West Village Renovation Where Layout, Storage, and Warm Neutrals Finally Align in 2026
Want a duplex that feels like one home instead of two stacked levels? This project, submitted through our form by Gallery KBNY and designed by Diana Maltseva, starts with a structural problem and builds everything around it.
Located at 17 Cornelia Street in Greenwich Village, the apartment originally relied on a narrow spiral stair that felt more like a ladder than a real connection. The renovation replaces it with a wider, centrally placed staircase that links both levels, turning a disconnected cellar into a functional part of a 1,406-square-foot family home completed over ten months.
The living area sets the tone with a controlled palette and clear layout. A low sectional defines the seating zone without blocking movement, while a patterned rug and trunk-style table anchor the center. Wall sconces keep lighting soft and even, and the symmetry across the windows keeps the room balanced. Storage blends into the architecture through full-height cabinetry, where mesh-front uppers, closed panels, and open niches create rhythm. A concealed TV behind bifold doors keeps the wall consistent when not in use, allowing the space to stay calm throughout the day.
The kitchen and dining area continue the same logic with more warmth layered in. A solid wood table sits under a double-arm brass pendant, keeping the center open and usable. Cabinetry combines glass fronts and solid doors, while marble surfaces and integrated niches keep everything flush. Brass fixtures and a French-style range tie into the English-inspired direction without overpowering the room. Every element stays within the same range of tones, so the space reads as one continuous composition.
Built-ins carry function across the entire floor. A tall cabinet hides an appliance garage with a microwave, toaster, and coffee machine, keeping surfaces clear while maintaining access. Details like paneling, vent grilles, and door casings follow the same language, which keeps transitions consistent from wall to wall. Nothing stands out on its own, yet everything works together, which is what gives the apartment its clarity.
The same approach extends into the bathroom and bedrooms, where materials shift but the structure holds. Marble, brass, and tile define the bathroom, with recessed niches cut directly into the wall and wallpaper adding pattern without breaking the palette. Bedrooms stay simple, using color, textiles, and proportion instead of extra furniture. Across both levels, the result comes from alignment, not excess, turning what was once a disconnected duplex into a cohesive, fully usable home.