An artist’s colorful and convertible co-op in Carnegie Hill asks $1.3M

A Murphy bed, movable partitions, hidden storage–these clever additions make this $1.3 million Upper East Side co-op a true city gem. Located in the Carnegie Hill neighborhood at 1326 Madison Avenue, the 1,075-square-foot home was custom designed by the current owner, Bogotá-based artist Lorenza Panero. She bought the apartment in 2012 for $650,000 and then embarked on a colorful and convertible renovation.

Ms. Panero worked with Ted Porter Architecture on the gut renovation of her New York City pied-a-terre. According to the architect’s website, she “requested a flexible space where she could stay with her family on occasional visits to NYC, or which she could convert into a salon-style gallery for showcasing her photographic works.” Likewise, Ms. Panero said in a 2017 Cottages & Gardens feature on her home: “I wanted to be able to hide the functional parts of my apartment and have a neutral white space for showing artwork to potential buyers and dealers.”

To that end, a long hallway upon entering houses a kitchen that can be concealed completely, allowing this convertible wall to function as a gallery space. Though it’s small the kitchen has a four-burner stove, dishwasher, and half fridge.

From there, the corner living room gets southern and eastern light. A custom storage solution hides the television, while A stainless steel display shelf allows for an ever-changing display of artwork. As the architects explain, “the clean modern pallet of white walls, oak floors, and marble provides a pristine backdrop to the colorful photographs and complementary furnishings.”

Adjacent to the living room is the dining room/convertible bedrooms. Simply move the collapsable dining table and chairs, pull down the Murphy bed, close the partition, and you’ve got a private, second bedroom.

Back on the other side of the entrance are the full bathroom and the bedroom. Opposite the bed is a full wall of closets, which Ms. Panero uses to store her artwork.

The co-op building is known as The Fairfax and is located on Madison Avenue between East 93rd and East 94th Streets, just one block from Central Park and two blocks from the Second Avenue Subway at 96th Street.

[Listing details: 1326 Madison Avenue, Apt 55 at CityRealty]

[At Warburg Realty by Cecilia Serrano and Hala Lawrence]

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Photo Credit: Ted Porter Architecture; Ty Cole Photographer