One of my favorite homes to be featured in our dearly departed Domino is that of Katie Lee Joel, chef, cookbook author, and wife of Billy Joel. The downtown New York town house (in the West Village) was designed with the help of Nate Berkus, one of my favorite interior designers. I adore the palette used in this downtown town house. It is serene and sophisticated. The floorplan was updated with the help of architect, Ahmad Sardar-Afkhami, who knocked down several walls to create an open, gracious space, perfect for entertaining. After all, this is the home of a chef and the Piano Man!
The light grey walls and dark wood floors provide a neutral palette for the original architectural details, like the fireplace and mouldings to really shine. I love the gilded nesting tables and upholstered chairs with the fabulous greek key arms.
In contrast to the formal living area in the previous photograph, the upstairs den is decidedly more casual. The room is dressed in various shades of gold and brown, along with forest green. The den features many textures, along with an extra long couch where the Joels often watch television together.
A close-up look at some peonies and vintage vases
The kitchen, dining room, and living room are all part of one large, open space. I absolutely love this dining room. I think the shelving filled with books and tchotchkes is phenomenal and keeps the room from feeling too formal. The fireplace is a wonderful feature, as well. The gorgeous table and chairs are French reproductions. The upholstery on the chairs is the perfect chocolate shade. Love, love, love those chairs! Notice that Joel opted for two small antique crystal chandeliers instead of one larger one. Do you like this idea?
How incredible are the floor-to-ceiling windows in the kitchen? The five-panel window frames were custom made. This is such my dream kitchen! The walls are painted in "Pale Smoke" by Benjamin Moore and the beautiful cabinetry was custom made. I also love her vintage French bistro table and chairs. The pup is adorable, too!
The kitchen was described by Domino as "a consummate cook's headquarters" and I couldn't agree more. 
The luxurious guest room features the same neutral palette carried over from throughout the rest of the house. The Joels often host out of town guests, and Katie designed it with her mother in mind. Nate Berkus installed a pair of 19th-century French boiserie panels on either side of the bed. The bed linens are from Leontine Linens.
I really love the windows in this house! Aren't they gorgeous? The bedroom also features a bench and zinc-top desk from Mecox Gardens, as well as a Frances Elkins chair. Berkus used Benjamin Moore's "Cliffside Gray" in this room. 
The piece-de-resistance of the Joels' apartment was left out of Domino, but was later featured in Town and Country Magazine. 
The dressing room was inspired by the grand hotels of 1930's Paris. The 105 square foot space is covered in $25,000 worth of gold leaf. According to the architect, "we wanted it to be a place where the act of dressing would be heightened to an exquisite ritual". 
Is it over the top? Absolutely! However extravagant, it is hard to deny to beauty and glamour of Joel's dressing room. 
The Joels appeared on Oprah a few months ago and gave viewers a tour of the home. The photo above and immediately below are from Oprah. Click here to watch Katie give viewers a tour of her home. 
I absolutely adore this home. It feels elegant and grown up, yet not at all stuffy. Images via Domino Magazine, Town and Country Magazine, and Oprah.com
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