Here at Kathy Kuo Home. we believe that your home or loft isn’t just the space where you live; it’s also an extension of yourself: your personality, your history, your family, and your refuge where you can feel safe, comfortable, and recharged. This feeling of zen and self-actualization was of utmost importance to our clients when they set out to design this gorgeous glam loft apartment on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.
Both artists and performers, our clients needed the space to foster creativity and imagination, but they weren’t entirely sure of their personal style. Luckily, that’s when they reached out to Design Bar. They saw photos of Kathy Kuo’s own living room on the blog and Instagram and knew they had to work with us. At Design Bar, we work intimately with our clients to help them discover more about themselves and their style. Read on to learn how we designed this space and helped our clients discover and achieve their own individual style.
The Living Room
The photos above and below showcase the two-section living room of this modern apartment. For the living room, we knew the client wanted something elegant and clean yet bold and eclectic. And in addition to style considerations, the space needed to be kid-friendly enough for two young kids.
We have a bunch of tips for kid-friendly design, but the primary solve here was round silhouettes, rugs, and premium performance fabrics that look and feel great while being resistant to sticky fingers. (Our client actually came to our Design Bar offices and tested chocolate, wine, and crayon on her fabrics!). We used a rice paper wallpaper to add a textural layer to the room, and our soothing, zen-like Muriel Clear Bubble Chandelier was used to connect the two separate seating areas.
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The Hallway
Have an unusually shaped room or area in your home? It’s not a problem for Design Bar! Almost every piece in this client’s home was custom made―from the fabric selections, to the sofa seat height, to the extra-long console in the living room.
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The (Soundproof!) Reading Room
The bonus room above was designed as a creative space, and we actually contracted the walls to be soundproof so the clients could rehearse in their own home! The main ask here was for bright colors and patterns to be incorporated into the design in a sophisticated way so they could come into the room for inspiration.
We playfully worked the clients’ favorite colors (bright blues and yellows) in a harmonious way that’s inspiring without becoming a visual overload. The lesson learned: never be afraid to go bold!
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Master Bedroom
For the master bedroom, the clients wanted romance and high drama―and we gave them exactly that! The piece that really brought the drama was, of course, our Polly Modern Steel White Leather Four Poster Queen Bed, which we fully customized for the clients needs (We truly mean really custom, including the bed fabric, the headboard height, the height of the bed structure, the headboard fill!).
To give the room that luxe, zen-like feel in this loft space, we covered the walls with a clean black charcoal Japanese grasscloth wallpaper. With all of the custom cushions and the regency-style vanity area, the end result is very tonal but very dramatic at the same time.
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Kids’ Bedroom
Kids should always have a say in their space… but this doesn’t mean their rooms can’t be beautiful as well! We actually had the client’s daughter visit our Design Bar office and help pick the fabrics for her room above. Unsurprisingly for a young girl, everything she picked was bright pink, and she wanted stripes, chevrons, polka-dots, you-name-it! But we made it all work cohesively for this sweet and whimsical bedroom.
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Kathy Kuo Home Design Services
Are you feeling inspired and need to update your loft space? In addition to being a source for beautiful high quality furnishings and decor, Kathy Kuo Home has a team of professional interior designers that are ready to assist with all of your interior design needs. Our services provide multiple layout and design options that fit your style and budget for any room. You will work with a team of designers and project managers to help you love where you live.
Call (888) 908-3486 or email designs@kathykuohome.com today to get started!
6 thoughts on “Interior Design Reveal: Achieving Zen in a New York City Loft”
Hello, I love the dresser in the master but don’t see a link to it?
It’s a custom piece, but please give us a call at 888-908-2925 or email us at cs@kathykuohome.com, and we can help you with pricing/purchasing!
Master bedroom: is that wallpaper?
It is! It’s a charcoal Japanese grasscloth wallpaper, such a luxe look!
I LOVE THE CURTAINS IN THE LIVING ROOM. WHERE CAN I BUY THEM?
Hi Karen,
Thanks for reaching out! These were a quatrefoil trellis pattern from Kravet!