Timeless.  Refined.  Minimalist.  Three words pretty much sum up the attraction of this elegant designer loft in the heart of Chelsea.  And in tribute to this splendid home, we anoint Apartment 6-E, 263 Ninth Avenue to the latest edition to our “Apartments We Love” series.  

263 Ninth Avenue, also known as the Heywood, is a hulking structure that commands the southwest corner of Ninth Avenue and 26^th Street.  This vestige of Chelsea’s past was once a commercial printing plant.  Built in 1913, the building was converted into residential lofts in 2006 by the Henry Justin Development Group.  

More notably, the interiors of the building were crafted by Shamir Shah, the widely acclaimed interior architect.  Shah’s style, which perfectly defines the Heywood, is described as a “restrained yet elegant aesthetic.”  His ability to curate color palettes and layers of contrasting yet complementary materials is a cornerstone of his work.

The Heywood condominium rises 11 floors and contains 50 apartments.  The building is serviced by a full-time doorman and a resident manager.  There is a landscaped common roof deck offering city views.  

Apartment 6-E is pretty much a perfect home.  At 1,701 square feet, the loft provides a flexible space with well-proportioned rooms, tall beamed ceilings (12’5”) and wonderful light from eight-foot tall windows and multiple exposures.  The apartment is currently configured as a one bedroom with an interior den/home office.  

The great room (30’ x 21”) occupies the northwest corner of the building.   Extend your hand and you can feel the skyscrapers within view.  Intersecting beams crisscross the ceiling with an extra wide center beam which serves to divide the room into living and dining areas. Wide plank floors with a rich dark stain and a wild grain adds a warm tone.  A stunning center light hangs above the dining area, a perfect complement to the space. 

The open kitchen presents a fresh contemporary design that offers the same clean lines and refined personality of the rest of the home.  No excess here.  The designer used some simple tricks to get rid of the bulkiness found in a typical kitchen.  This includes a mix of upper level lacquered cabinets with lower level wood cabinets as well as some floating shelves to display your favorite pottery.  Stone countertops, stainless steel appliances  and bar stool seating for four complete the space.

The home office/den (9’2” x 16’11”) is our favorite room.  While it’s an interior room with no windows, we’re good with it.  The room exudes comfort.  Custom architectural details, builtins and the mocha colored walls create an intimate space.  There is an extended work desk with custom timber bookshelves that spans the length of an entire wall. If need be, this space could easily be transformed into a second bedroom. A bath is located just outside the door.

The bedroom (14’3” x 16’6”) offers the same features as the great room:  tall beamed ceilings, north-facing city views and wide plank floors.  It all works.  Given the room’s generous dimensions, there is enough space for a sitting area as well.  

The five-fixture en suite bath offers a spa-like setting to begin or end your day.  A mix of materials, shapes and colors create a fabulous space highlighted by the double marble vanity and the designer mirror that line the wall. 

The current ask for Apartment 6-E is $2.6 million.  This represents a per square foot price of $1,529.

The property is being represented by Michael Johnson and Hayim Nommaz of Compass. To learn more about this apartment, please visit Linecity.