African Art and Textural Touches Infuse This Condo With Character
Bold wall treatments, custom furniture and the homeowner’s art collection personalize this renovated condo in New York
When the homeowner reached out to designer Tamu Green, all she wanted was a little help picking out paint colors and new furniture for her recently purchased high-rise condo in New Rochelle, New York. But as the two started discussing design specifics, the project transformed into a full-blown renovation. “Once she began to think about putting her own personal stamp on the space, the project quickly grew in scale,” Green says. The result is a customized space with a sleek new kitchen, refined furnishings and a stunning collection of African artwork.
After: “We wanted to add some distinction to the entry hall and make it feel separate from the rest of the home,” Green says. She clad the hallway walls in a tan wallpaper with abstract black lines. She also created a dramatic threshold between the hallway and the main living area by adding a shiny dark brown wallpaper that mimics lacquered paint. New gray-washed oak flooring was added throughout the home.
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The designer originally wanted to paint the dining area walls green, but after finding the crushed velvet to cover the dining room chairs, she painted the walls a more neutral shade to let the vibrant green chairs stand out.
Green hung two sculptural chandeliers made of satin and brushed nickel at different heights to make a bold statement. “The dining area is relatively small, so drawing the eye up helps to visually enlarge the space,” she says.
Wall paint: Sandy Hook Gray, Benjamin Moore
Green hung two sculptural chandeliers made of satin and brushed nickel at different heights to make a bold statement. “The dining area is relatively small, so drawing the eye up helps to visually enlarge the space,” she says.
Wall paint: Sandy Hook Gray, Benjamin Moore
The living room includes lots of subtle patterns that add depth to the neutral color palette. A large club chair and ottoman are covered in an abstract-pattern fabric, and the cream-toned area rug has a relief pattern to give it depth.
Green covered the floor-to-ceiling column behind the white sectional sofa in a wallpaper that looks like tree bark. On the television wall, she hung a pair of framed African masks. “The homeowner grew up in Africa and amassed a large collection of masks, statues and other art from there,” Green says,
Green covered the floor-to-ceiling column behind the white sectional sofa in a wallpaper that looks like tree bark. On the television wall, she hung a pair of framed African masks. “The homeowner grew up in Africa and amassed a large collection of masks, statues and other art from there,” Green says,
Before: The powder room walls were covered in a leopard-print wallpaper that the designer had wanted to keep, but after a contractor accidentally removed a large section of it, she devised a new plan.
After: The renovated powder room now has a marble floor with black and brass inlays. A custom vanity features gold hardware. A globe pendant light hung from the ceiling and a sculptural wall sconce cast a warm glow. And to literally top the space off, Green had the ceiling wallpapered.
Before: The kitchen included a pass-through that was closed off at the top due to a large soffit and upper cabinets. A trio of counter stools were situated in front of the granite-topped breakfast bar.
After: Green had the soffit and upper cabinets removed to make the pass-through larger, making the space feel more open. The top of the breakfast bar now has a waterfall edge in white quartz, and the base is covered in a walnut veneer. Three new wood counter stools complete the scene.
Before: The U-shaped kitchen included cherry cabinets, black appliances and a granite backsplash and countertops.
After: The new kitchen has a floor covered in porcelain tile. The cabinetry is now a mix of materials: white lacquer for the uppers; walnut veneer for the lowers and the refrigerator wall. Stainless steel appliances, white quartz countertops and a range wall covered in graphic encaustic cement tiles finish off the look.
The area directly off the kitchen has a built-in window seat with storage underneath. The built-in buffet against the back wall includes a built-in wine refrigerator. A glass cabinet and six cubbyholes above the buffet display more African art and a collection of stylish decanters. The colorful painting in the center of the wall is by an African artist.
A signed framed print by artist Charles Bibbs dictated the color palette for the master bedroom. “We wanted to use the piece above the bed, so everything we selected for the room had to work with it,” Green says.
The bed is covered in a beautiful crushed blue velvet that picks up the blue in the art, while the blush-colored painted walls complement the colors in the piece.
Wall paint: Driftscape Tan, Benjamin Moore
The bed is covered in a beautiful crushed blue velvet that picks up the blue in the art, while the blush-colored painted walls complement the colors in the piece.
Wall paint: Driftscape Tan, Benjamin Moore
The large outdoor terrace received new decking, potted plants and, for the existing outdoor furniture, custom cushions.
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Look for an interior designer near you
Shop for outdoor furniture
Condo at a Glance
Who lives here: A single woman who works in finance
Location: New Rochelle, New York
Size: 1,475 square feet (137 square meters)
Designer: Tamu Green of Lux Pad Interiors
Before: The original entry hall had pale yellow walls and cherrywood flooring.
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