When East Coast designer Stephanie Sabbe was recruited to decorate a customer’s new sleek and modern Manhattan flat, at first she could not imagine changing a thing. “Honestly, it was magnificent before I touched it,” states Sabbe. “But the stark, minimalist appearance wasn’t exactly what my client felt comfortable in.”
Sabbe’s customer enjoys modern and diverse colours and patterns, so Sabbe dressed up the minimalist flat with textiles her client adored. “My client wanted people to walk in and think,’That is so you.’ If you knew her, I think you’d agree we did a great job attaining this,” Sabbe states.
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Stephanie Sabbe
It was a blank slate, when Sabbe first began working on the flat. The building was designed by the renowned international architecture firm HOK, and was absolutely beautiful. But the client needed to make it comfortable and livable, so Sabbe additional color, pattern and texture to make the room feel like home.
The 3D artwork on the living room wall is a DIY collaboration between Sabbe, her client and her customer’s boyfriend. The birds are just cut out of construction paper and mounted to the wall using sticky putty.
Ottomans: custom
Rugs: Milliken Black and White Techno Rug, Rugs USA
Floor lamp: Arco Lamp, Room & Board
Stephanie Sabbe
The soft gray couch in the living area helps soften the bold and graphic lines of the pillows and zigzag rug. A coffee table helps reflect light in the distance, which makes it appear just a bit bigger.
As a result of all the great products available on the internet, Sabbe did most of this task working with the client through the Internet and phone discussions. With such a fantastic grip on what the client wanted, she just had to make three trips from Boston to the flat in New York for purchasing, coordination, and setup.
Sofa: Alchemy Collections Casa Sectional
Mod Pillow: Jonathan Adler
Coffee table: Brocade Home
Stephanie Sabbe
In the living area, textiles, casual ottomans and the innovative wall art combine to make a comfy and chic area. The living room is also only within the house’s fabulous terrace, developing a indoor-outdoor feel rare in Manhattan.
Console: Lace Cut Media Storage Unit, Brocade Home
Stephanie Sabbe
The backyard patio is one of Sabbe’s other things. She picked simple patio furniture which felt modern and comfortable, and accented it with cheerful customized pillows and cushions.
Furniture: Living in Comfort
Fabrics: Fabric.com
Stephanie Sabbe
The second bedroom in the flat introduced some spatial challenges for Sabbe and her client. They wanted to use this room as a workplace for most of the year, but also wished to keep the option of getting it as a guest room. The problem was they did not wish the distance overwhelmed by a bed that would only be employed on occasion.
Chandelier: Meurice Chandelier, Jonathan Adler
Desk: Overstock.com
Table lamp: House Goods
Stephanie Sabbe
Rather than using a futon or pull-out couch, Sabbe installed a murphy bed into the guest room’s wall. “Wasted space in Manhattan is obviously unlucky,” she states.
Stephanie Sabbe
To disguise the murphy bed while it is not in use, Sabbe covered the framework in the same lattice wallpaper used on the walls. It disappears when it is folded up. “We predicted it modern camouflage,” she states.
More on murphy beds
Background: Square Lattice Wallpaper, Modern Chic Home
Stephanie Sabbe
Because the flat was so clean and simple, Sabbe searched for light fixtures which would warm up the room and add a feeling of texture to the walls. The chandelier in the dining area was a random find in New York’s Chinatown, and also the individual crystals signify throughout the room’s walls.
Chippendale Chair: Macau Chair, Ballard Designs
Table: Modani
Stephanie Sabbe
A mirrored dining table combined with the orange chairs and zebra rug generates an eclectic look that’s mirrored throughout the rest of the house.
While most designers have become known for a particular appearance, Sabbe finds inside design exciting since she can try new styles with each new client. Her houses are somewhat more of a representation of their style compared to hers. “No two customers are the exact same, and my current portfolio reflects that nicely,” she states.
Chairs: West Elm, custom slipcover
Stephanie Sabbe
The master bedroom is clean and simple. A subtle faux-bois styled wallpaper on the back wall adds a little bit of texture and thickness, but apart from that, the palette is all white with pops of green. Hotel-style bedding retains the room looking fresh, clean and crisp.
Sconces: Possini Euro Design Mirrored Plug-in Wall Light, LampsPlus
Bedframe: West Elm
Bench: Overstock.com
Stephanie Sabbe
Sabbe used exactly the same wallpaper in the bathroom as she did in the guest bedroom, but this time picked a spunky apple to keep the very small room feeling fresh and clean. The color ties perfectly to the graphic designs on the edges of the bedding in the master bedroom.
Background: Square Lattice Wallpaper, Modern Chic Home
Countertop: provided by builder
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