Explore a minimalist TriBeCa loft that proves a monochrome color scheme still has style
Sleek black cabinetry, crisp white walls, and sculptural statement furniture makes this family home in New York proves neautrals can be just as bold as colors
The property
Over the last few years, we have definitely dabbled more with color in our homes. We see trend after trend that is some play on 'Embrace bolder hues' or 'play with vivid shades' and as much as we love all this color, it is nice to go back to our old loves every now and then – black, white, grey, creams, no matter how much we experiment with bright colors, we will always hold a flame for neautrals.
And this modern home, an open-plan loft in Tribeca, is a lesson in how to use neutrals in a way that creates rooms that are every bit as striking as ones filled with bold, bright colors. Clean white walls are a backdrop for inky black cabinets, dark grey furnishings make an impact with quirky sculptural shapes, and cream accents add a lovely softness to the scheme. This family home manages to be both chic and sophisticated and warm and inviting...
Kitchen
New York based designer Amy Kalikow took on the project of turning a cramped family apartment into a light, airy, and open home that has a contemporary feel but was still suited to family life.
'Our clients had lived in the apartment for many years and decided it was time to renovate and make it more in line with their evolved family of six.' explains Amy. 'They wanted to make it more lofty, with an open floorplan, but still have space for business meetings and entertaining at home. They also wanted each of their kids to have their own room. They are a super fun family where music and the piano are the heart of the home. No room is off limits to anyone and anything (they now have a little puppy)! Everything we chose we knew could withstand the test of time.'
The kitchen stands in the open plan living area, and it sleek and simple with all white cabinetry, textured mirror wall tiles, and contrasting dark grey kitchen island seating.
Dining area
Leading on from the kitchen, a striking circular dining table separates it from the living area. Despite the monochrome color palette, there are so many interesting shapes and textures going on in this space, it still has plenty of depth and usual shapes going on. There's plenty of clean stark lines which makes the area look very bold and contemporary, but there's plenty of curves here too which softens the space and adds a nice contrast.
Be inspired by more modern dining room ideas in our gallery.
Living room
'Neutral, clean and calm, while maintaining a warm family sense of home,' is how Amy described the inspiration behind the themes and color palettes. And this room totally reflects that.
The large plush sectional sofa is the key reminder that is a family home and having a place that everyone can relax together or entertain guests was a big part of the design.
Again, the color scheme is very simple, a mix of dark greys, softer light greys, and cream. There's a really lovely mix of shapes and textures in this space too, so despite the limited palette the room still has plenty of interest.
Love this living room? Find more grey living room ideas in our full feature.
Home office
The home office doubles up as a decadent at home bar. There's definitely a very sophisticated feel to this room with the dark wood cabinetry and the black paneled ceiling. The large leather armchairs almost blend into the walls, and the statement lighting adds a slight Mid-century modern vibe, that suits the space perfectly.
Master bedroom
The master bedroom has a much softer scheme than the main living space. Cream, white and beige, plus the wooden accents and layers of texture all work together to create a room that feels serene and fresh but still warm and cozy.
Girls' bedrooms
One of the main reasons for the remodel was to give all of the children in the family their own bedroom. The girls' bedrooms have a lovely grown-up feeling – double beds, gorgeous button-backed velvet headboards, fun textures with the accents of feather and fur.
They are definitely rooms with longevity, but there are touches that make them feel more child-like – the skateboards on the wall, the quirky prints and wallpaper, the pops of color.
Find more chic girl's bedroom ideas in our gallery.
Boy's bedroom
The boy's bedroom has a similarly grown-up look with white walls and floors, black furniture to contrast, and a large grey area rug for softness under foot. Quirky decor and throw pillows add a cool, modern edge and just a hint of bright color.
See also: Explore a modern Brooklyn apartment that blends glamorous style with family life
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Hebe is the Digital Editor of Livingetc; she has a background in lifestyle and interior journalism and a passion for renovating small spaces. You'll usually find her attempting DIY, whether it's spray painting her whole kitchen, don't try that at home, or ever changing the wallpaper in her hallway. Livingetc has been such a huge inspiration and has influenced Hebe's style since she moved into her first rental and finally had a small amount of control over the decor and now loves being able to help others make decisions when decorating their own homes. Last year she moved from renting to owning her first teeny tiny Edwardian flat in London with her whippet Willow (who yes she chose to match her interiors...) and is already on the lookout for her next project.
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