Decorating & Design
This Contemporary Home Masters The Global Look
Updated on April 24, 2018
That undefinable something that turns a house into a home relies on well-loved heirlooms, travel mementoes and even scents as much as it does on decorating. This six-bedroom midtown heritage home has these cherished pieces in spades. Designer Lisa Lev’s formula for success? “Each space had a combination of modern pieces, antique heirlooms, vintage items, amazing art and perfect accessories to complete the look.” Many of those perfect accessories were the homeowner’s own, found in far-flung locations around the world, like France, New York, Cuba, Turkey and South Africa. “. We want our home to be a place that reminds us of our wonderful experiences,” says the homeowner. Click through to see their stunning space filled with treasures from their travels.
The homeowner and her Aussiedoodle, Max. Cool architectural details like the sleek staircase and glass railing are a counterpoint to the warmth of wood floors. Newly installed brick cladding, which runs the entire depth of the home, adds visual interest and texture, while a Japanese tea cart makes a striking statement in the foyer.
Lisa’s approach in the entry was to “set the scene” for the home’s modern global design, aided by the floor tiles and arabesque detailing on the closet doors. Lisa and the homeowner hand-selected the patterned tiles they liked best, and Lisa mapped out where they should go.
Wide-plank oak flooring in a chevron pattern stained mocha brown anchors the airy foyer, which boasts soaring 20-foot-high ceilings. A brass openwork pendant draws the eye up, and an antique butcherblock table (a find from France) sports hammer marks from its previous life.
A Tulip chair by Pierre Paulin and black and white photos create a quiet corner in the foyer.
A mirrored cabinet adds shine in a home dominated by natural textures and hues. The bowl, figurines and other accents were collected on the homeowners’ travels.
The kitchen, living room and dining room are all open to one another. The sit-down eating area, which is attached to the kitchen island, was designed with materials similar to those found in the dining room for a cohesive look. Ceiling-height custom cabinetry is clad in a mix of white and wood grain laminate, while open shelving is covered in the grey wood laminate to highlight the homeowner’s cookbooks and pretty accents.
In the mostly neutral living room, a matched set of luxe purple sofas gives an infusion of color.
The built-in bar features custom wallpaper from Italian designer Radform, that’s scaled to fit the wall’s dimensions.
Moldings provide a natural frame for a gallery wall, which features artwork the homeowners have collected during their travels.
A slatted white oak wall creates a focal point in the dining room. Overhead, a trio of modern French pendant lights evokes a global aesthetic. Huge windows, framed in custom bronzed steel, flood the space with natural light.
In the powder room, a zebra screen print from Andy Warhol’s Endangered Species series is a fun burst of color, while perforated brass pendant lights add a glam touch. Mounted on the mirrored wall, a floating console visually expands the space.
A grouping of pillows makes the den an even cozier place for the family to watch a movie together or relax with a book. Global influences still trickle in, via a lush Beni Ouarain rug, layered over an area rug.
Custom-scaled wallpaper brings the home’s Moroccan style into the principal bedroom. The leggy gold-framed side table is another luxe addition
Though the principal bath has a clean white envelope, rich color and natural materials abound.
Arabesque-shaped Calacatta marble tiles and a vintage Turkish kilim runner have a hip, global vibe in the principal bathroom.
In the family’s previous home, pink ruled in the daughter’s room but here, Lisa relied on a mix of patterns to keep the space fun and youthful.
Alex Lukey
House & Home March 2018
Lisa Lev