A 20-Something's Dreamy Park Avenue Apartment Is As Enviable As You'd Expect

By Elizabeth Stamp Jul 17, 2017 6:47 pm EST

Alan Gastelum

When a single twenty-something decided to return to New York City, it was more than a homecoming: it was a chance to make a brand new property all her own. She'd been following the work of The New Design Project for some time, so when she found a two-bedroom loft on Park Avenue South she quickly called the studio's creative director, Fanny Abbes, to help give the space a refined, urban aesthetic. "The client wanted us to create a home that felt warm, without feeling overly 'designed,'" Abbes said. It was also important that the place come across as a slice of calm on a traffic-filled street in midtown Manhattan. Abbes and her team started by incorporating a soft palette of blues and greens into the space to create a sense of serenity, and then curated pieces inspired by midcentury masters like Hans Wegner and Poul Kjaerholm to give the rooms some edge. They also chose sculptural lighting to accentuate the loft's high ceilings, and designed custom millwork, such as the living room's accent wall and the dining room's floating bench, to show off unique details. The finished project is youthful but still sophisticated — perfect for the client to start the next phase of her life.

Alan Gastelum

1. Living Room

Abbes mixed vintage-inspired cocktail tables and armchairs with contemporary designs, such as the Camerich sofa and Eskayel rug, in the living room.

2. Living Room

Alan Gastelum

A pendant light by Apparatus Studio and a graphic painting add drama to the living room.

3. Living Room

Alan Gastelum

The firm designed a floating brass shelving unit that sits against a black backdrop. "TV sets always pose a challenge in the trade-off between form and function, so we try and find interesting ways to either make them disappear or draw the eye away from them toward other more interesting sculptural elements," Abbes noted.