Art and Light: A Bold NYC Home for a Family That Entertains
Not every family home has to be neutral. In this 920-square-foot NYC co-op, two attorneys and their young daughter wanted something more expressive—something that reflected their energy, their art, and their love of hosting.
The brief was clear: this had to be a home designed for people and paintings. They wanted color, clarity, and flexibility—especially in the living spaces where they entertained most. I had renovated another unit on the same line a couple floors up, so I knew the bones of the building well.
But this design needed to be entirely different, grounded in how they lived, what they collected, and how they moved through their day.
Project Snapshot
Project Type: Full apartment renovation in a NYC co-op
Client Goals: Prioritize entertaining, create a home for colorful art, minimize bedrooms, make bold design moves in shared spaces
Biggest Challenges: Gas line modifications in a co-op, leveling existing floors, visually resolving a chaotic original layout
Standout Features: Color-shifting LED kitchen lighting, cabinetry shaped like Tetris blocks, oversized sliding doors that double as gallery walls, award-winning guest bathroom, gallery-style floor base detail
Location: New York City
Year Completed: 2017
Size: 920 square feet
Budget: Approximately $450,000
Before the Renovation: A Clunky, Chaotic Layout
The original apartment was a mess—mismatched floors, disconnected rooms, and a kitchen that felt like an afterthought. Circulation was awkward, light didn’t travel well, and there was no rhythm or place for the clients’ substantial art collection. The space felt tight even when it wasn’t.
And yet, they saw the potential. With clear priorities—make the living areas feel expansive, the bedrooms discreet, and the walls work like a gallery—we began reimagining the apartment as a calm backdrop for a vibrant life.
Design Strategy: A Home That Holds Art, Color, and Conversation
The kitchen was the first priority. While its footprint remained, we completely reorganized the layout for better flow and interaction. That meant moving appliances and coordinating a tricky gas line update with the co-op board and DOB. The cabinetry became part sculpture, part architecture—stacked in oversized Tetris-like volumes with integrated lighting and storage.
Color-shifting LEDs were added to the kitchen to give it a playful, gallery-like quality. Depending on the time of day or the event, the lighting could change the whole mood of the apartment. This was not a kitchen to be hidden—it was the showpiece.
Just off the living area, we designed a pair of oversized sliding doors that open to the bedrooms. These panels double as art walls, each holding one of the couple’s largest and most expressive paintings. When closed, they create privacy. When open, they frame the living space and expand it.
The husband had a strong architectural eye and was especially excited about the gallery edge base detail—a minimalist floor reveal that gives the walls a floating effect. To make that detail work, we had to level the floors across the apartment—no small task given the building’s age and construction.
Bathrooms were treated with the same level of care. The primary bath is black and white, clean-lined, and sleek—nothing like the cramped and dated room that came before. The guest bath, a smaller but bold space, was designed to surprise. That design won a Fantini Design Award, recognizing its inventive layout and material balance.
Results: From Chaotic to Composed
What was once a clunky, awkward apartment is now a home that feels intentional, clear, and filled with possibility. The living and kitchen areas are open and flexible, always ready to shift from quiet evening to lively gathering. The art lives everywhere—on the walls, in the cabinetry, and even on the doors.
By minimizing the bedrooms and maximizing everything else, we made room for their lifestyle. There’s no wasted space, no false notes.
And now, as they move on, the apartment is on the market for over $1 million—a reflection not just of market trends, but of how design can reframe what a space is worth, both to live in and to sell.
Let’s Talk About What’s Possible
You’ve now seen how a mismatched co-op became a vibrant home for a young family who values art, energy, and everyday living. If your space isn’t keeping up with your life—or never felt like yours to begin with—I’d be glad to help you rethink it.
Whether you're designing around artwork, reworking a layout for gatherings, or trying to bring clarity to a chaotic plan, let’s talk about what’s possible.