The owners of this apartment in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood love living downtown. But they also love a traditional uptown aesthetic. To bring that look to the modern white box that was their new home, they brought in designer Jennifer Hunter, whose portfolio is rich in projects that put a fresh spin on classic elements.
The 2,252-square-foot apartment is in a newly constructed building with none of the architectural niceties—crown moldings, fireplaces, built-in shelving—of century-old homes. “It truly was very stark and cold when we first walked into the project,” Jennifer recalls.
To warm things up, Jennifer prioritized bringing in texture, beginning with the walls. Every room is wallpapered, from the primary bedroom (quiet blue grass cloth) to the nursery (a large-scale pattern that resembles vintage botanical prints). Traditional draperies also help soften the spaces, with golden curtain rods contributing to the sense of refinement.
Jennifer switched out every light fixture as well, opting for those that marry classic and contemporary. The lantern that hangs over the dining table, for instance, has a traditional shape but is larger than typical; the metal shades of the den’s sconces are an unexpected blue.
All the furniture was new to the owners, but not necessarily new in look and feel. “We incorporated a lot of traditional pieces as well as one-of-a-kind vintage pieces,” Jennifer says. To ensure that the apartment maintained a youthful vibe, she brought in “real pops of color—blues and greens.”
From the woven leather ottoman to the herringbone rug to the planked-wood side table, the den is a harmony of subtle textures and patterns. Details such as the navy trim on the curtains contribute to the sense of cohesiveness.
Taking into account the homeowners’ young children, Jennifer upholstered the banquette in “vegan leather”–aka high-end, easy-to-clean vinyl–and laminated the chair upholstery. “We don’t like to sacrifice style, but everything we do is very durable,” she says.
Because the large-scale wallpaper print and the smaller-scale gingham curtains are in the same color family, the nursery retains a soothing ambience. Find a similar swivel chair here.
Balancing the colors are a medley of metallic accents, from the oil-rubbed bronze of the kitchen drawer pulls to the nickel window hardware. Similarly, paler finishes such as the glossy white of the dining chairs offset the dark wood of the living area’s china cabinet and other antique finds.
“I think it’s all about the mix,” Jennifer says. “All the textures, the metal mixing, it all adds up to make this a home.”
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