Sculpting Serenity: Clodagh Reimagines an Upper East Side Apartment
In Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Clodagh Design transformed a sleek luxury apartment into a sanctuary rooted in beauty, durability, and emotional ease. Central to the project were two custom architectural elements crafted by Trueform Concrete: a sculptural living room fireplace mantle and ledge, and a bespoke bathroom sink.
Together, they anchor the home in quiet strength: tactile, refined, and timeless.
A Fireplace That Grounds the Space
The fireplace mantle and ledge serve as the visual and emotional focal point of the living space. For Clodagh, materiality wasn’t just aesthetic, it was foundational to the experience of the room.
“The Clodagh and Trueform creative teams together mastered the Upper East Side New York client’s dream of beauty, durability and ease of care. Creative use of concrete that grounds spaces such as this sleek, luxurious apartment, helps to create a Zen-like timeless environment,” says Clodagh.
Concrete provided the sculptural presence required to anchor the space without overwhelming it. Its solidity offers permanence. Its refinement ensures elegance. Complementing the custom concrete surround is a pair of HearthCabinet Ventless Fireplaces, allowing the design team to achieve the warmth and ambiance of a traditional fireplace without the constraints of a chimney or venting system. The result is a fireplace composition that feels both architectural and meditative, a grounding element in a bustling city.
A Sculptural, Spa-Like Bathroom Sink
In the bathroom, Trueform fabricated a custom concrete sink that feels minimal yet organic, quiet in presence, yet rich in sensory depth.
For Clodagh, concrete’s physical properties were essential to achieving this effect.
“Concrete is warmer to the touch than stone. It’s also much more malleable, almost putty-like, until it sets. Imagine how this fact helps us in our evolving sculptural creative process,” Clodagh explains.
This malleability allowed for precise sculptural detailing and seamless curves, refined through sketches and study models before fabrication.
“Simplicity and balance are the key elements. Sketches and study models help the process particularly when there is a curve or a detail that needs to be perfect. Once the mold is made the sink can be reproduced endlessly.”
Beyond aesthetics, performance mattered just as much:
“Concrete’s ease of care and sustainability factors give the homeowners more time to live their lives,” Clodagh adds.
In Clodagh's wellness-centered philosophy, that type of practicality is a form of luxury.
A Collaboration of Aligned Minds
Trueform’s partnership with Clodagh Design extended beyond fabrication. It was a shared design language rooted in listening to both the creative vision and the client’s needs.
“We do work more closely with Trueform Concrete because our creative minds seem to think alike. Trueform studies the homeowner’s needs and wishes as much as Clodagh Design does. We both listen,” Clodagh reflects.
That alignment created a rare clarity during the project.
“Yes, when the clients told us that we were on their wavelength in designing a luxurious, comfortable and sustainable space. Trueform and Clodagh Design were joyful that our original vision was 100% in sync,” Clodagh adds.
For luxury residential work, that level of harmony between designer, fabricator, and homeowner is everything.
Designing a Life Without Irritation
The completed apartment feels timeless: natural materials, clean lines, and emotional warmth in balance. For Clodagh, the true success of the project is measured not in aesthetics alone, but in lived experience.
“We always strive to remove the irritations out of people’s lives! Good design should last forever,” Clodagh notes.
And the impact has been lasting.
“The semi-retired couple who live here tell me constantly how happy they are in the space. That is the most rewarding part of creating a project using Trueform’s products. What a wonderful collaboration, both minds and materials. The client’s satisfaction is our ultimate reward. It happens quite often when Clodagh Design and Trueform Concrete team up,” says Clodagh.
The Role of Concrete in Timeless Residential Design
This Upper East Side residence demonstrates how architectural concrete can transcend expectations. Warmer than stone, sculptural yet restrained, durable yet refined. Concrete becomes not just a surface, but a contributor to well-being.
Through collaboration, precision fabrication, and shared creative vision, Trueform Concrete helped bring Clodagh’s philosophy to life: spaces that are grounded, serene, and built to last.
(Photography by Keith Scott Morton)