8. Moody Glam Vibes
Designers: Jeanie Engelbach and Ryan Romanowski of apartmentjeanie
Location: New York City
Size: 168 square feet (16 square meters); 12 by 14 feet
Homeowners’ request. “When the homeowners purchased this apartment, it was a complete white box, devoid of color, warmth and vibrancy,” says designer Jeanie Engelbach. “The dining area, and the rest of the open floor plan, did not accurately reflect our clients’ edgy, energetic and gothic yet glam aesthetic. As self-identified homebodies who love to entertain, they wanted a space that felt like them and was inviting to their guests. Having worked with them previously, we knew they trusted our instincts and ability to integrate their style and passions into the overall design concept and weren’t at all shocked when we suggested we use our client’s bright magenta-colored hair and black wardrobe as the inspiration.”
Special features. “To bring this vision to life, we fully committed to color drenching the entire open-floor living and dining room in a rich aubergine — Benjamin Moore Plum Royale — that transformed the space from generic white box to something far more regal and cinematic,” Engelbach says. “We carried the graphic metallic Art Deco-inspired wallpaper from the living room as a frieze to add contrast and structure, while the warm walnut custom-built bar and matching record stand introduces depth and acts as visual divider from living to dining area.
“The bar’s mirrored backsplash reflects light and creates an illusion of multiple windows. We inherited the polished live-edge dining table with lucite base from the apartment’s previous owner, then softened the room with curved velvet chairs that play off the plum tones. The chairs’ matte black steel tube frame anchors the hand-knotted wool rug in black with streaks of white . The dramatic Italian cascading crystal beaded chandelier brings movement and glamour.”
Designer tip. “When working with an open-floor-plan living space, it’s important to delineate designated areas within the larger floor plan,” Engelbach says. “However, implementing one consistent decorative element throughout — in this case, the paint and wallpaper — creates a sense of cohesion and continuity.”
Wallpaper: Art Deco Glamour, Spoonflower; chairs: Inesse in Iced Blue velvet, CB2
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2. Aging Gracefully
Porch at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young boys
Location: Los Altos, California
Architect: Kendra Rosenberg of KNR Design Studio
Contractor: Changras & Frey Construction
One of the homeowners grew up in this Northern California ranch house, and now she and her husband live here with their two young sons. To make it their own, they brought on designer Kendra Rosenberg for a down-to-the-studs whole-home and yard renovation — one that would support indoor-outdoor living and allow them to age in place comfortably after their boys have grown.
Seen here is the new front porch, designed for rocking away the afternoons. Cedar shingles for the siding and walnut slab for the front door bring rich natural beauty to the backdrop, set off by fresh white trim and porch posts. The patio surface is Connecticut bluestone, offering cool contrast. And just inside the two new windows is a bench that the homeowners’ two dogs can perch on to keep a lookout.
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