A new home is an exciting opportunity for a fresh start. My clients, a couple who were in the process of purchasing a luxury space in the beautiful neighborhood of Carroll Gardens, sought the chance to craft their new chapter. They reached out in search of a designer who would guide them toward an elevated translation of their modern, balanced style.
Their new place was a two-story unit inside of a freshly renovated brownstone, with a private patio, finished basement, and marble kitchen and baths. Its generous proportions and tall ceilings afforded plenty of breathing room.
My task would be to create a cohesive design of the main living areas, through earthy tones, sleek likes, and a comfortable layout. As I was uncovering my clients’ aesthetic, I noticed they were drawn to modern curves, shapely lounge chairs, and Mid Century lighting. And they trusted me to help them experiment with subtle hints of traditional pattern and with introducing vintage.
What started as a furnishings scope quickly expanded into a curatorial project. I tapped into my art background to present my clients with a personalized selection of original artworks, ranging from 1960s American abstraction to early 20th Century European seascapes. The wall art took the space from being merely decorated to curated.
Together, we built an edited collection of globally sourced furnishings and art that transformed my clients’ new home into a place of beauty. After the installation, the client wrote me:
“The space looks amazing and perfectly captures what we hand in mind. We could never have realized it without your help.”
Join me for tour.
- Ksenya, founder of Time & Place Interiors
Photography by Gloria Kilbourne | Styling by Maria Rich
For gatherings, a contemporary ash wood dining table is flanked by a banquette from Audo Copenhagen, upholstered in a sturdy green-gray wool by Kvadrat. Classic bentwood chairs by TON, still manufactured today in the Czech Republic, provide flexible seating. The American mixed media abstract canvas dates to1968, and is paired with an adjustable plug-in sconce handmade in France.
Custom window treatments in semi-sheer linen dress up the wall-to-wall glass doors leading out to the private patio.
My clients sought a reading area close to the patio wall, to enjoy sunshine with a book and coffee. A small daybed upholstered in an Italian fabric fit perfectly into the shallow nook. Beside it is an adjustable drinks table on a solid marble base, of Southern European origin. The lyrical Abstract Expressionist work by Adele Becker from the 1960s introduces vibrant color and movement.
Trusting me to expand their horizons, the couple embraced the chance to introduce an antique into their otherwise modern space. The French 19th Century oak cabinet offers juxtaposition of style yet blends into the room’s calm tones.
It’s topped by a Russian oil painting of the Karelia coast, dating to the1920s. The blue-green ceramic planter is Belgian, from the same era.
We swapped the model floorplan’s layout to make the living area face the open kitchen. Its highlight is a pair of shapely vintage Mid Century lounge chairs, sourced from France and upholstered in a moss green textured velvet. The asymmetrical oak coffee table shows off a curvy beveled edge. My clients were instantly drawn to the California coastal scene artwork.
Both the living area and the lower level of the unit are covered in custom wool rugs, hand woven by local artisans in the Andes Mountains of Argentina. The side table is made of petrified wood.
The large blue table lamp is West German ceramic, from the 1960s, scaled to command the room. Books are stacked on a floating bookshelf tucked into a narrow architectural niche. Luxurious pillows in mixed linen fabrics dress up the client’s own sofa.
The ash millwork of the open kitchen set the tone throughout the space. Corded counter chairs add warmth against the striking marble of the waterfall island.
Visible all the way to the front hall, a large vintage abstract in a blue painted frame makes an instant statement. Its earthy blues, greens, and taupes reflect the clients’ desire to be surrounded by calm tones.
In the wide hallway is a “Vent” hand woven bench by Fritz Hansen, whose name refers to the Danish word for “wait.” Above it is the Knot mirror from design studio Roll & Hill. The patterned vintage Persian rug threads through the subtle color story from the living area around the corner.
To craft an intimate mood in the windowless lower level, we leaned into to dark burgundy for the custom area rug spanning the entire room. Like in the upstairs living room, it’s also handmade by local artisans working in villages of the Andes Mountains.
The denim-colored slipcover sectional invites piling on for movie nights. Channeling my client’s English heritage, the sofa is decorated by mix-and-match plaid wool pillows by U.K.-based mill Wallace Sewell.
The triptych artworks are vintage painted metal panels from Poland. Their shimmering surface gives off a whimsical play of light against the darker space. The smaller artwork (pictured above) is an antique French marine landscape.
Curated luxury for discerning New Yorkers
Time & Place Interiors offers residential interior design services for those who seek a highly curated, bespoke space. Founder Ksenya Malina offers both a final design and experience that feel luxurious and personalized. Use the link below to connect with us about designing your dream home:
