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There are many perks to living alongside Central Park—most notably the views. When the homeowner of this newly renovated Manhattan apartment turned to interior designer Tina Ramchandani, the two women immediately clicked. “I was really lucky,” explains Tina. “This client was super clear on her overall aesthetic.” The main source of inspiration for that vision was the neighboring park and the desire to bring the greenery indoors. The client wanted a space that reflected the way being outside in nature makes her feel—light and happy. Not only is that idea represented by the plants in the space, but it also became the driving force behind the color palette, with pops of green anchoring big moments throughout the home.
Lifestyle also played a key role in design conversations. Though the apartment is the permanent residence for a young professional woman in the city, her parents come to stay with her often. She wanted the space to feel inviting and accessible to both her group of millennial friends—for intimate dinner parties and movie hangouts—and to her family’s guests, should her parents desire to entertain while in town. “Instead of going totally trendy with the design, we picked a couple of trendy moments—like the color—and kept the rest of the pieces timeless,” explains Tina.
Upon seeing the natural wood floors in the apartment, Tina was giddy. “We were given a great palette to work with because of those amazing floors.” And the client’s requested green paired perfectly with the wood’s tone. To help accentuate an overall feeling of warmth, Tina turned to gold and brass details, as seen on the dining room chairs, the kitchen hardware, and the living room accessories. “To me, gold and brass are the warmest, most inviting metals,” Tina says. The metallic accents also give a current spin to some of the more classic pieces.
A real high-low mix—when it comes to furniture, accessories, and art—also keeps the vibe feeling fresh and modern. Though the living room sofa was custom-ordered, many other pieces were purchased ready-made from stores like CB2 and Anthropologie. The terrazzo-and-mirror art piece above the dining nook is by young design studio Trueing, which Tina discovered on 1stDibs. “It’s not a big piece, but because it is so unique, it makes a big impact,” she says. Next to it is a gold patterned textile; when paired, “the two play off each other to make the whole wall feel special.”
Functionality and ease of movement are high on Tina’s list of design priorities. She took thoughtful and innovative approaches to the client’s needs for the space—making sure the dining table accommodates plenty of guests, crafting a dedicated spot for keys and mail to be dropped near the entryway, and ensuring an extra bed be tucked away in the office in case someone needs to crash, without it interfering with the workspace. Sometimes a space doesn’t need high-drama to be high on beauty—here, natural light, rich colors, and personal details make for a happy home.
Invest in repainting, even if just for a better shade of white. “A lot of people assume that the walls are ready to go because they’re already white, but that doesn’t mean they’re the right white,” notes Tina. In this case, the walls were pre-painted a creamy, more yellow white. Tina decided to repaint the apartment in Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace, a shade of white that paired more nicely with the wood floors and cabinetry.
Splurge on items you’ll use the most. Many people like splurging on fancy antiques or investing in collectables. Tina, on the other hand, advises her clients to put their money toward the places where they’ll spend the majority of their time—like a super-comfortable sofa.
Reflect light. Whether an apartment has great light or very little of it, a giant wall mirror can do wonders to reflect the light, making a space feel even brighter. Tina used a large mirror to frame a console and reflect the view of the park in the living room.
Double up on use. In this apartment, the office doubles as another guest room (thanks to a chicly stealth sleeper sofa!) without compromising work space. “Even though it’s a small room, you don’t have to choose one or the other,” says Tina.
Strata Patinaed Brass Planter by CB2, $195, cb2.com
Kupia Handpainted Vase Set by Anthropologie, $58, anthropologie.com
Florence Brass and Glass Vase by CB2, $25, cb2.com
Summer Philodendron by The Sill, $38, thesill.com