How An Upper East Side Co-Op Was Remade With An Artist’s Soul

lorenza panero apartment 1326 madison ave apt 55 manhattan
A colorful pied-é-terre on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. (Ted Porter Architecture | Ty Cole Photographer)

It’s a true artist’s loft in every sense.

And no wonder. The Upper East Side co-op apartment has been the beneficiary of a collaboration of creative minds: architect Ted Porter and owner Lorenza Panero, a multidisciplinary Bogotá-based artist who works in photography, painting and sculpture.

Visually, the result is that of a clean white canvas splashed with color. Functionally, it’s an imaginative use of the high-ceilinged space.

The dining nook in a Manhattan apartment.

Custom white cabinetry plays a transformative role throughout the apartment. (Ted Porter Architecture | Ty Cole Photographer )

Due to renovation work, the once choppy floorplan now has a more flexible layout. The dining room can be quickly turned into a second bedroom with built-in, hideaway storage for the table and chairs, a movable wall partition and the use of a Murphy bed.

Custom white cabinetry plays a transformative role throughout the apartment. In the adjacent living room, a cabinet folds up to reveal the television. When down, the white-faced cabinet fronts blend into the walls.

Clever built-ins in artist's manhattan apartment on madison ave

A cabinet folds up to reveal the television in the living room. When down, the white-faced cabinet fronts blend into the walls. (Ted Porter Architecture | Ty Cole Photographer)

The galley kitchen can be hidden away by sliding doors to resemble a closet-lined hallway. A large pass-through above the kitchen sink connects to the dining area.

The fifth-floor perch is flooded with natural light from its southern and eastern exposures. A glass upper cabinet brings sunlight from the dining area in the kitchen.

living room in an artist's apartment at 1326 Madison Ave

Bright-colored furniture and artwork pops against the apartment’s white-walled interior. (Ted Porter Architecture | Ty Cole Photographer)

In the bathroom, a floating vanity and large glass-fronted shower continue the clean, minimal appearance.

An aluminum picture rail runs throughout the 1,075-square-foot apartment.

kitchen in manhattan apartment renovated by architect Ted Porter and owner Lorenza Panero

Sliding doors conceal the galley-style kitchen. (Ted Porter Architecture | Ty Cole Photographer)

The one-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op is in a pet-friendly building in the Carnegie Hill neighborhood, about a block away from Central Park. The 40-unit building was converted in 1980 and dates to the turn of the last century. Amenities include a live-in super, a laundry room and a bike room, as well as extra storage.

bedroom inside Lorenza Panero upper east side apartment

A narrow partition creates a small office space in the bedroom. (Ted Porter Architecture | Ty Cole Photographer)

The unit, 1326 Madison Avenue Apartment 55, is listed for $1.325 million by Cecilia Serrano and Hala Lawrence of Warburg Realty, a founding member of Forbes Global Properties.

As for the colorful furnishings that give the co-op its distinct vibe? Purchasing those with the place could be an option. In real estate, everything is negotiable.

Author

During four decades of covering luxury and celebrity housing, I’ve looked into people’s homes, lives and property records through many lenses. I was the Los Angeles Times Real Estate section editor for eight years, the Hot Property columnist for six and did stints as a newspaper reporter, copy editor and page designer. My work for The Times Business, Home and Real Estate sections has garnered in-house and national awards for blogging, editing and feature writing.

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