacent to the foyer, is characterized by deeper, richer blues and greens, textures, and patterns. This includes the primary suite and a powder room clad in scenic peacock wallpaper from de Gournay, a cherished selection by the clients, cementing the apartment as a truly bespoke and artfully crafted home.