Only Murders’ Arconia, IRL: Inside the Belnord and the Quiet-Luxe Design Shaping NYC

TL;DR

The real Arconia is the Belnord, a full-block Upper West Side landmark where Beaux Arts bones meet modern amenities. Explore the building’s history, why its interiors read as quiet luxury, and how to recreate Only Murders in the Building design details — from sculptural serenity to that color-forward kitchen — on a real-world budget.

The Cultural Moment

The Belnord’s peaceful courtyard embodies the quiet-luxe calm inspiring 2025 interiors.

Only Murders in the Building fans know the Arconia’s facade by heart — in real life it’s the Belnord at 225 West 86th Street, a 1900s landmark reborn for today.

The on-screen Arconia home interior design sums up a cultural shift: star power without the shouting. The Belnord — the real building behind the show — occupies a rare full city block on the Upper West Side, within strolling distance of both Riverside Park and Central Park. The new season reportedly digs into the building’s secrets, but design lovers have long been transfixed by its iron gates, vaulted entries, and the courtyard that acts like a hush in the middle of Manhattan.

Here’s the thing: we no longer treat celebrity homes as distant fantasy. We look to them for livable rules of thumb, sustainable choices, and that quiet-luxury calm. While the series films interiors on a sound stage, the Belnord’s history and renovation offer a real blueprint for the look people want now.

Alt text: Wrought-iron entry gates and vaulted plaster ceilings at a Beaux Arts New York apartment building. Caption: The Belnord’s grand entries set the mood for the Arconia’s cinematic presence.

The Defining Aesthetic

Built in 1908 in a Beaux Arts vocabulary and refreshed in the 2010s, the Belnord pairs classical symmetry with modern convenience — a mix designers cite as the essence of quiet luxury.

Records note the 13-story structure earned city landmark status in the 1960s and later joined the National Register, while a recent top-to-tail upgrade modernized residences, lobbies, and amenities. Architects highlight a rare six-core plan that gives many apartments corner-like light and dual exposures, which is why rooms glow at multiple times of day.

Sculptural Serenity

Curved seating, rounded tables, and low-sheen plaster walls echo the building’s arches and vaulted ceilings for an organic-modern feel.

• Experts recommend a palette of warm neutrals — stone, ivory, oat — layered with tactile finishes like limewash, linen, and honed marble.
• For lighting, use three layers: 2700K ambient, task, and accent. As a rule of thumb, one fixture per 50–75 square feet keeps brightness balanced.
• Float sofas 12–18 inches off the wall to preserve flow and sightlines to windows and arches.

Alt text: Curved linen sofa beneath a vaulted ceiling with soft uplighting. Caption: Sculptural furniture softens classical bones without stealing the spotlight.

Personal Opulence

Designers say the Arconia look is luxurious because it’s personal — think curated vintage, confident color moments, and craftsmanship that reads up close.

• Mix heritage woods and stone with a single saturated hue — the fandom-favorite is the Charles-Haden Savage green kitchen punctuated by patterned floors.
• Balance shine with restraint: one veined marble per room, unlacquered brass in small doses, art hung with centers at roughly 57 inches for gallery calm.

Alt text: Green cabinetry with geometric tile underfoot and brass pulls. Caption: A color-forward kitchen channels on-screen character without kitsch.

Anecdote

I once toured a prewar courtyard building where the broker turned down the hallway lamps to show how the walls glowed at dusk. The trick wasn’t a chandelier; it was a simple cove with 2700K LEDs and a matte plaster finish. That small moment taught me more about the Arconia’s appeal than any prop list — light plus restraint equals atmosphere.

Design Philosophy — What The Arconia Says About Its People

In this story, design is autobiography — calm courtyards, edited palettes, and craftsmanship for residents who want to breathe easier in the middle of the city.

The Belnord’s restoration prioritized what lasts: stone lobbies, oak underfoot, updated systems, and a suite of amenities topping 30,000 square feet to make staying in feel intentional. Designers often advise that true luxury isn’t loud; it’s the confidence to choose fewer, better pieces and let natural light do the heavy lifting. A sustainability throughline appears too: retained plasterwork, restored mosaic floors, and quality millwork that can be repaired rather than replaced.

As one architect put it to me on a recent UWS walk-through, “Luxury isn’t about shine anymore; it’s about stillness.” You can feel that ethos in the rhythm of the building — lobbies that gleam without glare, corridors that quiet the city’s pulse, and rooms dimensioned for conversation rather than spectacle.

Common Mistakes And Misconceptions

The most common mistake is copying props instead of proportions — focus on scale, light, and layout first.

• Buying the exact sofa instead of matching scale. Aim for a sofa that’s about two-thirds the length of the wall it faces and a coffee table that is 14–18 inches from the seat edge.
• Chasing labels over texture. The Arconia read is about tactility: plaster, velvet, open-grain oak, and honed stone.
• Over-theming a kitchen. Bring the Only Murders palette with one bold move — green cabinetry or patterned floor — not both plus colored appliances.
• Forgetting lived-in warmth. Add books, bowls, and throws. Two or three personal artifacts per room beat a dozen generic accessories.
• Neglecting light. Layer lamps at different heights and keep window treatments airy to preserve those dual exposures many prewar apartments enjoy.

The secret isn’t in what the cast’s apartments bought; it’s in what the set decorators edited out.

Insider Tips And Expert Moves

To channel the Belnord’s quiet luxury, repeat a limited material trio — stone, linen, and brass — from entry to bedroom for cohesion.

• Material palette: pair white oak floors with Calacatta-style stone and satin-nickel or unlacquered brass. Repeat each material at least twice in a home for continuity.
• Lighting approach: use hidden LEDs under shelves and in coves instead of one central chandelier. Dim to 40–60 percent output for evening calm.
• Spatial rhythm: prioritize flow over symmetry. Align furniture to pathways and windows, not just the room’s centerline.
• Kitchen color: pick a single hero hue. If going green, keep walls warm white and hardware minimal to avoid visual noise.
• Art and mirrors: borrow from hotel logic — one large piece per wall reads calmer than a scatter of small frames.

You can’t fake serenity; it’s designed into the bones through light, proportion, and repeatable materials.

Visualization Scenario

Imagine early evening drifting into the Belnord’s courtyard. The fountain murmurs, hedges cast long shadows, and a linen-draped lamp pools light over a travertine console. In the kitchen, emerald cabinetry softens under dimmers; a record hums; a warm dish sits on veined stone. The city churns outside, but here, time edges into a calm whisper.

FAQ

Where is the Arconia located in real life?
The Arconia is the Belnord, a landmark apartment building at 225 West 86th Street on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, set between Riverside Park and Central Park for easy access to both.

What is the history of the Belnord building?
Completed in 1908 in a Beaux Arts style and landmarked in the 1960s, the 13-story, full-block complex was later added to the National Register and recently modernized with restored lobbies and upgraded residences.

How do I recreate the Only Murders kitchen design?
Use saturated green cabinetry with warm-white walls, geometric tile or patterned wood floors, and brass or satin-nickel hardware. Keep one bold move per surface so color stays sophisticated, not theme-park.

Which materials make the Arconia look feel luxurious but calm?
Honed stone, open-grain oak, linen, plaster finishes, and discreet metal accents create quiet luxury. Designers advise repeating the same three materials across rooms for cohesion.

Who designed or renovated the Belnord’s residences?
Renovations in the 2010s updated interiors, amenities, and lobbies with a preservation-minded approach that balanced restored details and modern systems, aligning the landmark’s fabric with 21st-century living.

Can I live in the Arconia?
Yes, but by its real name. The Belnord offers condominium residences and amenities; note that the show’s apartment interiors are sets while exterior shots feature the building’s facade and entries.

The Meaning of Modern Glamour

The Arconia’s real-life counterpart shows that modern glamour is restraint paired with memory — classical facades, edited rooms, and a courtyard that feels like a breath.

It also proves a broader point about celebrity home trends in 2025: the best spaces are comfortable enough for nightly routines yet crafted to endure for decades. Want to experiment with palettes, layouts, or a green kitchen before you commit? Platforms like ReimagineHome let you test-drive the Arconia mood digitally, then translate it to your square footage and budget.