Houzz Tours
Manhattan Houzz Tour: A Chic Apartment Goes Bold With Colour
Sophisticated hues and a nod to mid-century design help this personality-filled home stand out in the Big Apple
When a couple with two young children decided to purchase their first Manhattan apartment, they called on designer Christopher Maya to help them finish and furnish it. From their first meeting with the designer, they described their desire for an open, contemporary layout that would feel like a liveable family home with real personality and not a showroom. Working with the existing layout to avoid the added cost of structural work was a priority, as was preserving the skyline view. Step inside, and you’ll find a refined use of colour and little nods to mid-century charm, all awash in ample natural light.
Maya wanted the space to feel somewhat neutral but punctuated with colour, so he started with a light grey-blue on the walls called ‘In Your Eyes’ by Benjamin Moore. Much of the colour he used is fairly muted because he didn’t want to go overboard in such an open space. Shots of persimmon and teal are delivered in the vintage mid-century armchairs and ottoman to give the room added personality. The windows were left bare to let in as much of the light and views as possible.
The sculptural black chandelier above the dining table is a mid-century design. The white dining room chairs borrow their style from a Francis Elkin design from the early 1900s.
In the kitchen, Maya set out to give his clients as much storage as possible in their galley setup by bringing cabinets all the way up to the ceiling, but the rest of the design had largely playful origins. The Serena and Lily Lemons wallpaper that covers the ceiling was largely a spontaneous decision that led to the choice of vivid yellow for the walls. The wallpaper adds “a bit of whimsy and interest, another layer,” Maya says.
The apartment receives so much sunlight that riffing on a Caribbean escape in the media room, which doubles as a guest room, seemed like a logical choice for the designer. Farrow & Ball’s ‘Arsenic’ contributes greatly to that tropical-oasis feel. “It’s a bright colour, yet the room feels very soothing and peaceful, like an escape should be,” Maya says. The fabric on the Roman shade comes from Maya’s own fabric line with Holland & Sherry.
The Clifton lounge by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is covered in brown linen and mohair, and a beach photo by Christophe Tedjasukmana completes the Caribbean escape theme.
The Clifton lounge by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is covered in brown linen and mohair, and a beach photo by Christophe Tedjasukmana completes the Caribbean escape theme.
The master bedroom has ample space for a personal desk and a pull-up chair for reading. The dresser, side table and desk were all purchased from New York vendor Chelsea Textiles, which designs mid-century-inspired furniture and fabric. The pieces have “a bit of a whimsical modern feel but also [are] warm and comfortable with a traditional slant,” Maya says.
The custom bedhead and draperies share a fabric from Maya’s own collection, called ‘Whorl’.
The custom bedhead and draperies share a fabric from Maya’s own collection, called ‘Whorl’.
The parents stated from the beginning of the project they wanted their kids to have their own special rooms on their own side of the house. Since both children have outgrown the stage of strewing toys all over their rooms, Maya was free to dress their chambers as more mature spaces they can grow into.
The daughter loved pink, so Maya showed her some wallpaper and fabric patterns and noticed what tones she gravitated toward. The Alan Campbell wallpaper from Quadrille Fabrics complements Maya’s ‘Savannah Stripe’ on the bedhead. “It’s all about scale and colour,” he says.
The daughter loved pink, so Maya showed her some wallpaper and fabric patterns and noticed what tones she gravitated toward. The Alan Campbell wallpaper from Quadrille Fabrics complements Maya’s ‘Savannah Stripe’ on the bedhead. “It’s all about scale and colour,” he says.
The son’s largely monochromatic blue bedroom gives way to lacquered red frames on the walls that are just the right playful counterpoint to so much cobalt.
The custom-made bedhead and the Roman shade at the window both feature Maya’s ‘Toribio’ fabric for Holland & Sherry.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
The custom-made bedhead and the Roman shade at the window both feature Maya’s ‘Toribio’ fabric for Holland & Sherry.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple with two young children
Location: New York City
Designer: Christopher Maya Associates
Because the entry sets the first impression for the entire apartment, designer Christopher Maya wanted to make it feel extra special by covering the ceiling in a gold leaf wall covering from Phillip Jeffries. The entry walls feature custom millwork covered in oil-based paint. Maya emphasises the importance of finding a good painter for the job. “You go to the trouble of creating beautiful millwork, but if you don’t get the right painter, you won’t really exhibit or highlight the work.”