Owner: Campbell Brown
Interior design: Julie Hillman Design
Architecture: Ingrid Hustvedt / Hustvedt Cutler Architects
Contractor: Myriad Construction Services, Inc.
Lighting: Andrea Branzi, Chairish, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, Galerie Kreo, Ico Parisi, Lightology, Louise Poulsen, Meubles Et Lumieres, Sebastian Errazuriz, Wa Design Gallery
Custom kitchen cabinetry: Boffi
Rug: custom made by Beauvais, Solstys, Soufiane Zarib
Fireplace: Officine Coppola
Chandelier: Nacho Carbonell
Stylist: Julie Hillman, Miller Pyke, Christina Barreiro
Photographer: Manolo Yllera
Outside, the subtle flow of the Hudson River provides a captivating backdrop for one of the Upper West Side’s most prestigious real estate projects. Nestled among fountain displays and fine dining spots like Harry’s Table by Cipriani, Waterline Square, inaugurated in 2022, has revitalized the neighborhood, becoming a focal point of Riverside Park.
Within this vibrant setting, interior designer Julie Hillman reimagined the penthouse of Emmy-winning journalist Campbell Brown and her family, crafting a harmonious fusion of diverse spaces. The main challenge was designing an open layout that took advantage of the five-meter-high ceilings and the breathtaking Hudson River views, resulting in fluid, flexible, and versatile spaces.
The complete renovation of the 38th-floor penthouse, consisting of four bedrooms, five bathrooms (including a new guest bathroom), a bar, and two small offices, accommodates both exclusive events and intimate family life. Starting with the irregular room layout, the design team crafted custom, bespoke pieces to create visually linear spaces.
To enhance the home’s flow, they positioned wardrobes, created corridors, and reorganized entrances. Designed as fluid and transformable spaces, the living and family rooms feature full-height steel bookshelves that establish a sense of continuity between functional areas, serving as conceptual dividers between the two zones.
The dining area and entrance hall include distinctive elements that seamlessly connect the spaces, like wooden wall panels and two custom rugs designed by Julie Hillman herself, differing in style and shape but sharing identical color accents.
Conceptualized as a totemic element, the modular table designed by Hillman comprises three separate pedestal bases with uniquely shaped stone tops, mobile and wheeled, easily fixable or detachable, conceived as a multifunctional piece for displaying books and sculptures.
In Hillman’s vision, “dynamism” becomes a defining factor, evident in the sofa design that transforms the guest room into a multimedia and entertainment space. Among the collectible pieces are a Rick Owens alabaster daybed, Pierre Paulin seating, Ico Parisi lamps, Gaetano Pesce creations, a petrified wood coffee table by Hugo Franca, Rogan Gregory chairs, a striking chandelier by Nacho Carbonell, and a side table born from Misha Kahn’s overwhelming creativity—underlining the theme of collectible design.
