Flatiron NYC by Heather Hilliard Design

Five hundred feet above New York City’s Flatiron District, impervious to Manhattan’s constant hubbub, NYC Flatiron by Heather Hilliard Design simultaneously reflects the twinkling city and the soft sky.

In its previous life, the home now known as NYC Flatiron was distinguished by one hallmark: glass walls that showcased the twinkling city below. The golden light, panoramic views and peaceful atmosphere served as the inspiration for the renovation by Heather Hilliard Design. The San Francisco-based design firm embraced warm and textured elements, applying lime paint in the main spaces, cocooning the office in sueded wallpaper and cladding the bedroom walls in paper-backed wool to bring the essence of the outdoors inside. The design team, led by principal Heather Hilliard and supported by designers Phebe Williams and Kristina Pinakidis, also conjured material illusions, using fabrics such as alpaca, mohair, silk and velvet, along with touches of bronze and brass, to emulate the glints of sunlight reflected off a skyscraper’s glimmering facade.

The San Francisco-based design firm embraced warm and textured elements, applying lime paint in the main spaces, cocooning the office in sueded wallpaper and cladding the bedroom walls in paper-backed wool to bring the essence of the outdoors inside.

The homeowners’ pursuit of artistic exploration is evident in the diverse mix of artisanal furniture and lighting throughout the home. The great room and primary bedroom are adorned with an array of poetic, hand-carved wooden pieces by New York-based designer Carol Egan, which straddle the line between craft and technology. In the living room, the white-bronze and raw black oak Hamada Moon table by Jean-Luc Mounier, sourced from Todd Merrill, features a tessellated top that evokes a natural desert landscape. The office is an object lesson in contrasts, featuring a cabinet with a hand-scraped and sand-blasted blackened finish alongside a vintage white metal Philip Michael Wolfson desk, both serving as juxtaposed elements. A sparkling Emmanuel Babled Digit chandelier in the dining area adds a touch of brilliance to the serene interior.

As the firm’s principal Heather Hilliard explains, some novelties travelled farther than others. One such example is the leather and brass chair from Galerie Gosserez in the primary bedroom, a lucky find from Paris. Another is the Campana Brothers Panda banquette, originally designed for the homeowners’ West Coast residence. As for the sofas, dining table, bedside tables and bed in the primary bedroom, the practice designed these pieces in-house, aligning the aesthetic lexicon to the overall vision of the home.

The homeowners’ pursuit of artistic exploration is evident in the diverse mix of artisanal furniture and lighting throughout the home.

The art selection paints in broad strokes the owners’ eclectic bent. A trifecta of vibrant Adam Fuss works, sourced through Cheim & Read Gallery, respectively animate the living room, study and primary bedroom, as do an acrylic collage by Donald Baechler and a mesmeric painting by Milton Resnick in the guest bedrooms. The art selection serves as a characterful overlay to the underpinning design, infusing each space with a unique personality that harmonises with the home’s thoughtfully curated interiors.

Interior design by Heather Hilliard Design. Art curation by Cheim & Read.