Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Traditional Touches Transform a Tribeca Home
A contemporary New York City apartment gets a classical look with new woodwork, finishes and decor
Newlyweds with a traditional sense of style asked mother-and-daughter design team Suzanne and Lauren McGrath to transform their contemporary apartment into a classically designed space with a soothing color palette and custom furniture. “It had been a very modern apartment, and the clients were interested in a more traditional feel,” Suzanne says. The design duo completely renovated the 3,000-square-foot apartment, including replacing the doors, hardware and molding, and adding custom millwork.
Within the long living space, the duo created three mini rooms: a dining area, a formal living room and a cozy, casual gathering room for watching TV. A large wool-and-mohair-blend rug with navy and white stripes runs from the formal living room to the TV room, unifying the two spaces.
The three mini rooms are defined by architectural elements like millwork, along with the oversize rug. The dining area was situated near the kitchen to be functional for serving food.
Off the kitchen and dining area, a banquette upholstered in boho-chic indigo fabric provides guests with a space to relax and enjoy a cocktail while the homeowners prepare dinner.
Behind the banquette, sconces sport the same silk fabric as the wallcovering so they fade away rather than draw attention to themselves. “Why use a plain white shade when you can do something fun and inspired?” Lauren says.
Behind the banquette, sconces sport the same silk fabric as the wallcovering so they fade away rather than draw attention to themselves. “Why use a plain white shade when you can do something fun and inspired?” Lauren says.
In the kitchen, clean and simple white millwork provides a backdrop for crisp Carrara marble, nickel hardware and contemporary pendant lighting.
The designers kept the space streamlined by tucking appliances behind custom cabinetry. A new built-in china cabinet showcases the homeowners’ beautiful collection of china and glassware.
The designers kept the space streamlined by tucking appliances behind custom cabinetry. A new built-in china cabinet showcases the homeowners’ beautiful collection of china and glassware.
An old powder room was reinvigorated with paint-splatter wallpaper and wainscoting painted in a bold Benjamin Moore blue. Black porcelain tile, nickel finishes and an orange-painted ceiling are unexpected counterpoints.
Heads-Up Hues: 10 Bold Ceiling Colors
Heads-Up Hues: 10 Bold Ceiling Colors
For a “secret garden”-inspired bedroom, wall-to-wall geometric wool carpeting mimicking a lattice pattern pairs with robin’s-egg-blue foliage wallcovering by Farrow & Ball, which was the inspirational launching point for the master bedroom.
“We often use pale shades of blues in bedrooms because it’s such a calming color and people really seem to respond to it,” Lauren says. The design team softened the strong windows with an ethereal covering and robin’s-egg-blue draperies.
“We often use pale shades of blues in bedrooms because it’s such a calming color and people really seem to respond to it,” Lauren says. The design team softened the strong windows with an ethereal covering and robin’s-egg-blue draperies.
“All of the fabrics speak to each other,” Lauren says of the wallcoverings, toile-upholstered chairs, bedding and draperies.
For the master bath, the designers took a classical approach by creating an all-white space with Calacatta marble countertops and, on the floor, a mosaic of Calacatta and Thassos marble.
“We gutted all the bathrooms and made them more traditional and more luxurious,” Suzanne says.
“We gutted all the bathrooms and made them more traditional and more luxurious,” Suzanne says.
The chocolate-brown Quadrille wallpaper dictated the cozy vibe of the guest room. “It was the launching point for this room,” Lauren says. “Burnt orange and brown are a great color combination.”
For the little girl’s room, the designers created a sophisticated space that is versatile and timeless so the homeowners won’t have to redecorate as their daughter grows.
The berry-and-lavender color scheme was inspired by the Roman shade and throw pillows, which are made with a botanical print from California-based Raoul Textiles. The headboard and bedskirt feature a Lee Jofa fabric designed by David Hicks.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A married couple and their daughter
Location: Tribeca neighborhood of New York City
Size: 3,000 square feet (279 square meters)
Designers: Suzanne and Lauren McGrath of McGrath II
For the color scheme of the main living space, the designers drew inspiration from the apartment’s views of lush green treetops and blue skies. “We were definitely inspired by the views, so we wanted the colors of the space to reflect that,” Lauren says. “They also are very soothing colors, and I think they are easy to live with and not colors you get tired of.”
The formal entertaining parlor offers a luxurious sitting area, along with a fireplace and a bar that’s enclosed in built-in cabinetry. “What was most important for them was for their main living space to feel more colorful, fresh and a little bit eclectic,” Suzanne says.