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INTERIOR & DÉCOR, but with a twist

frenchCALIFORNIA Transforms a Midtown Penthouse into a Contemporary Sanctuary

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Suspended between sky and city, Penthouse B by frenchCALIFORNIA occupies the 35th floor of Monogram New York, one of Midtown’s most refined new residential towers. The building, designed by Ismael Leyva Architects with interiors by Neri&Hu, blends Art Deco inspiration with a contemporary language, providing a perfect canvas for a residence that celebrates light, scale, and art as fundamental elements of design.

©Colin Miller
©Colin Miller
©Colin Miller
©Colin Miller

Spanning 1,674 square feet with 15-foot ceilings, the penthouse opens onto a sequence of vistas that sweep across Manhattan. From the Chrysler Building to the East River and the newly completed JPMorgan Chase Tower, each view becomes an integral part of the living experience, transforming the skyline into a constantly evolving artwork.

The interiors prioritize generous proportions and tactile materials. The kitchen, both operational and sculptural, flows into the living area and fireplace lounge, while a private terrace with an outdoor grill extends the living space outdoors. The corner primary suite is bathed in light, featuring a windowed walk-in closet and a spa-like bathroom where a double vanity and natural stone surfaces reinforce a sense of suspended calm.

A Dialogue Between Art and Architecture

©Colin Miller
©Colin Miller

Art serves as a structural element within Penthouse B. FrenchCALIFORNIA collaborated with ONISHI GALLERY and Creative Art Partners to curate a collection that spans East and West, reflecting Neri&Hu’s global modernist sensibility. Limestone, oak, linen, and bronze become the framework for works ranging from abstract luminosity to ceremonial presence: David Stanley Hewett’s golden Resolute (2024) and Ōhi Toshio Chōzaemon’s copper-and-amber vessels establish a contemplative rhythm throughout the space.

Technology is treated with the same care: a bespoke BANG & OLUFSEN audio system paired with a playlist blending classical minimalism and ambient electronica completes the immersive, meditative atmosphere of the residence.

An Oasis in Midtown

©Colin Miller
©Colin Miller
©Colin Miller
©Colin Miller

Rising 35 stories, Monogram New York merges Art Deco elegance with contemporary living, offering residents refined communal spaces: a doorman lobby, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, landscaped courtyards, and The Sphere Club – a rooftop lounge with terraces, library, and private entertaining areas.

“From the moment I first walked into the penthouse, I knew the design had to honor its calm, its height, and its extraordinary views, the water, the Chrysler Building, the horizon itself” says Guillaume Coutheillas, Founder and Creative Director of frenchCALIFORNIA. “Neri & Hu’s architecture already spoke in such pure rhythm that my role was to compose around it: to let light, texture, and art breathe. Every piece – from the paintings to the sound of music flowing through the space – was chosen to create urban serenity, a kind of suspended stillness above the city.”

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