The New York Times ran a real estate story during the holidays about a Chelsea apartment development that is being fitted toward the aspirational collector:
The walls of the apartments, most of which have four bedrooms, won’t simply be made of Sheetrock, as is often the case elsewhere. Many will be reinforced with plywood, to support the weight of heavy picture frames, said Adam Gordon, a developer known for elegant townhouse projects. He is developing the project with the firm Tavros. Small white lights, like those that illuminate so many of West Chelsea’s galleries, will be embedded into ceilings, to ensure that art is shown to best advantage, he said.
In the foyers, which at 560 West 24th will be called “galleries,” a portion of a wall will be tilted, like an easel, to display paintings — perhaps by residents themselves — that can be easily and quickly switched out, Mr. Gordon said.In addition, windowless studies off of living rooms are being made extra-spacious, so that storage racks filled with art can be wheeled inside for safekeeping.“If you talk to any collector, you will hear them say that they always have more art than walls,” said Mr. Gordon, whose own collection, which leans toward contemporary, was mostly bought nearby.
A Condo for Art Collectors (NYTimes)