Inside An UES Oasis Crafted By Architect Kevin Lichten And Designer Anne Chessin

By Kaila Stang

Architect Kevin Lichten and interior designer Anne Chessin renovate an Upper East Side haven for a busy family.

Emma Hayes’ striking Bloom Plum wallpaper and the Suite NY Loafer sofa in the gallery.

THE CLIENTS

For a pair of Yale grads and their three children, having a home that accommodates each of their lifestyles while still maintaining the space for them to gather was of the utmost importance. So, they sought out architect Kevin Lichten and interior designer Anne Chessin to create the perfect refuge on the Upper East Side. “This is a hectic, busy family, and we knew that we had to create a large home that would accommodate five different schedules and yet allow the close-knit family to gather with ease and graciousness,” says Lichten. “It had to be a place of calm and tranquility amid the chaos of their busy lives.”

In the living room, Dmitriy & Co.’s Masson sofa pairs with the Alto coffee table from 1st Dibs and a work by artist Page Jones Davis.

The dining room features a table from Vermont Farm Table, chairs from Interlude Home and an artful Stark Carpet rug.

THE PRIORITY

“[The clients] were very familiar with the space and knew what it was lacking—a family room, a large eat-in kitchen, a mudroom, lots of functional storage, and each bedroom would have an ensuite bathroom,” Lichten says of clients, who lived in the home for a few years before the renovation. “It was important to have comfortable rooms for the entire family to gather in while also creating private areas for them to retreat to for studies, work and play.”

In the banquette, a trio of Bacco chairs sourced from Design Within Reach

THE DETAILS

Wanting their home to be an oasis, the clients asked Lichten and Chessin to add color and walnut wood throughout the apartment. “The living room, dining room and family room all connect with large doorways, so we were very thoughtful with our selections of color, textiles and finishes in order to create a beautiful cohesive flow from one room to the next,” says Chessin, adding that they opted for semi-flushmount lights in the living and family rooms to complement the dramatic Apparatus Lariat chandelier in the dining room.

RW Guild’s Globe pendants hang above the island.

The colorful living room features the Stamp Triple chandelier from The Urban Electric Co. and a custom sectional outfitted with Kirkby Design’s Smooth III Balsam fabric in Dragonfly.

THE CHALLENGES

“The apartment was gutted in January 2020, and by March, we were working on framing, and then the world shut down,” Chessin recalls. “The project halted until the city reopened in mid-June, then we had to have small crews work until those rules were lifted months later. We lost a good six to seven months and had to pivot on certain design choices as the supply chain crisis hit.”

A Ballet bar and brackets from Custom Barres in the daughter’s room.

Black Crow Studios’ Twilight Drips - Watercolor Mural adds vibrancy to the powder room off the kitchen.

THE OUTCOME

Lichten and Chessin created a stunning pre-war classical space for the family to enjoy for years to come. The transitional interior, set with liveable and luxurious touches, reinforces a peaceful and calm feeling inside the space. As Chessin says, “We had an amazing team, understanding clients, and the project turned out beautifully.”

The primary bedroom is illuminated by the Loire large chandelier from Visual Comfort & Co.