Talk of the Town - Moved on up February 12 2004
Deluxe apartments in the downtown sky
Rumors have circulated for years that people live in the Four Seasons on 14th Street, and it’s not just urban legend. The hotel only runs the first 19 floors of the building with the remainder dedicated to condo and office space — the only combination of its kind in the city.
For Sheila Craig and her husband, Andy, the possibilities of such a location were endless. After working for nearly a year with an architect, a designer and a construction company, they ultimately stripped the unit down to its concrete and rebuilt it to their tastes.
While their bookshelves reveal contemporary tastes, visitors ought to be wary before pulling a certain copy of Tom Jones out of the case. The book triggers a retractable wall, revealing a hidden office and bedroom.
Less secretive, but equally James Bond-style details include an ultra-modern kitchen decked in shiny, cherry-red cabinetry. From one end of the wall to the other, undulating waves of red hide items including an oven and dishwashers. More traditional units, hidden from view, house both refrigerator and freezer in specially designed drawers.
Creative Loafing: I love your kitchen! The bright yellow walls perfectly offset the red, curvaceous cabinets, which look perfect with the solid chrome counter.
Sheila Craig: The kitchen was the first thing we bought. We kept it in storage and the designers had to work around it. It’s Italian, a Snaidero, which started out in Italy as a terrific door manufacturer. This happens to be designed for Snaidero by Pininfarina, who is known for Ferraris. (She reaches up to open the upper cabinet doors, which slide upward with a futuristic, almost hydraulic whoosh.) See, it’s almost like a Ferrari.
Other than the kitchen, did you have a theme that you wanted the architect to use?
No, it just sort of evolved. When we finished with the designer, it was all white on white. Three or four months after that, I came in one day and I thought, “I want some color.” I don’t know why, but for some reason I’m drawn to the painting we have in the living room by a Colombian artist. The purple in it is also in our foyer; the wall behind it has the same aqua color.
What are some other secrets in the condo?
I like my walk-in closet because I had nothing to do with it. My husband and designer — the two guys — came up with it for me. It has silvery wallpaper and drapes, a glass display case, glittering chandeliers and a plush silvery footstool.
Have you ever had any run-ins with the celebrity clientele who are rumored to stay here when they’re in town?
I do know Paul McCartney was in our lounge playing piano until 2 a.m. once and Julie Andrews has stayed here.
Do you know how much one of these units costs?
Yes, a one-bedroom and bath is currently listed at about $350,000.
That’s reasonable considering I’ve seen condos at the same price in Little Five Points, and they’re only on the second floor.
It really isn’t, but it seems the secret is just now getting out.