Discover the Drama: A Six-Story Townhouse Blending Moody Minimalism and Maximalist Flair

To design the interiors of this six-story town house in Chelsea, Amy Kolker of Jane Street Projects looked to very specific people and places for inspiration. One was the Maison de Verre in Paris, a
steel-and-glass residence
that was unthinkably modern at the time of its construction in 1932, and another was
Adolf Loos
, an Austro Hungarian architect who rejected adornment but embraced luxurious materials, sometimes covering entire rooms in marble or mahogany.

As a longtime set designer and visual display expert for couture labels and luxury retailers,
Kolker
developed an extensive design vocabulary. When a friend approached her about transforming the interiors of white-walled residence spanning nearly 8,000 square feet, Kolker dug deep into her decorative repertoire. “This was my big debut as an interior designer,” she says. “And it was quite a bit of space to work with.” It helped that her friend (and now client), James Haslam, a filmmaker and co-owner of the
David Armstrong Archive
, was also knowledgeable about the history of design, so the two were able to riff off each other.

Haslam cites diverse influences—from the stark surrealism of
David Lynch
towards the expansive poetics of
Lorenzo Mongiardino
—When it comes to interior design, “It’s all about evoking emotions and telling stories, and our aim was to bring this concept to life within a blank-slate townhouse,” he explains. “Amy accompanied me on this journey; she truly excelled at delivering.”

Initially, Kolker envisioned the residence featuring rich, somber hues with an Old-World charm reminiscent of the period spanning the 1930s through the 1970s. To achieve her vision at street level, she discarded the original pristine white ceramic flooring in favor of terra-cotta tiles coated with black epoxy, resulting in a strikingly dark backdrop. The massive industrial-style windows overlooking the garden were repainted in a bold crimson shade, which complemented the black-and-red color scheme found within the renowned Maison de Verre.
This area downstairs serves primarily as a social hub complete with a sleek brass-top bar flanked by mirror panels and plush Vladimir Kagan lounge seating covered in dove-gray velvet. Delicate off-white draperies hang floor-length providing a gentle contrast to the room’s strong aesthetic elements. Outside, amid the lush landscape behind these curtains lies a recently cultivated grove of bamboo plants—a feature inspired by the interior design showcased in a 1977 edition of Architectural Digest highlighting Halston’s abode on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. “When you draw back those curtains,” explains Kolker, “you’re greeted not only by verdant views but also intricate patterns cast upon the walls.”

Up two levels, past a mezzanine with a library overlooking the double-height windows, is an operatic eat-in kitchen. Its walls are covered in glossy emerald green tiles that go all the way to the ceiling, and the countertops, made of rosso levanto marble, have deep burgundy tones with white veins. The contrast is dazzling. In the center of the space is a Louis XV dining table paired with vintage Thonet chairs upholstered in a green
gauffrage
Velvet alongside a French Art Deco glass pendant. “This is an eclectic tale of classic furnishings,” Kolker states. “It’s a lavish, opulent kitchen.”

On that same level is a parlor used as a media room, with a television hidden behind a sheath of blue curtains, dark navy walls, ceilings to match, and a monolithic floor-to-ceiling marble fireplace flanked by gilded mirrors. This is the room influenced by Loos and his penchant for symmetry and paneling.

Haslam, whose family owns the Haslam Sports Group, was so pleased with the results that he asked Kolker to design his home in Miami. “She knows her stuff,” he says. “And I was impressed by her ability to go outside of her own style.” Kolker has since established her interior design studio and taken on new clients—but none quite like her first. “A lot of people want a ‘safe’ home, but James is extremely creative,” she says. “It was an incredible experience.”