Designer adds luxe ladys touch to former East Village man cave

When Kerry Dempsey bought her 700-square-foot studio co-op on East 11th Street and Broadway back in 2003, she walked into an abandoned man cave. The guy who was here built a soundproof studio where he could play drums, and clip lights with wires were dangling everywhere, recalls Dempsey, who works in business development for a hedge fund.

But she saw the homes potential: 14-foot ceilings, a cozy loft bedroom and four huge windows with an inspiring view of Grace Church and the old St. Denis Hotel (now office building) across the street a scene that has remained surprisingly unchanged.

Photo: Yale Wagner

Photo: Yale Wagner

I loved the building and the location this specific apartment was so light and airy and I fell in love with the windows, says Dempsey, 43, who snatched it up for under $400,000. The padded drum cell was removed by the seller, and Dempsey hired professionals to strip the floors, re-tile the bathroom, update the kitchen and create a little office nook that could be concealed behind sliding translucent panels.

But theres only so much you can do without an interior designers expert eye. After seven or eight years here, I felt like the apartment needed a facelift, she says. You know, a little Botox.

So Dempsey went online and, after perusing a few different professional interior design websites, was drawn to the work of NYC-based interior designer Brendan Kwinter-Schwartz, the principal and owner of Kwinter & Company. I liked her balance of clean design that isnt too modern, explains Dempsey. All of her rooms are designed to be warm and livable.

Photo: Yale Wagner

Photo: Yale Wagner

Dempsey is, one could say, a classic New York City woman: confident, attractive, smart, with an incredible shoe collection. She travels often for her job and has only about five minutes to relax before rushing off to the office or dinner with friends. She craved a place where I can come home and just plop on the couch.

View post:
Designer adds luxe ladys touch to former East Village man cave