Jessica McCormack
743 Madison Avenue
New York, NY

Spacesmith served as executive architect on the transformation of a landmarked townhouse at 743 Madison Avenue into a high-end, residentially inspired retail flagship for British fine jeweler Jessica McCormack. Located between 64th and 65th Street in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the five-story building includes approximately 3,000 sf across the lower two floors and cellar, which were leased for this project. The top three stories, zoned residential, remain unoccupied.

Spacesmith collaborated with the client’s UK-based design architect, Johnston Cave Associates, renowned for their residential work. The project began with feasibility and façade studies, followed by full permitting, construction documentation, and project execution. This included coordination with engineers and consultants, securing approvals from the Department of Buildings and Landmarks Preservation Commission, and overseeing construction to ensure alignment with the design intent.

The concept blends high-end retail with the warmth and refinement of residential interiors—reflecting the brand’s British heritage and ethos of artisanal craftsmanship. Each floor is thoughtfully organized like rooms in a grand home—inviting, elegant, and intimate.

Our team secured Landmarks Commission approval for façade restoration. Layers of white paint were removed from terra cotta detailing, and original materials were restored. New sage awnings were added to the upper floors, and storefront windows were replaced with gilded iron frames echoing the building’s historic elegance.

Visitors enter through the restored façade into a luminous interior of hand-painted murals, sculptural brass forms, jewel-toned stone, and custom oak millwork. At the heart of the boutique is a dramatic two-story oak staircase within a wood-paneled atrium, anchored by a fireplace with a vintage mantle imported from the UK.

The second floor embraces a lounge-like atmosphere with papered walls, walnut chevron flooring, and a cozy library featuring rare art, furniture, and books from Jessica’s collection.

The resulting flagship is as refined and rarefied as the jewelry it showcases—bringing a uniquely British sense of elegance, intimacy, and craftsmanship to New York’s luxury retail scene.