In contrast to the cool palettes of some nearby new condo projects such as 310 East 53rd Street, the Veneto has a warm palette.

"The very name evokes the essence of 50s European glamour and good living," exclaims the building s website, citing "the famed Via Veneto," a street in Rome noted for its restaurants and hotels.

The 34-story residential condominium tower at 250 East 53rd Street on the southwest corner of Second Avenue has 137 apartments.

The building was designed by Davis Brody Bond and Adam Tihany designed the interiors. Mr. Tihany is well known for his designs of such restaurants as Le Cirque and Per Se.

The building, which was developed by The Related Companies, has an 8-story base clad in limestone and red brick on the avenue and limestone on the side-street.

Its side-street entrance is quite distinctive with a heavily and randomly rusticated one-story base that is highlighted by embedded horizontal lights.

Apartments range in size from one-bedroom units with about 763 square feet priced initially about $955,000 to three-bedroom apartments with about 2,548 square feet priced initially at more than $5,050,000. There are 11 different layouts. There are 46 one-bedrooms, 66 two-bedrooms and 25 three-bedrooms.

Ceilings are 9 feet high and reach 12 feet in the penthouses. Apartments have mahogany flooring and many have corner windows.

Kitchens have Sub-Zero refrigerators, Viking gas ranges, and Bosch dishwashers and walnut and frosted glass cabinetry and black granite countertops.

Bathrooms have double trough vanities with walnut cabinetry, travertine stone flooring and countertops and Kohler soaking tubs. The building has a garage, a fitness center, a "party" room and terrace, and a children's playroom.

The two-story-high lobby has a five-foot-high chandelier.