{"id":394408,"date":"2026-04-12T07:46:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T07:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/394408\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T07:46:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T07:46:13","slug":"i-really-wanted-a-working-fireplace-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/394408\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I really wanted a working fireplace\u2019 \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rushing to the bank to close the deal while preparing for the Met Gala, interviews <\/a>with the co-op board, decorating tips from the editor of Architectural Digest; it might sound like a script for a New York-set TV show on buying a home, but it\u2019s real life for Cork woman Samantha Barry. As global executive editor of Glamour, Barry is one of the best-known media people <\/a>in the United States<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Arriving first in New York in 2014 to work with CNN, Barry had previously worked with RT\u00c9 in Dublin and the BBC in London. She was then headhunted by famed former Vogue editor Anna Wintour <\/a>for the role of executive-in-chief at Glamour magazine. She has since been appointed global executive director. It\u2019s a busy and varied role, which encompasses the US, UK, Mexico, Latin America, Spain and Germany.<\/p>\n

When she first moved stateside, Barry\u2019s New York <\/a>apartment was on 12th and Broadway, across from the famed Strand bookstore, \u201cwhich I loved\u201d. She then moved to Chelsea, so when she decided to buy a couple of years ago, she was keen to stay in Manhattan<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cI knew going into the apartment-buying process there were a couple of things I really wanted,\u201d she recalls. \u201cI knew I needed to be able to walk to work \u2013 even if it took an hour \u2013 and I really wanted a working fireplace.\u201d<\/p>\n

She realised the latter was an unusual request, and wasn\u2019t going to be overly tied to it, but her ship came in when her broker \u2013 yes, in New York, you must have a broker representing you \u2013 found a pre-war Art Deco co-op building, with an all-important working fireplace.<\/p>\n

Finding the one-bed apartment came after about three months of Saturdays and Sundays spent looking at apartments around the city. <\/p>\n

None quite fitted the bill: sometimes the apartment was right, but the neighbourhood wasn\u2019t. Other times it was the opposite.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut with this one, I found everything. I fell in love with the apartment <\/a>when I walked in,\u201d she says. \u201cI could instantly see myself living there,\u201d she adds, recalling the appeal of the banquette at the end of the galley kitchen. <\/p>\n

It was in Gramercy; downtown, with some uptown sensibilities, the neighbourhood\u2019s tree-lined streets lie to the east of the city, generally between 14th and 23rd street.<\/p>\n

\"SamSam Barry spent three months home hunting before finally settling on the one-bed apartment. Photograph: Timothy O’Connell <\/p>\n

On the third floor of the building, the apartment is at tree level, \u201cSo it feels like you\u2019re in the trees a little bit,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also facing a church, \u201cwhich means I\u2019ll never be surrounded by construction\u201d.<\/p>\n

Acquiring it wasn\u2019t all plain sailing, however. <\/p>\n

\u201cI remember very vividly, I put an offer in and someone was trying to outbid me\u201d. <\/p>\n

So, Barry used the tools of her trade and wrote a letter to the owners to say how much she loved the apartment. \u201cThey had an Irish last name, so I thought that might help me.\u201d<\/p>\n

It did, and she secured the apartment. But then, in true New York fashion, another obstacle arose. <\/p>\n

She was getting glammed up for the city\u2019s Met Gala, where the stars of the fashion world collide with Hollywood celebrities, when she got a call from her broker \u2013 she needed to close the deal, or she\u2019d lose the apartment. <\/p>\n

\"AA touch of elegance in Sam Barry’s home. Photograph: Timothy O’Connell <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I had to run off to the bank and put the down payment in,\u201d she recalls. \u201cIt was such a big, busy day\u201d.<\/p>\n

Acquiring an apartment in New York is not only about having the funds to buy \u2013 some buildings are run by co-ops, which means that when you buy, you become a shareholder in the corporation that owns your building.<\/p>\n

This meant that as part of the process, Barry had to get approved by her building\u2019s co-op board. \u201cYou give away so much information to be accepted,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Once the sale was completed, Barry could then think about decorating it.<\/p>\n

Working in one of the world\u2019s largest magazine companies, Cond\u00e9 Nast<\/a>, has its advantages when it comes to finding an interior designer. Barry went straight to Amy Astley, editor of Architectural Digest, to chat about interiors. On her advice, she then decided to hire designer Matt McKay to create her vision for the space, which included channelling apartments she\u2019d seen in Nora Ephron movies<\/a>, such as Meg Ryan\u2019s apartment in You\u2019ve Got Mail<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"SamSam Barry’s home in New York City. Photograph: Timothy O’Connell <\/p>\n

Clean lines and a Scandi chic aesthetic were not for her. <\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted texture, but not maximalism \u2026 the opposite of simplicity,\u201d she says, pointing to the Ralph Lauren check fabric used on a daybed in the livingroom as an example.<\/p>\n

There is also lots of pattern and texture throughout the rest of the apartment. In the bedroom, a wallpaper of lilac branches in bloom from Pierre Frey is paired with matching curtains, while rugs \u2013 including a 1930s one, sourced from New York dealer Doris Leslie Blau \u2013 and throws, are used to amp up the cosiness. <\/p>\n

The fireplace has been a big hit.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really quite charming \u2013 I don\u2019t mind winters in New York now,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s so beautiful and special to have.\u201d<\/p>\n

But there are some challenges to keeping a fire going in the city, so she now has a \u201cwood woman\u201d, who delivers fuel to keep it going.<\/p>\n

\"AA literary flourish draws the eye. Photograph: Timothy O’Connell <\/p>\n

The only thing she changed structurally in the apartment was to add two big built-in bookshelves. \u201cI knew I wanted to be in a place surrounded by books,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Other touches include a daybed by the window overlooking the trees, a Samsung Frame TV \u2013 \u201cI love a big TV but didn\u2019t want it to look like a big TV\u201d \u2013 and the banquette that first caught her eye, upholstered in a sunny fabric with lemon-patterned wallpaper behind. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a really important corner of the apartment,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

She also added some Irish touches. She bought some \u201cbeautiful things\u201d from a friend\u2019s homeware shop, Irving Green, in the nearby East Village, as well as Foxford blankets, Irish authors on the bookshelves, and a piece of art from her brother, who lives in Killarney.<\/p>\n

When home on a visit, she rifled through her parents\u2019 old photograph albums, selecting pictures she then set in little frames.<\/p>\n

The apartment is near Gramercy Park, an exclusive green area in the heart of the city, which has been locked since 1844 \u2013 it\u2019s reported that only 383 of these keys exist, primarily held by the residents of surrounding town houses and apartments. <\/p>\n

Ownership of her apartment did not bestow such a treasure, \u201cbut it\u2019s part of my routine, I love to look at it,\u201d she says. \u201cI love my building, I love the doormen, and where it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched the recent Oscars at home, chatting with her colleagues on Slack, and was delighted when Jessie Buckley won. \u201cMy colleagues thought it was so lovely how proud Irish people are of other Irish people\u201d.<\/p>\n

Sam Barry\u2019s New York neighbourhood<\/p>\n

Drinks<\/p>\n

Banshee, 143 1st Avenue: Guinness, oysters and toasties at this new East Village bar<\/p>\n

Pete\u2019s Tavern: For an old-school pint<\/p>\n

Seahorse, W Hotel, 201 Park Avenue South: Cocktails and views<\/p>\n

Barfly, 244 3rd Avenue: A sports bar owned by a Cork woman, where Barry watched the Super Bowl<\/p>\n

Food\"HawksmoorHawksmoor Steakhouse in New York. <\/p>\n

Hawksmoor NYC, 109 E 22nd St: Good for a Sunday roast<\/p>\n

Borgo, 124, E27th St: \u201cThe food is spectacular, the team is amazing and I\u2019d highly recommend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gramercy Tavern, 42 E20th St: Burgers and cocktails \u201cfor a very New York moment\u201d<\/p>\n

And further afield \u2026<\/p>\n

Wolf, Nordstrom, 225 57th St: \u201cIf you\u2019re going for a midtown shop, this is an undiscovered gem. It has the best salad -the Wolf \u2013 I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shopping<\/p>\n

Irving Green, 321 E9th St: For homeware and gifts with a touch of Irish charm<\/p>\n

Longford-born Maura Higgins was recently interviewed by the publication on her role in the US version of The Traitors \u2013 \u201cthere\u2019s always a home for them at Glamour,\u201d says Barry of Irish stars.<\/p>\n

While Glamour is now only printed for special editions in the US, Germany still publishes a print magazine. And while Barry\u2019s role has moved on from her days as a journalist, she still gets to ask the questions sometimes \u2013 she recently interviewed children\u2019s entertainer and activist Miss Rachel, a Glamour Woman of the Year \u2013 \u201cbut I don\u2019t get to do it as much as I\u2019d like\u201d.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s proud of Glamour\u2019s commitment to covering recent political developments in the US; in the aftermath of the Minnesota\/Ice demonstrations, for example, the magazine sent a photojournalist to cover the story.<\/p>\n

Working in the glamorous world of New York publishing, she must be sick of The Devil Wears Prada comparisons?<\/p>\n

\"SamSam Barry on the Oscars: ‘My colleagues thought it was so lovely how proud Irish people are of other Irish people.’ Photograph: Timothy O’Connell <\/p>\n

Her 13-year-old niece watched the movie for the first time recently and was keen to know the reality \u2013 Barry told her there are \u201cglimpses\u201d of her world in it. She is, however, excited for the upcoming sequel, due to be released in May.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been absolutely loving every snippet of a trailer I see,\u201d she says, \u201cI cannot wait to see what they\u2019ve done … I want to see the clothes, I want to see the outfits.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not all glamour; when we speak, Barry is hoping to knock off work early to meet friends in an East Village bar to watch the all-important Czech Republic vs Ireland match. And then, presumably, after that penalty shoot-out, drown her sorrows like the rest of us.<\/p>\n

With such a hectic schedule, Saturday mornings are her serene times, when she can fully enjoy her home. \u201cMy weeks are so busy, my evenings are so busy,\u201d she says, adding that she finds joy in spending time in her apartment. <\/p>\n

She gets The New York Times, goes out for a coffee, and comes home, where she puts a record on and relaxes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my place, it\u2019s my sanctuary,\u201d she says, \u201cIt\u2019s my little part of Manhattan\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"AtAt home with Sam Barry in New York City. Photos by Timothy O’Connell for The Irish Times \"AtAt home with Sam Barry in New York City. Photos by Timothy O’Connell for The Irish Times \"AtAt home with Sam Barry in New York City. Photos by Timothy O’Connell for The Irish Times \"AtAt home with Sam Barry in New York City. Photos by Timothy O’Connell for The Irish Times \"AtAt home with Sam Barry in New York City. Photos by Timothy O’Connell for The Irish Times \"AtAt home with Sam Barry in New York City. Photos by Timothy O’Connell for The Irish Times \"AtAt home with Sam Barry in New York City. Photos by Timothy O’Connell for The Irish Times <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rushing to the bank to close the deal while preparing for the Met Gala, interviews with the co-op…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":394409,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[72,631,61,12283,60,709,4320,6107],"class_list":{"0":"post-394408","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-for-you","10":"tag-ie","11":"tag-interiors","12":"tag-ireland","13":"tag-magazine","14":"tag-new-york","15":"tag-new-york-city"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=394408"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/394408\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/394409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=394408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=394408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=394408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}