Kent Avenue Penthouse by Norm Architects

Designed by Norm Architects, the Kent Avenue penthouse is a one-of-a-kind residence nestled along the Brooklyn waterfront, overlooking the East River and Manhattan skyline. Here, New York’s industrial vibe meets soft minimalism and tactile materials, creating an urban retreat above the bustling city. The open plan solution has been preserved and thoughtfully layered to define different zones, while a sunken terrace invites relaxation with its plunge pool and exquisite views.

Spanning approximately 350 square metres, the penthouse occupies the entire top floor of a grand building along the East River and is divided into two distinct living spaces—one designed for the privacy of the family, and the other a fully equipped guest house.

The residence seamlessly blends contemporary elegance with tactile materials, creating an atmosphere of both intimacy and spaciousness. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame breathtaking views of the river and Manhattan skyline, as well as the lush greenery that envelops the expansive terrace, blurring the line between indoors and out.

Inside, a serene interior balances the vibrant exterior views, while soft, plush textiles create warmth and tactility. The design blends organic shapes with clean lines, resulting in a space that feels both soothing and stimulating.

An in-built fireplace framed by elegant Carrara marble adds a touch of luxury, while discreet hidden doors open to reveal a private TV lounge, maintaining a clean and tranquil aesthetic. 

In the hallway a skylight floods the narrow space with natural light, creating an open and airy atmosphere.

A bespoke kitchen crafted by Vipp features a sleek black exterior with a natural oak core, blending style and functionality. The steel benchtop adds a refined, modern touch, while the folding fronts seamlessly tuck away to optimise space and enhance versatility within the kitchen.

Situated between the kitchen-dining area and living room, a grand bookcase with a perforated steel back invites natural light to permeate the space, preserving the connection between zones while defining their distinct purposes. This multifunctional bookcase also displays personal family treasures, adding character to the minimalist design.

Transitioning from the kitchen area, a door opens to reveal the adult suite, encompassing an office, bedroom, walk-in closet, and bathroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows line the walkway, framing serene views of the terrace greenery, with the graceful drape of sheer curtains adding a gentle layer to the streamlined materials.

The bedroom features a wooden bedframe with a headboard that extends to the ceiling, creating an intimate alcove within the airy, open space. Thoughtfully crafted, it serves a dual purpose as a closet on the reverse side, seamlessly merging function with style. The natural wood draws inspiration from the outdoors, blurring the boundaries between the interior and the surrounding greenery. This connection to nature brings warmth and tranquility, softening the modern design while fostering a deep sense of well-being and relaxation – transforming the room into a serene retreat.

The bathroom is crafted entirely from large grey stone slabs, with elegant silver fixtures that enhance the cool, modern aesthetic. In contrast to the warm wooden tones of the bedroom, the sharp lines of the stone create a bold, minimalist look. Soft curtains, consistent with the rest of the house, introduce a tactile element, casting beautiful shadows from the surrounding trees and greenery. Cleverly hidden storage adds to the clean, streamlined design.

The guest unit is cosy yet spacious. Here, a bespoke steel and wood kitchen is accented with elegant butterfly details, blending modern design with subtle craftsmanship.

There is also a living room, tranquil bedroom, a small office nook, bathroom, and toilet. Designed with the same elegant style as the main apartment, each detail—from the soft colour palette to the clean lines—ensures a harmonious and cohesive flow that feels effortlessly luxurious.

A serene haven where urban life meets tranquil living, the Kent Avenue Penthouse is impeccably designed and thoughtfully curated to cultivate a sense of unity and calm—a perfect blend of urban energy and quiet retreat.

Credits 

Norm Architects: Architect & Partner, Peter Eland / Architect, Hedda Klar 

Photography: Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

VIEW STORY

Lakefront Retreat: A Blend of Wilderness and Understated Luxury

Founded in 2014, Daniel Joseph Chenin is an architecture and interiors studio specialising in fully conceptualised residential spaces. With a belief that design should engage the senses, the firm treats each project as an opportunity to craft an experience—one with a story arc and a distinct visual language that establishes a strong sense of place. Known for seamlessly blending architecture and interiors to create captivating environments, Daniel Joseph Chenin was commissioned by a repeat client to bring their vision for a new lakefront residence to life on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene in Harrison, Idaho.

In collaboration with renowned New York architect Hart Howerton, the studio led the comprehensive interior design, from custom detailing and furnishings to artwork curation, lighting, and accessories. The result is a cohesive, sophisticated lake retreat that reflects the studio’s signature approach to creating immersive and thoughtfully curated spaces.

On a scouting trip to the proposed site, Chenin was immediately struck by the natural beauty of the location—a majestic hillside framed by evergreen trees, with a tranquil lake embraced by the surrounding wilderness. However, the rugged terrain posed logistical and design challenges, particularly with the seasonal elements that characterize the area as a summer destination.

“The home is clad in reclaimed wood, with knobby imperfections that give it a rough and ready exterior that blends into the natural context,” explains Chenin. “It also responds to the harsh off-season climate by being fitted with a metal roof and Corten steel garage doors for much-needed protection against ice and heavy snow.”

Having collaborated with the couple on multiple residences since 2016, Chenin built on a relationship of trust and understanding. This foundation allowed the design process to focus on unraveling the client’s vision of a mountain retreat—one that felt true to its natural surroundings yet infused with understated luxury. They wanted a home that was warm and welcoming, with a soft, refined atmosphere, but also durable enough to withstand the demands of its environment.

The rugged exterior gives way to a more refined interior, softened by thoughtful detailing and carefully selected furnishings. The colour palette and materials, including leather, iron, steel, marble, and a variety of woods, were inspired by the natural environment. Custom-designed furniture adds texture and interest, anchored by area rugs that echo the surroundings, such as fallen leaves on the forest floor.

The home’s layout is simple and functional, with the main level featuring a kitchen and expansive pantry, living and dining rooms, an entry foyer, a mudroom, and a secluded primary bedroom. The second level comprises a second primary bedroom suite with a kitchenette, while the below-grade first floor, embedded into the hillside, and featuring a walkout terrace, houses three additional guest bedrooms centered around a large living area that connects them.

A diverse range of materials are thoughtfully integrated across the home—a large, hand-carved cabinet with bronze doors, subtle yet effective light fixtures, and barstools with durable leather finishes. Rich materials like Calacatta marble in the kitchen and bathrooms, oak flooring, and unlacquered bronze hardware introduce warmth, providing a counterbalance to the home’s more utilitarian elements.

“The bronze hardware will patina and weather over time through touch and exposure to the air,” explains Chenin. “Numerous finishes and details of this project are reflections of elements present in the surrounding natural environment, and we succeeded in replicating their shapes and textures.”

Tactile experiences are woven throughout from exposed wooden ceiling beams to nature-inspired artwork that lines the walls. Organic patterns in the furnishings further ground the design in its environment, as do the carved wooden legs of custom-built furniture and a steel tabletop that replicates the rings of a tree trunk. A live-edge desk in the upstairs suite adds another natural touch, echoing the connection to the outdoors.

One of the more challenging aspects of the design was the unusually long room on the main level. To address this, Chenin custom-designed a massive credenza to anchor the space. Steel-plated with simple handles and raw wood showcasing grainy patterns, the credenza balances rusticity with a polished finish. Throughout the home, Chenin’s positioning of custom pieces provides balance, versatility, and functionality. Each design draws inspiration from the surrounding environment, with live-edge wood kept from splitting by metal bowties, and steel reinforcement wraps binding wooden legs and bases together.

“There is an overall visual to the design, and then there’s abundant discovery of nuance as the materials and the finishes come together,” notes Chenin. “It’s utilitarian in its simplicity, yet very smart in its subtlety, with proportions and forms that are highly refined.”

A harmonious blend of natural elements and considered details, the home offers a tactile, grounded experience that feels deeply connected to its environment while providing comfort and warmth—a space where every detail tells a story and invites discovery.

Credits

Interior Design: Daniel Joseph Chenin, Ltd

Architecture: Hart Howerton

Contractors: Tekton

Photographer credits: David Mitchell

VIEW STORY

Space Copenhagen Unveils Interiors for Apothéose

In the bustling Toranomon Hills Tower in Tokyo, a new 40-seat restaurant and bar has been brought to life through the creative vision of Space Copenhagen, the celebrated Danish design studio. Named Apothéose, this culinary haven is the brainchild of the celebrated Michelin Chef Keita Kitamura, who returned to Japan after a successful 15-year tenure in Paris. Blending the rich tapestry of Japanese culinary traditions with the sophisticated influences of French culture, the restaurant's interior seamlessly weaves together elements designed by Space Copenhagen to craft an environment that is not only inviting but also serves as the perfect backdrop for patrons to indulge in Chef Kitamura's extraordinary cuisine.

Upon entering Apothéose, guests are greeted by a bespoke sculptural host station in a spacious hallway, which flows effortlessly into a welcoming lounge area. Here, sturdy oak tables and moss-green Loafer Chairs by &Tradition, upholstered in neo-classical-inspired Kvadrat Sacho fabric, invite guests to relax in an atmosphere that feels at once contemporary yet grounded in timeless design.​ The floor and walls are adorned with earthy, warm, light-burnt terracotta tiles, with some wall surfaces covered in a lighter, semi-transparent textile in a natural tone. The space maintains a seamless connection to the outdoor terrace with lush greenery in the form of trees and plants, creating an invitingly organic atmosphere in the restaurant.

As guests leave the open lounge area, they enter a warmly lit passageway lined with built-in wine cabinets. The walls and door frames are covered in refined darkened brass panels, and at the end of the passage is a beautifully crafted double door that marks the entrance to the restaurant. The door, which opens automatically when approached, features an intricate scalloped decorative motif and handles made of darkened brass. As guests enter the restaurant, they are greeted by a vibrant open kitchen with stunning views of the Tokyo Skyline.

The restaurant space has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, offering a noticeable change of pace from the busy urban landscape at the bottom of the Tower. The stunning view of Tokyo feels almost otherworldly and meditative. Light filters through the space from day to night through transparent sheer fabric framing the façade, while the simple and minimal spatial features and surfaces, rich textures, and carefully selected materials are highlighted in different lights. The darkened brass wall panels that wrap around the open kitchen are complemented by walls in chalky plaster, alongside wall panels and floors in light wood. Further use of wooden panelled walls defines a separate, intimate private dining space next to the kitchen.

To enhance the overall design, Space Copenhagen has carefully selected a palette of natural materials for the restaurant’s furnishings including fabrics from Dedar and grey Nuance leather from Sorensen. Gleda dining chairs in solid white oak, designed by Space Copenhagen for British furniture brand Benchmark, are complemented by solid white oak tables custom-made by Benchmark for the restaurant. In the lounge area, artist Hideaki Yamanobe’s painting, fittingly entitled Through the Clouds, adds a poetic layer to the space. A stone waiter’s station serves as a functional and decorative element, housing ceramics, glassware, and sculptural objects, while strengthening the connection between the kitchen and the guests.

Lighting plays a crucial role in creating a warm and inviting atmosphere at Apothéose, with portable Como Lamps by &Tradition providing table illumination, and modern, playful light fixtures from Michael Anastassiades punctuating the wider space. Subtle yet impactful, the lighting reinforces Space Copenhagen’s emphasis on craftsmanship, beauty, honest materiality, quality, curiosity, and balance.

Commenting on the design strategy of the restaurant and bar, Space Copenhagen founders Peter Bundaard Rützou and Signe Bindslev Henriksen say “We wanted Apothéose to be a refined space of crafted elegance with its own distinctiveness, we hope guests enjoy spending time in its considered and intimate dining and culinary experience.”

Toranomon Hills encapsulates the concept of transformation. What was once primarily known as a business district is now evolving into a multifaceted place that combines work and life with cultural discovery and hospitality. Earlier this year, Space Copenhagen designed Hotel Toranomon Hills, which occupies the ground and 11th to 14th floors of the Toranomon Hills Station Tower. The hotel includes Le Pristine Tokyo, a restaurant by Sergio Herman, also designed by Space Copenhagen, following their celebrated design of the original Le Pristine in Antwerp in 2020.

Photography by Joachim Wichmann

VIEW STORY