New York Living Magazine, July/August 2003

Three Apartments Combined in the Village

Stephen N. Carter's latest project is his own home: a 3,200-square-foot apartment at Two Fifth Avenue that overlooks Greenwich Village from panoramic windows and wraparound terrances.

Carter, the founder and principal of The Carman Group, a New York- and Connecticut-based firm that specializes in design, project management, and construction management, has applied his credo, "Think Before You Build," to his home, which entailed combining three apartments--a two-bedroom, one-bhedroom, and studio--to create a home with four bedrooms, four baths, two offices, a gourmet eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, wine closet/butler's pantry, and three terraces.

With his wife, Connie, Carter conceived of an ideal space for them and their twin girls. The entry hallway and foyer are the central space off of which is the open living room, dining room, and kitchen area. Opposite is the main bedroom wing. The master bedroom features two terraces, his-and-her bathrooms, and two walk-in closets. The girls' bedroom, with wrap windows and great light, was formerly the home office, and the Carters kept the existing cabinets, workstations, and drawers, and refabricated the millwork with white high-gloss laminate. They added a walk-in closet and a double bathroom with hand-painted tiles, deck-mounted double-bathtub, and two pedestal sinks, one for each girl.

There's a separate winged guest bedroom with terrace and bathroom. Connie's office, with a pull-out couch, doubles as a second guest room.

The kitchen has a barstool-height counter, and off the kitchen is a terrace that serves as an additional family dining area. The kitchen is a cook's paradise, with a DCS 36" six-burner gas cooktop with hood and double ovens, two dishwashers, and a SubZero refrigerator framed by granite counters.

Other details include recessed lighting and recessed music speakers, door-activated lighting in each closet, limestone flooring in the main foyer in a diagonal circulation pattern, frameless glass shower enclosures, and abundant closets.

Photo credit: Steve Frelhon