Our client approached us after purchasing a recently completed historic townhouse newly renovated into a modern industrial bachelor pad. We felt the existing hard-edged finishes, a mix of blacks, greys, walnut-stained oak flooring, and bold graphic tile patterning, created a cold and impersonal atmosphere. We aimed to warm them up, bring nature inside, and find ways to add texture, softness, and femininity and create a harmonious balance. In addition, our clients mentioned California as a reference point, and we sought to tie in its casual atmosphere and elan alongside Scandinavian influences.
To achieve a warmer atmosphere in the home, we added natural materials that include matte white oak, linen, shearling, brass, leather, and blown glass lighting addition; we balanced the new custom furniture with textural ceramic accessories, soft layered wool rugs, and alpaca textiles. Surfaces feature a layered mix and a playful array of unique, handmade pieces that are visually striking and tactile. In addition, we wanted to keep the palette neutral and calm, serene and timeless.
In the kitchen, we removed the upper cabinetry and added textural tile and shelving to display a mix of handmade ceramic dishware. In the client's new home office, we created custom white oak cabinetry in a clean and minimal design. Adding texture, softness, and large-scale trees, we balanced the home's hard edges, clean lines, dark colors, and the previously masculine atmosphere. There's still a mix of burnished steel and darker window frames and staircase (that were existing), but now the home feels softer and well-appointed.
In the living room, we now have a projector screen that comes from the ceiling -- so the client can have large-scale art and keep the functionality of a movie room.
A striking departure from the neutral color scheme is the unexpected glamorous double-height "evening" space featuring a wet bar, large-scale tree, and Apparatus lighting installation. To create a sense of intimacy and glamour, we painted the walls a dusty mauve, added glimmering brass shelving, and Cristallo Tiffany quartzite on the counters and the custom coffee table.
