These clients had just moved from a large home into this apartment with less than half the square footage, in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren. With three new grandbabies on the way, they wanted to create a space that was as kid-friendly as it was stylish. The place was previously a rental and felt dated and a bit impersonal—beige walls, ugly wood kitchen cabinets with Formica countertops—so our aim was to add some custom touches to make the place feel more updated and special, while also maximizing storage and without breaking the bank.
For the kitchen, we removed the cabinets from the sink wall and added open shelving as well as subway tile to the ceiling. We then painted all cabinets a bright crisp white, added a range hood, did away with the two-tiered peninsula, and put in white quartz countertops.
The living and dining area is one very large room, so to better define the spaces, we added a feature wall in the dining area and painted it a deep navy (Benjamin Moore “Hale Navy”), then installed a brass dome chandelier for contrast—it really pops against the navy blue. On the other side of the room in the living area, we created new built-ins that take up almost the entire wall and provide lots of storage for toys and baby gear. We painted all the walls white, and the new built-ins in a soft gray.
For the furnishings, we focused on soft edges, easy-to-clean surfaces and materials, and of course softness and comfort.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Organic Modern
Inspiration: Given proximity to the water, we wanted it to feel coastal-inspired but not overly “beachy”.
Favorite Element: The navy blue feature wall—it was a tough sell, but it really makes the space.
Biggest Challenge: With no cans and only one light in the dining area, the room had very few light sources. Although the wall of windows provides sufficient light during the day, we needed a solution that would provide ample light after the sun went down. We used a variety of lights, from table lamps to floor lights to pendants, which provide light from lots of different angles.
Proudest DIY: With lots of new bookshelves, styling was a must. The clients are extremely family oriented and wanted to incorporate lots of family photos but keep things looking clean and modern, so we framed black and white pictures in glossy white frames.
Biggest Indulgence: Quartz countertops were a splurge, but so easy to care for!
Best Advice: Don’t be afraid to go for unexpected color combinations, like mixing black with blue! When tempered with lots of white, it creates a modern and crisp look and adds an element of the unexpected.
What’s your best home secret? When decorating bookshelves, keep a consistent color palette and work in groupings of two or three whenever possible. Make sure that you vary the height, shapes, and colors from shelf to shelf while keeping to a consistent story—think of the bookshelves like a zig zag, so if you place three gold vases on the top left, try to balance with something gold and round in the middle right, then bottom left.
Resources
PAINT & COLORS
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace on walls, trim, and kitchen cabinets
Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray on Built-ins
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on feature wall
LIVING ROOM
Martin Sectional – Rowe
Playlist Round Cocktail Table – Universal Furniture (can purchase via Houzz )
Hanoi Harbor pillow – Walter G textiles
Woven Stripe Pillow Cover – Etsy
Chunky Natural Wool & Jute Rug – Pottery Barn
Round White Marble and Metal Accent Table – World Market
Marisa Table Lamp – Uttermost (can be purchased via Build.com )
Big Dipper Brass Arc Floor Lamp – CB2
DINING ROOM
Rodan Hammered Brass Metal Dome Pendant Light – Crate & Barrel
Beckman Dining Chair – Wayfair
Malaku Dining Side Chair – Crate & Barrel
Artwork – via Celadon
KITCHEN
Maddox White Dome Pendant – Crate & Barrel
Wall Panels – Karvd
Gleeson 1 light semi flush – Wayfair
FOYER
Vintage Rug (one of a kind) – Zuma Imports
Coreene Console Table – Uttermost (can be purchased via Lamps Plus )
Wood Octagon Mirror – Pottery Barn
Carillon Pendant – Shades of Light
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