Designer Nikki Chu (left) and actress Nicole Ari Parker in Nicole’s Manhattan apartment, designed by Nikki.
Chic. Worldly. Warm. Confident. These words describe Lisa Todd Wexley, aka LTW, the documentarian friend introduced in And Just Like That…, the sequel series to Sex and the City now airing on HBO. They also describe Nicole Ari Parker, the actress who portrays LTW.
The gold-frame mirrors flanking the Kelly Wingback Bed in Gray help ensure that the main bedroom is as glam as the rest of the apartment. The rounded corners of the Hazel Bench mimic those of the mirrors. Find the rug here, the teal ball pillow here, and the lumbar pillows here.
The foyer’s hand-carved Violet Console certainly commands attention, but it’s also highly practical, thanks to its three drawers. Find the equally striking artwork here.
Upon moving to Manhattan to film And Just Like That…, Nicole wanted her new apartment to reflect her style. To get the look, she turned to designer (and One Kings Lane To the Trade member) Nikki Chu, a longtime friend: “I think we’ve been laughing for 15 years,” Nicole says.
“I’m really clear on her taste level,” Nikki says, “that it needs to feel global, it needs to feel comfy and cozy, but it also needs to be chic and glamorous, and she always uses the word ‘naughty’—she wants a little bit of naughty in there.”
Gold accents, from the legs of the living room accent tables to the frames of the bedroom mirrors, ensure that glamour is apparent at every turn. Ditto the lush textures of the faux-fur throws and pillows, the velvet dining chairs, the lavishly shaggy living room rug.
While the initial impression might be one of cosmopolitan sophistication, the apartment needed to be practical too. “I’ve got a husband and two kids, so I had to incorporate high design, masculine and feminine, and livability,” Nicole says. That’s one reason Nikki and Nicole opted for the deep-seated sectional sofa, large enough to accommodate the entire family plus guests. The combination of practicality and beauty also explains the folding room screens (designed by Nikki for One Kings Lane) between the living and dining areas: They create intimacy for family (or romantic) dinners but can easily be removed when Nicole wants to open up the space for entertaining large groups.
“This apartment is very LTW,” Nicole says. “It’s sexy, warm, there’s art everywhere, and it’s textural and global, and that’s pretty much my character—and me.”
The curves of the velvet-upholstered Sadie Dining Chairs provide maximum comfort as well as high style. Find the hide rug here.
Matisse’s Blue Nude has special significance for Nicole: Her mother has the same print in Nicole’s childhood home. Behind it hangs Sculpture II by Susan Hable.
The handsome Philipe 8-Drawer Dresser is constructed of iron and steel to last for generations. The Finn Slipper Chairs in Durban Blue, designed by Nikki for One Kings Lane, on each side of the dresser soften its straight lines. Find Golden View 2 (hanging on the wall) here; find the Picasso print in front of it here.
Gold and marble bring undeniable glamour to Nicole’s living room. The plush rug and plump cushions—including the Nairobi and Durban pillows, designed by Nikki for One Kings Lane—contribute cozy comfort, while the plants and the oak bench alongside the window add organic allure. Find the coffee table here.
Green certainly becomes Nicole, in her apparel as well as in her art, such as Poptarts III shown here.
Join the Discussion