Big and bold
Kelly Behun is known for her minimalist interiors injected with unexpected gestures – be it a bolt of strong colour, a vintage chair or the even kookier one off piece. When charged with the job of this Park Avenue apartment she took it to the next level.
Owned by an art collector this project was an adventure for both – a neon aluminium sculpture on inkblot wallpaper might at first thought sound audacious – but here it works!
The apartment is a 500 square metre pied-à-terre where the couple wanted their family to feel at home and comfortable. Combining two apartments and reorganising spaces Behun also added architectural details and raised the ceiling that were lacking and low.
This considered and resolved home is the result of a true designer and client collaboration. As much as the client loves colour, she opted for a more neutral palette for the apartment’s shared spaces. An open kitchen in crisp white sets the stage for family meals. The apartment’s long rectangular living room shimmers in shades of silver, grey, and bronze. But the sense of restraint stops at the children’s areas, which blend cheeky David Hicks–style geometrics with such cartoonish touches as beaded heads, cat-faced cushions, furry stools, and a Crayola-yellow mirror by young artist Misha Kahn.
Story by Nic-Kaiko Follow him on Instagram kaiko_design
photography: richard powers