Designer Gives NYC Apartment a Personal Touch

Designer Sarah Scales turned a builder‑grade Lenox Hill apartment into a family‑friendly space without a full renovation, according to her own account.

Family needs drive the layout

The four‑person household wanted a newly built home that would feel both sophisticated and comfortable. “They wanted a home that felt family‑friendly, safe, and comfortable while still feeling sophisticated,” she said. The two teenage daughters share a bedroom and bathroom, while their brother occupies a separate room. The design had to accommodate all four residents when they were home, yet avoid feeling too large during school days.

Scales was hired to bring a colorful, eclectic perspective to the existing floor plan. “We made a few modest architectural changes to personalize the apartment, but the overall floor plan stayed the same,” she explained.

Layering textures and patterns created depth; some rooms stayed light to showcase artwork, while others used wallpaper as a focal point.

Constraints of a new high‑rise

Working within a new high‑rise presented structural limits. “Structural elements and HVAC systems leave very little flexibility to alter the floor plan,” she noted.

Delivery logistics added another hurdle; every large piece of furniture had to fit through the building’s elevators and an awkward front‑door angle. The project unfolded over roughly nine months, with custom pieces arriving in stages.

Related: Couple Turns House Into Boutique Hotel

One of the most rewarding moments came from the client’s 19‑year‑old son, who praised the unexpected color combos and the transition from brighter to moodier spaces.

The result is a home where each member’s personality shapes their own room, while shared spaces feel cohesive. The design balances the need for private areas with communal zones that can host guests, as the family requested an extra bed for visitors.

In practice, this means the family can host friends without sacrificing everyday comfort. The flexible color palette and texture layering allow the apartment to shift tone throughout the day, supporting both lively gatherings and quiet evenings.

By preserving the original layout, the project avoided costly structural alterations, keeping the construction timeline on track.

Scales emphasized that careful selection of furniture and décor was essential to meet the building’s delivery constraints. Items were chosen not only for style but also for size, ensuring they could move through the elevators and the narrow entrance without damage.

Overall, the completed apartment reflects a tailored blend of practicality and aesthetic ambition, delivering a personalized environment within the limits of a newly constructed high‑rise.