Design house: This elegant home in New York is a calming oasis in the busy city, designed by Amy Kalikow

Amy Kalikow has a clean, dimensional, liveable approach to interior design.

For Amy, a former advertising agency account executive, delivering a creative project on budget is second nature. Knowing where to spend money and where to cut back while still creating an impact allows her to marry livability and suitability with beauty.

Trust and communication was the basis for this simple, pared-back property. ‘As the homeowners live in Los Angeles, California, our conversations were initially via telephone,’ recalls Amy. ‘They were wonderful clients and simply trusted me to design their dream home.’

‘The husband spearheaded the project, and he was incredibly interested in lighting,’ says Amy. ‘Their vision was to create a chic, elegant, uncluttered home.’ A calming oasis in the busy city.

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THE PROPERTY

‘Utilising talented lighting designers such as Lindsey Adelman, Apparatus and Roman and Williams Guild, we were able to create a unique space that really felt like a home for the couple,’ explains Amy.

Another consideration was that the couple wanted a home that could also be smartened up for grown-up entertaining. The overall style needed to be sophisticated but not precious.

LIVING ROOM

‘As the living area is similar to a loft space, it was a challenge to make the room feel separate yet still part of a cohesive scheme,’ says Amy.

KITCHEN

The kitchen, hallway and living room share one large area so, it was important to make sure the space was a blissful marriage of materials, colours and furniture.

‘The bookcase, which we had imported from Italy, showcases curios that the homeowners have collected over the years. It is the perfect combination of texture and simplicity, which adds to the design element of this large space,’ says Amy.

DINING ROOM

As a result, the open-plan area is restful with upholstery and soft furnishings in neutral colours. The rooms needed to feel a bit more sparse in their elegance.

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HALLWAY

The abundance of light was the main source of intrigue for the couple. It had to be strong and create a statement.

The design was all about keeping the space bright and using a neutral palette through the common parts so the room felt connected.

SITTING ROOM

Meanwhile, the sitting room introduces a bolder palette of sky blues and concrete greys for a clean, city aesthetic.

BEDROOM

The bedroom is an inviting mix of contemporary fittings and cosy, textural materials. The colour palette has been kept neutral so as not to distract from the interesting elements in this space.

BATHROOM

'When they finally returned to New York City for the great unveiling, they were truly thrilled with their home,' recalls Amy with delight. The project was a success.

Photography/ Regan Wood

Interior designer/ Amy Kalikow