General Assembly crafts a calm oasis with textural complexity on the Upper West Side

Naturally Neutral

By Katya Borkov • Originally published in AN Interior Fall / Winter 2024 (October 2024)
General Assembly Upper West Side

General Assembly’s Upper West Side residence strikes a harmonic balance between grandeur and simplicity, paying homage to the building’s prewar history through intentional pairings of natural materials. Noting how the family of four uses the space, designers Sarah Zames and Colin Steif opened up the segmented floorplan to create a spacious living area where loved ones gather for annual Super Bowl parties.

Kitchen by General Assembly
The kitchen features a quartzite countertop that continues into a custom table (William Jess Laird)

living room by General Assembly
General Assembly designed a modular coffee table for the living room (William Jess Laird)

Wood details, like a set of sliding doors that demarcate the kitchen, are paired with natural stone elements to create a grounded feeling. Five massive, vibrantly patterned stones are juxtaposed against wooden furnishings; slabs of quartzite and veined marble have become sinks, countertops, and a commanding kitchen island; and a custom-carved table acts as a light counterweight to complement the island’s unique shape.

A view into the bathroom in an apartment
Calico Wanderlust Unearth wallpaper adds texture and depth (William Jess Laird)

Stone-clad bathroom
Dramatic stone creates a tranquil, luxurious retreat (William Jess Laird)

General Assembly often creates custom pieces to realize its unique visions, which led the firm to open its own retail store for home renovation materials, furniture, and lighting. The living room’s modular coffee table was one of the first pieces designed for the space, reproductions of which can be found in the GA store. The table’s curved edges and rounded shape gesture to the unique, sculptural irregularity of natural forms that characterize the firm’s work.

Living room by general assembly
A set of sliding doors divide the kitchen and living room (William Jess Laird)

Living room furniture by general assembly
Two organic and round coffee tables complement each other in the living room (William Jess Laird)

While the open communal space is the apartment’s centerpiece, each private bedroom and guest area is a sanctuary of its own. The designers made use of the primary bedroom’s ample natural light to feature a virker plaster finish on the walls. There’s also a custom floating bed frame, which enhances the open nature of the space’s design.

A floating bed frame by general assembly
A custom floating bed frame enhances the open space (William Jess Laird)

A bedroom by general assembly
The design includes a rug by Armadillo and furniture from Fort Standard (William Jess Laird)

“We’ve tried to bring in local designers to give a sense of place,” Steif told AN Interior. Zames pointed out the dining room table from Egg Collective, which sits beneath a light fixture by Lindsey Adelman and holds pieces by Danny Kaplan. Attention to detail down to the dining table’s polished brass accents demonstrates General Assembly’s sophisticated touch when it comes to manufacturing visual harmony across all surfaces.

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