52
Reza Nouranian of Manhattan-based architecture and
design firm Reza Nouranian Design was not among the
naysayers. His reaction, when Silverman asked him to
check it out pre-purchase, was “Yes! Buy that house right
now!” With Nouranian’s help, Silverman devoted the next
two and a half years, much of it spent waiting for permits,
to renovating and furnishing. Among other things, they
tore down a rotting wood extension and blew out the
back wall on the garden level to create a sun-filled art
studio and airy kitchen, designed and installed two and a
half sybaritic baths, sanded the wood floors throughout,
and restored five fireplaces to working condition. They
became her chief heat source after she moved in the fall
of 2019 and shivered through a chilly first winter, thanks
to a snafu with the heating system. Aside from a couple
Left, there are two original marble
sinks on the second floor, both of which
Silverman kept. This one is a standout
in its arched pink alcove, surrounded by
original built-ins. Right, the formidable
cast-iron presence in the kitchen is a
mid-nineteenth century coal stove used
for heating until relatively recently.
Silverman upgraded for functional
modern living with a new Viking
range and covetable retro-style Smeg
refrigerator in glorious pink.
of electric space heaters, “They were the only way to keep
the house warm,” she says. “I wore a lot of sweaters.” (A
new heating system has since been installed.)
Then came the really fun part: decorating, largely with
Silverman’s own artwork, including abstract paintings,
woven wall hangings, and mobile sculptures fashioned of
twigs, charms, beads, and found objects. The furnishings
are a mélange of style, color, and pattern, with whimsical
wallpapers and inviting vintage sofas and chairs upholstered
with fabrics Silverman had collected over the years
and stashed away for future use. Many of her pieces have
a story attached, like the painted metal fireplace screen in
the rear parlor, a purchase at a street market in the south
of France that was a feat to ship home.