Step inside this playful five storey New York brownstone

This five-storey New York brownstone comes with a playroom in the basement, a kitchen, family room and office on the ground floor and a dining room, library, living room and WC on the first floor.

This five-storey New York brownstone comes with a playroom in the basement, a kitchen, family room and office on the ground floor and a dining room, library, living room and WC on the first floor. The second floor houses the main bedroom, children's room, a bathroom and WC. A dressing room, guest bedroom, bathroom and laundry room are on the top floor.

1/8 Library nook with eclectic accessories

living room with wooden flooring and green sofa

(Image credit: Future PLC/Matthew Williams)

The library, with its dark wood panelling, sums up the richness and romance of the property. It's the clash of the conventional with the unexpected that makes this scheme work - like the Chesterfield next to a portrait of Eva Perón.

2/8 Wood-panelled library with crystal ship chandelier 

wooden library room with carpet on floor and green sofa

(Image credit: Future PLC/Matthew Williams)

As befits a space as impressive as this, the library has a stunning ceiling to match the wood detailing elsewhere. Bright bursts of colour really help to make the furniture sing out in this dramatic and daring scheme.

Similar chandelier

Rainbow

3/8 Hallway with vintage and contemporary ornaments

white hallway with pictures and flower vase

(Image credit: Future PLC/Matthew Williams)

In the hallway, an antique sideboard displays many of the owner's treasures. Think of objects and artwork as accessories like shoes or jewellery. Vintage pieces work well when paired with contemporary furniture for a look that is bang-on trend.

Similar vintage furniture
Hayloft Mid Century
Similar ceramics
Jonathan Adler

4/8 Urban kitchen with red cupboards

kitchen with red cabinets and flower vase

(Image credit: Future PLC/Matthew Williams)

High-gloss cabinetry in a pillar-box red provides a contemporary setting in this urban-inspired kitchen. Balance out the strong colour with pale marble flooring and stainless-steel worktops.

Similar kitchen doors
Ikea

5/8 Grand dining room with portrait wall

white dining room with dining table and walled pictures

(Image credit: Future PLC/Matthew Williams)

A collection of kitsch artwork and junk-shop portraits really stands out against a brilliant white backdrop in the dining room. The dark-wood floors act as a foil for the furnishings and artwork, while a classic set of dining chairs give this scheme an air of grandeur.

Similar artwork
Rockett St George
Dining table
Milo Baughman at Talisman

6/8 Guest bedroom with luxe sitting area

living room with sofa and fire place

(Image credit: Future PLC/Matthew Williams)

This space is full of intricate surfaces that bring a subtle opulence to the cool blue and white decor. Inlaid tables, a striking metal pendant light, rich velvet and a shaggy rug all add to the luxe feel of the room. If guests look closely at the artwork, they'll see a few more surprises.

Sofa

Vladimir Kagan at Chaplins
Mirror
Jonathan Adler
Similar pendant light
Porta Romana

7/8 Main bedroom with patchwork quilt

white bedroom with colourful beddings and blue curtains

(Image credit: Future PLC/Matthew Williams)

The main bedroom gives classical features an update with pops of eye-catching colour. There's nothing like adding a patchwork quilt to your to your bedroom to spruce it up a bit. Use your bed linen as the basis for the rest your colour scheme - it's a fail-safe way to create a cohesive look. 

Chair and pouf
Youngblood at 1stdibs.com

8/8 Dressing room with seven storey shoe rack

dressing room with wooden closet and shoe rack

(Image credit: Future PLC/Matthew Williams)

Dark walls create a backdrop for the owner's wardrobe, so the brightly patterned clothes stand out - an aesthetic and practical choice. Open shelves, rather than closets, have been used so you can see everything at once.

Cabinets

Lepore Design
Rug
ABC Carpet & Home
Similar chest
Graham and Green

Heather Young
Editor

Heather Young has been Ideal Home’s Editor since late 2020, and Editor-In-Chief since 2023. She is an interiors journalist and editor who’s been working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines for over 20 years, both in-house and as a freelancer.