The Manhattan Gallery Home
Designed & Styled by: Kae Khoo · Photography by Patrick Lau
Located on the 24th floor, this unit features a stunning large window and breathtaking city views, which were major attractions for our clients, Agnes and Gordon. When we first visited their previous home, it had a Muji-inspired interior with abundant wood and white elements. However, Agnes had grown weary of the wood-centric design and desired a complete thematic overhaul. Given the beautiful view that influenced their purchase, they wanted the full-height window to be the focal point of the space.
To achieve this, we reconfigured the layout by converting one of the bedrooms into the new living area. This change allowed the window to become a central feature, perfectly situated between the new living and dining spaces, maximizing the impact of the panoramic cityscape. The new layout also provides the family with a more private and intimate communal area to hang out.
Agnes also conveyed her desire to showcase creative pieces throughout the house, drawing inspiration from the New York loft aesthetic. In line with the clients' preferences, we meticulously crafted a clean, minimal space in the built design, emphasizing sleek lines and a range of neutral tones to create depth. To introduce a touch of soft modern contemporary ambiance, we thoughtfully integrated marble details throughout the spaces. Additionally, we adorned the area with captivating art pieces, distinctive furniture, intriguing sculptures, and furnishings, enriching the design with a distinctive character that mirrors the family's personality.
All the artwork used is mindfully selected to represent the family. One of my favorite vignettes is the living room sofa wall. Here, we added a sleek, tall wall light that draws attention to the playful art piece depicting the parents kissing, with their daughter covering her eyes at the sides. This design element not only illuminates the artwork but also adds significant character and personality to the space. The rest of the artwork is also thoughtfully chosen, each piece telling its own story.
Another of my favorite vignettes is the master bathroom vanity area. To delineate this space within the room, we used different tiles and paint colors, creating distinct zones while maintaining a cohesive look with the use of mahogany in both areas. To add further details, we curated and installed two organically shaped marble wall lights to enhance the visual interest.
To create more function to the space, we added a flip-down table for private meetings or workspace when the kids are home. This table doubles as an art piece when folded up, featuring an artwork of a girl on a scooter, reflecting the couple’s dating days on Gordon’s first Vespa.
