There’s nothing expected about this limestone-clad townhouse tucked into a storied block of New York City’s Upper East Side. Behind its stately 19th-century façade lies a home that is anything but traditional - a 10,000-square-foot, seven-story sanctuary designed for a dynamic young family, and infused with both artistic ambition and real, lived-in joy.
The family of five - parents and their three sons aged 12 to 17 - approached interior designer Christin Farrar of C. Farrar Design with a vision that pushed far beyond the norms of Upper East Side formality. “They wanted a house that felt like them,” says Farrar. “Playful, full of energy, and grounded in warmth. A place that could showcase their art and still be the go-to hangout for their kids and their friends.”
East Side Escape, With a TwistThe home, originally built in 1888 and reimagined in 2009, is now a layered blend of history and modernity. Farrar was brought in during a whirlwind transition - facing a tight timeline and even a contractor swap mid-project. “They were eager to get out of their West Side brownstone and start fresh,” she says. “The urgency wasn’t just about moving - it was about making the most of this special window of time in their kids' lives.”
The home now reads like a love letter to the family’s passions - especially the husband’s deep reverence for 90s hip hop culture. His office includes an original haiku by a young Tupac, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s law book, and the crown worn by Biggie Smalls in the iconic Sotheby’s photo, now perched in a custom-built stand that mimics the rapper’s famously tilted pose. “That space became a kind of shrine to legacy, in the best way,” Farrar says.
Cool Meets ComfortableDesign-wise, Farrar orchestrated a harmonious balance between bold art and a refined, textural palette. “They’re collecting incredible pieces—Hirst, Martin Whatson, Miya Ando - and I wanted the home to support that without competing,” she says. The foundation: warm whites, soft beiges, and subtle grays, layered with white oak flooring and polished plaster walls. Colour comes in bursts: a hand-painted de Gournay foyer, a brilliant ombré runner spanning all seven floors, and two blue lacquered bars.
Despite its grandeur, the home never feels aloof. That’s by design. “I was chasing something that felt deeply livable,” Farrar explains. “This isn’t a museum. It’s a place for movie nights, late-night teen hangouts, big dinners with friends. Every piece had to support that energy.”
Art, Light, and Life in Every RoomFrom room to room, the house flows with a quiet confidence. Custom lighting from Apparatus and Urban Electric coexists with Gubi chairs and Missoni textiles. Powder rooms sparkle with onyx and alabaster. The kitchen gleams with Calacatta marble, while cosy textures from Holland & Sherry and Zak + Fox soften the edges. The result? A home that feels curated, not styled. Alive, not staged.
Perhaps the most surprising detail is on the fifth floor: a full-size basketball court, where sneakers squeak and friendships are forged. “It’s exactly what they wanted,” Farrar laughs. “A house full of art and culture, but also full of life.”
In a city that’s constantly evolving, this home doesn’t just reflect transformation—it embraces it. And in doing so, it captures something rare: a sense of permanence in a place that’s always on the move.
Credits
Interior Design by C. Farrar Design, Instagram: @c.farrar.design
Photography by Sarah Elliott, Instagram: @selliottphoto
Styling by Katja Greeff, Instagram: @katjagreeff
