The Grand Tour

A High-Rise Apartment That Brings the Greenery Indoors

Tina Ramchandani used shades inspired by nearby Central Park to turn this newly renovated apartment into a fresh and grounded home
Image may contain Living Room Room Indoors Furniture Couch Interior Design Rug Table Electronics and Monitor

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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.

Light streams through the living room windows, illuminating the custom jewel-toned sofa and moss-hued rug. Tina chose the brass-detailed light fixtures for a bold and modern touch.

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.

Greenery comes to life amidst this backdrop of rich neutrals. Tina refers to her design style as “soulful minimalism,” which feels exceptionally on point for this tableau. A Lee Broom chandelier hangs above the marble dining table.

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.

Brass details mix nicely with the natural wood, creating a warm juxtaposition for easy, everyday elegance.

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.”

A custom-made headboard in emerald green is the centerpiece of the master bedroom.

Built-in storage allows for a clean and streamlined master bathroom.

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.

The desk was custom-made to ensure the perfect fit for both the work space and the sleeper sofa.

⚒ Do It Yourself

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.

Wall art from CB2 makes a statement in the powder room. Tina recommends other trade sources—like Leftbank Art—for accessible prints. “Because the home is so detailed, the art doesn’t have to be front and center. We just needed colorful art to help bring life to the space,” says Tina.

🛍Shop It Out

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