Interior designers often begin with a blank canvas. But every now and then, as in the case of Seyie Putsure, the canvas is more tan than blank. The bones of the newly acquired Tribeca condo she was hired to update for longtime clients Joe and Jennifer Duran were beautiful. But its façade—namely the heavy, beige-hued palette—required a makeover.
“The goal was to honor both the traditional spirit of the building and the industrial edge of its downtown location, while also personalizing the space and incorporating my clients’ blue-chip art collection,” Putsure says. Having collaborated with the Durans previously on their primary home in Laguna Beach, California, the designer understood their aesthetic—glamorous, colorful and artistic, with hints of whimsy. At the same time, the couple has three daughters, one of whom still lives at home, so the space needed to play well with kids.
“We’re all about cooking and using our kitchen hard, having great meals at the table and being able to sit on the couch and put our feet up,” Jennifer notes. “Seyie knows that if something’s not functional, even if it looks amazing, it’s not going to make the cut.”
To address the Durans’ practical concerns, as well as their desire for a crisper palette, Putsure, in collaboration with architect Michael Patino and general contractor Gregory Madzio, set about reimagining the space. Renovations included converting the family room, which had originally flowed into the main living area, into an airy third bedroom and transforming the living room’s built-in bookcase into a stylish bar.
“My clients love to entertain, so we decided to give them a bar with a boutique hotel vibe,” Putsure says. “To maintain a cohesive feel with the original dark-wood floors and doors, which we preserved, we did a walnut-and-bronze bar with a very high-gloss finish so it would feel glamorous and different.” The process of de-beigeing also involved removing wallpapers, refinishing kitchen and bathroom cabinets and refreshing millwork and other surfaces with bright white paint or bespoke wall treatments.
Once the bones had been addressed, it was time to inject the home with some magic. “I wanted to create an element of romance and fantasy, so my clients would feel like they’re transported,” explains Putsure, whose unique background—she grew up in Northeast India and cut her creative teeth in the New York fashion industry before pivoting to interior design—instilled in her an early passion for color and pattern.
This passion finds bold expression throughout the home. Shades of lilac, pink, magenta and seafoam bring soft beauty to the bedrooms, while Missoni-covered pillows and graphic upholstered dining benches enliven the living and dining areas. The Durans’ impressive art collection, which includes works by David Hockney and Sterling Ruby, adds a final layer of sophistication and vibrancy.
But perhaps the liveliest feature of the home is the sweeping New York skyline itself, visible through panoramic windows and from an expansive terrace. “We worked with landscape designer Daniel Hunter to tie the indoors to the outdoors so that everything would feel connected,” Putsure says, noting how the look, feel and colors of the outdoor fabrics were designed to mimic those used indoors.
To achieve an artful mix that nods to the industrial origins of the neighborhood, the designer played with materials, silhouettes and finishes to garnish her scheme. Take the foyer, where a textured wallpaper lives alongside a trio of sculptural pendants by Lindsey Adelman. “The chunky chain of the light fixtures has more of an industrial vibe, but the brass softens it and provides an element of elegance,” Putsure explains. A vintage Italian coatrack near the front door and an antique lamp in the living room resembling a leaf lend further soulful patina to the residence.
“I love the history of Tribeca,” says Jennifer, whose family is overjoyed with their new surrounds. “I love being somewhere where you can feel the ghosts of the lives previously led there, and really wanted that energy to roll into our place. Seyie is so open to helping you combine the vision and functionality you want, while adding her touch and taste and pulling it all together.”
