Not everyone can make a New York City apartment work for a family with three active kids, but Louise Youngson-Klasfeld, Chief Curator and founder of Viyet, a site that specializes in offering pre-owned designer pieces, has plenty of experience with creativity and with designing on a budget. For her, it’s really all about the mix – designer pieces (found deeply discounted!) paired with more affordable Ikea and CB2 finds. She used this decorating strategy when furnishing the family’s prewar apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West side. The apartment has 11ft ceilings and those sought-after prewar details like a fireplace, original floorboards and intricate crown moldings. It’s the perfect place for three kids to grow up and explore New York City. -Amy
Photography by Topher Scott Photography
Image above: “I love the prewar detail of the fireplace, which I have accessorized the inside with a collection of neutral vases. My husband plays classical guitar so we keep one in here, plus it makes a great accessory. Both my mother and grandfather are artists so I love to have their art around my home. This keepsake piece above the fireplace is an abstract oil color my grandfather gave me for my birthday.”
Image above: “The Egg chair in the corner is a Viyet purchase. I always loved this chair, but it was out of my budget so when I saw it on Viyet I jumped on it! In my dining room, the transparent acrylic chairs, reclaimed wood on the dining table with the iron base create an eclectic look. It’s my British room (if you hadn’t noticed). The red of the double decker London bus hanging above the fireplace compliments the chairs and the Union Jack pillow pull my theme together. To keep this room functional, I keep all my kids art supplies in here, and there is a lot of storage. I chose dark cabinetry and accessories to blend in with the dark walls. My dining table becomes the main feature balanced by a light carpet and white George Nelson pendent, found on Viyet.”
Image above: “The peaceful living room flows into my more vibrant dining room so I wanted to keep it simple. Throw pillows and cowhide ottoman provide some interesting shapes and textures. The mirror helps accentuate the room and make it feel brighter.”
Image above: “For me, white bedding is a must, along with white furniture, and white lamps. I love white in a bedroom. By integrating different shapes and interesting textures, I was able to create a space that was relaxing and serene without feeling sterile. The walls are painted my favorite color by Benjamin Moore called Marilyn’s Dress. The bedside lamps are Lawrence McRae. I found them on Viyet, consigned by a designer who purchased them for a client who never used them. I always find my favorite art on the streets of NYC including this piece in my bedroom.”
Image above: “Right now, my two boys are sharing a room. To let their personalities stand out, I let them pick decals and then try to work around their color choices. Once again red is the feature color and it runs throughout almost my whole home. I like the uniformity this creates since I am always changing rooms around. Yet, I like the contrast of two-tone light birch and white furniture.”
Image above: “This room is off my entryway, behind French doors. When I moved in, the owner before me had painted all the walls a muddy gray- it made this room so dark. I wanted to do something fun in here, so I bought some white paint, got on my ladder and painted white from the top down to created a New York City skyline. The bright colors of the George Nelson Ball Clock made a perfect clock tower and the throw pillows from CB2 have cars to complete my city theme. This is a comfy room with storage where the kids stay occupied with toys – giving me little peace and quiet!”
Image above: “My workstation is an extension of my dining room. I love the distressed metal parsons desk and the neutral Eames chair, also found on Viyet.”
Image above: “This shows the apartments best prewar details—the floors, high ceilings with gorgeous crown molding and French doors. I kept the color palate simple and neutral so my favorite pieces, the Viyet chair and chandelier, stand out. There is a lot of activity in this room. We write notes on the chalk wall and have a station for coats and storage.”
Resources
Entry way
Office/Workstation
Living Room
Kids Bedroom
Playroom
Master Bedroom