A 20-Something's Dreamy Park Avenue Apartment Is as Enviable as You'd Expect

When a single twenty-something decided to return to New York City, it was more than a homecoming: it was a chance to make a brand new property all her own. She'd been following the work of The New Design Project for some time, so when she found a two-bedroom loft on Park Avenue South she quickly called the studio's creative director, Fanny Abbes, to help give the space a refined, urban aesthetic. "The client wanted us to create a home that felt warm, without feeling overly 'designed,'" Abbes said. It was also important that the place come across as a slice of calm on a traffic-filled street in midtown Manhattan. Abbes and her team started by incorporating a soft palette of blues and greens into the space to create a sense of serenity, and then curated pieces inspired by midcentury masters like Hans Wegner and Poul Kjaerholm to give the rooms some edge. They also chose sculptural lighting to accentuate the loft's high ceilings, and designed custom millwork, such as the living room's accent wall and the dining room's floating bench, to show off unique details. The finished project is youthful but still sophisticated — perfect for the client to start the next phase of her life.