{"id":228281,"date":"2026-05-12T06:38:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T06:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/228281\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T06:38:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T06:38:30","slug":"an-all-white-brooklyn-apartment-underwent-a-bold-chromatic-makeover-all-at-warp-speed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/228281\/","title":{"rendered":"An All-White Brooklyn Apartment Underwent a Bold, Chromatic Makeover, All at Warp Speed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated5 min read<\/p>\n

Walking into the apartment, you\u2019d think it would have been everything a young Brooklyn family would want. Tucked within a historical 1920s Beaux-Arts building, it boasted soaring 13-foot ceilings, elegant pre-war paneling, and enviable views of Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park. But when designer Hannah Blumenthal of Studio Olivine<\/a> first stepped into the 2,600-square-foot residence, something felt like it was missing. \u201cEvery wall and bit of cabinetry was a shade of white or cream,\u201d she explains. \u201cIt felt beautiful architecturally, but it didn\u2019t yet feel like home.\u201d<\/p>\n

A total chromatic transformation was in order, but there was one catch: it had to happen very quickly, as the family was expecting their second child just months after closing on the apartment. Blumenthal relied on her rolodex of top-tier trades and trusted vendors, but made sure that speed never came at the sacrifice of style. \u201cAlthough we had to work quickly, we didn\u2019t want to skimp on the lived-in, layered quality that the clients were seeking,\u201d she explains. \u201cThey wanted the space to feel elevated and refined, but not overly designed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The clients embraced bolder hues, which was an exciting opportunity for us to make the seemingly disparate colors feel cohesive.<\/p>\n

Paint, wallcoverings, millwork, and lighting were all overhauled in a compressed sprint, but the result feels anything but rushed. Instead, Blumenthal approached the palette like a composer, threading warm burgundy, dusty pink, and earthy yellow from room to room so the semi-open floor plan is cohesive without ever feeling overly coordinated.<\/p>\n

Vintage finds mingle with the client\u2019s existing artwork and furnishings in the living room, while a butter-yellow kitchen glows with warmth. A deep blue den, wrapped in grasscloth, feels cocooning and cinematic. A blush pink bar tucks cheerfully into a hallway, communicating almost telepathically with a nearby jewel-box powder room, drenched in Farrow & Ball’s Sulking Room Pink. Color, it turns out, was the secret ingredient this home needed all along.<\/p>\n

FAST FACTS<\/p>\n

Designer: Hannah Blumenthal, Studio Olivine<\/a>
Styling: Anthony Amiano<\/a>
Location: Brooklyn, New York
The Space: A three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom apartment across 2,600 square feet<\/p>\n

LIVING ROOMA television-free space promotes analog hangouts.\"Invitingkirsten francis<\/p>\n

Rug: Temple Studio. Art: Matthew Pillsbury. Bookshelf: DWR. Couch: custom, Naula. Coffee table: Pinch London: Pendant light: 1stDibs. Drapery: custom, in Kufri fabric. Lamps: Starbird Pottery.<\/p>\n

The centerpiece of the home, Blumenthal spent the most time on the living room to ensure it became the calling card of the project. \u201cIt\u2019s the largest room in the house and the centerpiece of the home, so it was important to get the scale and mix of shapes and textures just right,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

That involved incorporating mainstays of the overall palette, like a mustard-meets-butter sofa and a grounding blue rug. The star of the show, however, is a bespoke credenza by Hudson Valley furniture maker Matthew Robbins. \u201cWhen we showed this piece to the clients, they couldn\u2019t resist,\u201d adds Blumenthal.<\/p>\n

KITCHEN & DININGButter yellow cabinetry makes the space glow with charm.\"Modernkirsten francis<\/p>\n

Pendant: In Common With. Roman shades: custom, in Helene Blanche fabric.<\/p>\n

While the kitchen had a workable layout and quality finishes, it lacked the charm the homeowners were looking for. To help ease it to a more whimsical existence, Blumenthal swathed the cabinetry in Farrow\u2019s Cream by Farrow & Ball, a frothy yellow that adds a gentle warmth to the scene. \u201cThe yellow paint, which stops about three quarters of the way up the wall, also helps to make the high-ceilinged room feel more on a human scale,\u201d the designer adds.<\/p>\n

\"Modernkirsten francis<\/p>\n

Island stone: Calacatta Vagli marble. Backsplash stone: Estremoz marble.<\/p>\n

\"cabinet\"kirsten francis<\/p>\n

Table: O&G Studio. Chairs: Serena & Lily. Cabinet: Pinch London.<\/p>\n

The rest of the space was kept streamlined and functional, with plenty of space for housing dishware, cookware, and entertaining extras. \u201cTo add additional storage and complement the height of the tall cabinets and paneled refrigerator behind the island, we added a standing cabinet from Pinch in a custom rusty red lacquer,\u201d adds Blumenthal.<\/p>\n

BARA pop of pink adds unexpected whimsy to an otherwise quiet hallway.\"Modernkirsten francis<\/p>\n

Cabinet paint: Setting Plaster, Farrow & Ball. Cabinet hardware: Spaces Within.<\/p>\n

Located in the main hallway, the bar acts as a stopover for entertaining on the way to the living room. \u201cPainting it a warm pink was an unexpected choice that adds a touch of fun and whimsy to the overall color scheme,\u201d explains Blumenthal, who also selected new, daintier hardware to suit the clients\u2019 preferences.<\/p>\n

DENA flexible layout helps the multipurpose space live large.\"Cozykirsten francis<\/p>\n

Trim paint: Newburyport Blue, Benjamin Moore. Desk, pendant light: DWR. Ottoman: Nickey Kehoe.<\/p>\n

Designed to wear many hats, the cozy den oscillates between a TV room, an office, and a guest room, thanks to a chic pull-out sofa from RH. An inky grasscloth wallpaper from Serena & Lily brings subtle texture, cocooning the room like a hug. \u201cThe clients spend a lot of time in this room because it just feels like a place where you want to be,\u201d adds Blumenthal.<\/p>\n

POWDER ROOMAn integrated mirror keeps from overwhelming the snug bath.\"Elegantkirsten francis<\/p>\n

Paint: Sulking Room Pink, Farrow & Ball. Sink fixtures: Waterworks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only tinier sink you\u2019ll find is on an airplane,\u201d Blumenthal jokes of the petite powder room washstand from Waterworks. Still, she didn\u2019t skimp on style in this room, covering the walls in a powdery pink hue that speaks the same language as the bar down the hallway. \u201cWe chose the shade because it gives off a very flattering, rosy glow,\u201d the designer adds.<\/p>\n

ENTRYWAYPre-war paneling is the star of the show in this serene foyer.\"Entrywaykirsten francis<\/p>\n

Rug: vintage, Frances Loom. Mirror: Soho Home. Stools: Schoolhouse. Art: Kate Liebman<\/p>\n

Blumenthal preserved the history of the home wherever possible, including this pre-war paneling in the entryway, which connects it visually to the adjacent kitchen. \u201cThough this is largely a pass-through zone with multiple doorways, the vintage rug and Kalmar chandelier with parchment shades soften the space and create a welcoming entrance to the home,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

PRIMARY BEDROOMThe verdant view out the window informed the serenity within this suite.\"cozykirsten francis<\/p>\n

Wall paint: Navajo White, Benjamin Moore. Table lamp: Noguchi. Drapery: The Shade Store.<\/p>\n

\"dresserkirsten francis<\/p>\n

Dresser: Crump & Kwash. Art: b chehayeb.<\/p>\n

With enviable views of nearby Prospect Park, the primary bedroom didn\u2019t need much to stand out. Blumenthal echoed the terracotta tones found throughout the rest of the home, finishing the bed with a heavy linen coverlet from Nordic Knots and a wispy Pinch pendant light overhead.<\/p>\n

PRIMARY BATHROOMBlumenthal relied on a selection of creamy whites to create a soothing space.\"Modernkirsten francis<\/p>\n

Vanity stone: Calacatta Nero marble. Sconces: Workstead. Sink fixtures: Waterworks.<\/p>\n

\"bathtub\"kirsten francis<\/p>\n

Floor tile: Novelda. Shower tile: Bianco Dolomite marble. Pendant: DWR. Tub fixtures: Waterworks.<\/p>\n

Blumenthal dialed back the color in the primary bathroom, instead turning to tonality and texture to communicate visual interest. \u201cI love the way that the existing limestone slabs on the floor and walls transition into small marble tiles in the enclosed shower,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

NURSERYSoothing greens promote rest-filled nights for a baby girl (and her parents!).\"Cozykirsten francis<\/p>\n

Rug: Ernesta. Crib: Babyletto. Roman shade: custom, in Lake August fabric. Rocker: Monte. Pendant: Crate & Barrel.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis sweet nursery for a baby girl eschews traditional pinks and instead leans into pale blues and greens enlivened with pops of orange in the window shade,\u201d says Blumenthal. \u201cA clear view of the Grand Army Plaza arch from the window makes this a perfect first room for a Brooklyn babe.\u201d<\/p>\n

BATHROOMA timeless pattern was chosen to grow alongside the couple\u2019s children.\"Bathroomkirsten francis<\/p>\n

Vanity countertop stone: Calacatta Nero marble. Sink fixtures: Waterworks. Sconce: RBW.<\/p>\n

In the kids\u2019 bathroom, Blumenthal chose a tranquil palette of blues and greys to maintain a youthful yet classic appeal. A whimsical wallpaper from Mazy Path adds a storybook quality.<\/p>\n

About the Designer<\/p>\n

Studio Olivine<\/a> is a New York City-based interior design firm founded in 2010 by principal designer Hannah Blumenthal. Specializing in high-end residential interiors, the studio creates spaces that are refined yet livable, and that seamlessly blend beauty and style with the practicalities of day-to-day living. Drawing on her art historical training and years spent in the art world, Hannah brings a trained eye and an object-based sensibility to her interiors\u2014carefully layering color, material, and texture to curate rooms that feel lively and unique.<\/p>\n

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n