This NYC Prewar Apartment Is a Colorful, Contemporary Vision

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Few apartments in New York City are as coveted as ones in prewar buildings, where crown moldings, parquet flooring, and spacious living areas reign supreme. For a young family living in a classic Park Avenue building, the goal was to create a totally modern look, but one that didn't completely erase the property's heritage.

In came NYC-based architectural firm Michael K. Chen Architecture to rework the entire layout. Each room is now fully functional, and many spaces overlap, creating a more comfortable environment for the family. The firm connected rooms in places like the living room, which is separated from the dining room by a sleek glass partition, to create an even greater sense of grandeur and openness.

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After the layout was finalized, the rest was all about playful details and textures, with funky light fixtures, courageous colors, and metallic finishes.

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Living Room

Sculptural furniture pieces dominate the living room. A unique chair by renowned Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh accompanies a series of poufs upholstered in shaggy mohair. A vintage brass coffee table is an ideal pairing for a stainless steel shelving unit by François Monnet.

Image Credit: Brooke Holm

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Living Room

A gray onyx and bronze fireplace mantel gives a weighty feel to the living area, alongside the turquoise glass sconces that set a slight art deco atmosphere. Custom furniture is mixed in with older items, including a vintage Fontana Arte mirror. The custom-designed circular sofa (upholstered in a blue fabric from Maharam) was created by MKCA.

Image Credit: Brooke Holm

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Living Room

In the dining room, a vintage chinoiserie panel from Housing Works looks aces against peachy-pink walls.

Image Credit: Brooke Holm

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Dining Room

The dining room features an 11-foot custom table in high gloss lacquer, steel, and gold leaf from Detroit designers Alex Drew & No One. The dining table is paired with vintage chairs by Italian designer Joe Colombo.

Image Credit: Brooke Holm

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Dining Nook

An Enzo Mari gorilla print reigns over a casual dining nook in the kitchen. The Michael Anastassiades light fixtures were sourced from gallery-meets-furniture store The Future Perfect.

Image Credit: Brooke Holm

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Kitchen

The kitchen bucks traditional style with bold black cabinetry, marble countertops, and a textured backsplash.

Image Credit: Brooke Holm

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Master Bedroom

The pink theme continues in the master bedroom, where it's punctuated by modern black pieces, like the custom sconces from Allied Maker.

Image Credit: Brooke Holm

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Kid's Bedroom

In the daughter's room, there's a tropical vibe thanks to seafoam green paint and a CB2 daybed upholstered in a Josef Frank botanical print. The vintage teak rocking chair is by Finn Juhl.

Image Credit: Brooke Holm

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Bathroom

The powder room, once a closet, was transformed by adding black tiles from Heath Ceramics. The sink is a floating custom console made of Rosa Aurora stone in a light pink tone.

Image Credit: Brooke Holm