New cookbook author Katie Lee Joel wanted a sophisticated yet comfy home to suit her entertaining style. Architect Ahmad Sardar-Afkhami and decorator Nate Berkus knocked down walls, plotted color schemes and chose furniture with a single goal in mind: transform the New York City town house she shares with husband Billy Joel into a gracious hangout for boisterous dinner parties and quiet nights alike.
Here, Katie Lee Joel, out for a rainy-day walk.
Paul Costello
Simple light-gray walls, soft-white curtains and a rich silver rug provide a neutral backdrop for ornate flourishes like the chandelier and fireplace.
Paul Costello
A roomful of elegant solids is the perfect environment for intricate, ethnic tchotchkes, which add personality and warmth.
Paul Costello
Joel stores her entertaining arsenal out in the open to make spontaneous get-togethers that much easier.
Paul Costello
A pair of small chandeliers can feel more casual than a single giant fixture. Joel keeps hers on dimmers so everyone can be attractively lit at dinner.
Paul Costello
Joel tends to go for small dinner parties. "I like being able to have one big conversation," she says. "Eight is perfect for that."
Paul Costello
In the kitchen, a floor-to-ceiling grid of glass and steel highlights the garden. "I sit at the bistro table in the morning, have my coffee and look out at the trees," says Joel. "It's like a European village right in the middle of the city."
Paul Costello
As functional as it is sleek, the kitchen includes a six-burner stove, a center island outfitted with warming drawers and a well-camouflaged TV for news and cooking shows.
Paul Costello
Of her elegantly turned-out townhouse, Joel says, "The flow was the most important thing to me."
Paul Costello
"I designed this room with my mom in mind," says Joel of her subdued yet luxurious guest room.
Paul Costello
