Condo Sell: A Model Bachelor Pad for Swinging Singles
Luxe model apartment designed by GKV Architects targets men’s contemporary living

by Russell Boniface
Associate Editor

How do you . . . provide the service of a model architect-designed interior as a special selling tool?

Summary: New York-based GKV Architects recently celebrated the grand opening of its “swinging bachelor pad” model apartment at Sky House Condominiums, a 55-story brick-and-glass luxury residence in downtown Manhattan. The Sky House Condominiums, designed by Bruce Fowle, FAIA, senior partner at New York-based FXFOWLE Architects, targets New York’s jet-set single male demographic. The 1,800-square-foot model apartment by GKV Architects offers a luxury interior design of plush finishes and amenities from bygone “swinging” eras combined with today’s industrial chic styles and today’s technology. The concept behind the bachelor model apartment is to demonstrate to potential Sky House buyers, chiefly single males, how they could decorate their own space. There are 139 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in Sky House, with no more than three per floor, all with skyline views in each direction. GKV Architects partnered with New York-based developer Clarett Group, the Sky House Condominums developer, on the model apartment design project.

The swinging model pad is the impetus to buy
“It’s a bachelor pad—that’s how we’re billing it,” says Bryan Bennett of GKV Architects, who designed the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath model apartment for Sky House. “I’ve done many novel apartments for the Clarett Group over the years, and we’ve always cast the widest net possible. This time, due to the location and their target audience, for the first time we honed in on the single demographic.”

Bennett says his interior design serves as the selling tool for the Sky House sales office. “Architecturally, I think that the model apartment is supposed to show that every apartment in the building can be, style-wise, bachelor-like. The model will help them envision themselves living in that space.”

Eclectic mix of bygone, contemporary design styles
Bennett explains that the process was all about getting creative within an empty condo shell boasting floor-to-ceiling windows. “Once the client came up with the concept of a bachelor pad, I got real excited. I knew all kinds of people were going to be viewing the model, so it couldn’t be too narrowly focused. I basically borrowed from several different design aesthetics. I combined industrial chic parts and pieces, which is hot right now, with designs from the ’30s through the ’70s. Then I mixed in contemporary designs, such as Italian and leather. The nice thing is you get more than one layer.”

The interior of the swinging bachelor model is tied together by a contrasting black-and-white palette, with touches of gray. “The designs integrate with each other and create a nice story, rather than having it all be from one era or decade.”

The floor-to-ceiling windows and hardwood floors in the loft-like living room help create what Bennet describes as the “social hub.” The space is anchored by a bright Philippe Starck lounging sofa reminiscent of yesteryear—replete with white shag pillows—in front of a black, flat-screen HDTV. The room features black, gray, and white cabinets, marble tables, and ‘40s-style white leather and chrome chairs. From the ‘70s, we get a black-and-white pony skin rug, a vinyl hand chair, disco-era lighting, and the original 1978 Playboy pinball machine. To honor today’s industrial chic, the model employs white-washed concrete walls as well as steel and lighting fixtures reminiscent of workshops, labs, and warehouses. There are even brown wood and steel chairs hanging from the wall.

“Overall, it’s a lot of push and pull,” Bennett says. In the dining room, the black-and-white theme continues. Says Bennett, “It’s ‘40s-glam, with a black crystal Baccarat plume chandelier over a rustic farmhouse table, aluminum navy chairs, and silver-leafed framed mirrors. The crystal continues at the bar, set up with beautiful crystal decanters and liquor bottles.”

In the master suite, which Bennett describes as “oversized,” he placed a white lacquered bed between ‘50s- and ‘60s-style Danish Modern rosewood night stands that have 21st century industrial chic lamps. Bennett also incorporated a ‘70s-style, gray grasscloth wall finish and ‘30s-style sconces. The master bath is ‘70s-style, with highly glossed black lacquer wall coverings and black-and-white marble floors and ceramic fixtures. Rounding out the model are an open kitchen and a multimedia office that features non-digital clocks.

Leaves an impression
“What happens frequently with these new luxury condos towers,” Bennett points out, “is if someone is really in the market, they will see hundreds of different, white, blank apartments. This model apartment is really an opportunity to leave a lasting impression and show them the specific architecture. It shows them that yes you can get your beautiful king-size bed into this room. So they might first show you the unit you would be getting—blank, unpainted, and unfinished—and then take you to the model apartment. Then they will ask, ‘remember this dining area? …it can look like this…and here’s space for two end tables, your dresser, the chair.’ Then, you might not think so much of your unit as just an empty box. That is the goal of the model apartment.”