For a pied-à-terre in Lenox Hill on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, New York–based interior designer Tina Ramchandani welcomed the opportunity to create a different kind of apartment, one that was not only comfortable and unfussy, but also a departure from the typical urban family home. Here, she tells NYC&G how it all came together.
In the living room, cocktail tables from Kravet play off the curves of a Gubi sofa. The large canvas is by Ethan Caflisch.
A chaise from Ferm Living and a side table from Arteriors occupy a corner of the living room.
In the dining room, chairs from Interlude Home surround a table from Croft House.
In the foyer, a work by Emily Anne Farrell hangs above a console from Amuralab.
A work by Ulas & Merve adds a fashionable flourish to the primary bedroom, which includes a Design Within Reach bed and sconces from Roll & Hill.
In a guest room, a pair of canvases from Leftbank Art hang above a bed from West Elm.
The desk is from West Elm, the chair is from Design Within Reach, and the mirror is from Arteriors.
NYC&G: There are a lot of neutrals in this project’s color palette, but the overall effect makes quite a statement. How do you achieve this?
Tina Ramchandani, designer: The palette came about pretty naturally because the clients had a certain emotion in mind. They had enjoyed a family vacation in Italy and wanted their home to be relaxed and serene—a place that was free-flowing and inviting. In New York, the idea of “serene” might lead some people to think of blues, but we wanted to do something different with this project. We call it “La Dolce Vita,” which to me means that the sun is shining and yellows and bright tones are in order, alongside creams and neutrals in the furnishings and accessories. Color also appears prominently in all the artwork.
In the living room, there are lots of curvaceous pieces juxtaposed with squares and rectangles, such as the area rug. How did this floor plan evolve?
We explored a few different layouts before settling on this one. The apartment is a pied-à-terre, so it didn’t need to be about a massive sectional sofa and TV. The idea behind the asymmetry is to encourage people to get up and move around the space, to grab a drink and change seats and interact. As for the rug, we designed both the one in the living room and the one in the foyer ourselves, going through many strike-offs to get the colors exactly right. It wasn’t easy, but I enjoyed the process of designing something from scratch with my client, which was ultimately really fulfilling.
Which pieces of furniture not only look good, but also serve a purpose?
Many of the shapes work well together, which was intentional. The curved sofa and chaise are set at odd angles, and yet they complement each other so well. And the coffee tables are neither extra curvy nor particularly angular, so they offer balance.
Speaking of, there’s a compelling combination of soft, nubby fabrics and streamlined metallics. How do you know when that balance is right?
A lot of times, it comes through the colors of those furnishings, whether soft or sharp. I think of the dining room as the “black and white” room, and in the living room, we installed a large piece of dark art that lends gravity to the space. A lot of design is really about intuition, plus trial and error.
How did the art program come together?
I sourced everything and then presented the top choices to my client. We already had a clear design vision in place, so the art selection went very smoothly—which is not always the case, since choosing art is such a personal matter. Because we were using so many neutrals in the furnishings, I knew we’d need to push through a little bit when it came to the art, and we talked about our goals from the start.
What was your favorite part about this project?
The client gave me the authority to do what I do best, which is think outside of the box, but they also were very clear on what they wanted, which is an ideal combination. Seeing it all come together, especially after the art installation, was really rewarding.
How did you get into design? Where did you study?
I got my bachelor’s degree in interior design from the Art Institute of Philadelphia, then worked at a couple of firms before starting my own company nearly 10 years ago. I kind of knew I wanted to be a designer without realizing it at first, so I was naive in a good way, and I have loved it ever since.
What is the greatest reward from working as an interior designer?
I get to effect change in people’s lives. One client once told me that she never thought she would ever enjoy sitting at home so much that she doesn’t want to go out. And that’s what I love: creating safe havens for people.