From White Box to Luxe Haven: A Look Inside Melanie Morris’s Transformative Interior Design

Transforming a bland “white box” into a luxurious, sophisticated home is no small feat. Yet, designer Melanie Morris effortlessly accomplished this in her recent project. With a keen eye for texture, lighting, and custom design elements, Melanie turned a New York apartment into a chic and inviting pied-à-terre. In this video tour, she walks us through the design decisions that elevated a blank canvas into a space brimming with character, comfort, and understated elegance.

Entryway: Setting the Tone with Texture and Art

The journey begins at the entryway, where Melanie immediately makes a bold statement with contrasting textures and materials. A concrete, resin, and brass console greets visitors, establishing a tone of refined sophistication. The look is completed with a sculptural piece by artist Charlie Patterson and a unique lamp by Incommon With. Lighting, as Melanie emphasizes, plays a significant role throughout the space, and the entryway is no exception—setting the stage for what’s to come.

Main Living Area: Overcoming Design Challenges with Ingenuity

Designing the main living area posed a unique challenge due to the space’s long, narrow dimensions and expansive walls of windows. But Melanie saw this as an opportunity to push the boundaries of traditional design.

“I wanted to maximize seating and make it as comfortable and inviting as possible,” she explains. The centerpiece of the room is a custom-designed Serpentine sofa that cleverly doubles as a dining banquet. Upholstered in a luxurious, stain-resistant cream fabric, the sofa curves gracefully around a rich walnut base, which seamlessly transitions into an integrated dining table.

Above, a sculptural fixture by Apparatus drapes across the ceiling, adding intimacy to the open space. The round dining table and leather chairs create easy circulation, while the green marble accents on the coffee table nod to the client’s love for the color, subtly weaving in personality.

Bedroom: A Luxurious Hotel-Inspired Retreat

The primary suite underwent a complete transformation, becoming a cozy, luxurious retreat that exudes the feel of a five-star hotel room. The walls were paneled in rich walnut, creating a warm, cocoon-like atmosphere. Custom-built millwork seamlessly integrates a dresser and vanity, providing both functionality and visual continuity.

Melanie softened the hard lines of the room by incorporating curves in the custom nightstands and headboard. Brass accents, handmade by Prusin Studio, elevate the millwork, while wall sconces flank the bed, washing the room in a soft, ambient glow. The attention to detail in the bedroom is a testament to Melanie’s skill in combining comfort and style, creating a space that feels both restful and refined.

Lighting: The Unsung Hero of Design

Throughout the apartment, lighting serves as both a functional element and an art form. In the living room, sconces add elegance and balance to the space, while the ambient lighting in the bedroom panels highlights the rich textures and curves of the custom millwork. This meticulous attention to how light interacts with materials and shapes brings the entire project to life.

Final Thoughts: From White Box to Welcoming Home

Melanie’s ability to transform a blank, characterless apartment into a home bursting with texture, warmth, and personalized details speaks to her expertise as an interior designer. The mix of custom furniture, unique lighting choices, and thoughtful use of materials achieves a balance between luxury and comfort that is rare to find.

By bringing in elements like sculptural furniture, eye-catching lighting fixtures, and sophisticated textures, Melanie successfully created a space that feels less like a temporary pied-à-terre and more like a cherished home. The result is a stylish haven that invites you to sink in, stay a while, and savor the art of thoughtful design.


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Inside a 300 square foot apartment

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to live in a 300 square foot apartment? Many of us have had our small apartments, but this takes the cake. Or should we say cupcake. Serhant agent Talia McKinney shows us one on this weeks.Tiny Spaces.

In this episode, Talia takes a look inside Caitlin Widener's gorgeously designed tiny apartment only steps away from Prospect Park. This handcrafted Brooklyn home is intentional with every single design choice. Make sure to take inspiration and let us know in the comments your favorite part of this tiny home!

Elite Brokers Celebrate the Completion of 108 Leonard's Rooftop Retreat

New York's crème de la crème of brokers recently congregated to celebrate the grand unveiling of the rooftop oasis at 108 Leonard. This neoclassical gem, nestled in the heart of TriBeCa, has been meticulously transformed into 167 opulent homes. The completion of this rooftop marks a significant milestone, adding to the property's expansive 20,000 square feet of wellness-driven amenities.

Howard M. Lorber, Executive Chairman of Douglas Elliman, alongside Susan de França, President and CEO of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, showered accolades on the sales team. Their commendable efforts have led to an impressive sale of over 70% of the building. The duo also drew attention to the limited units available, with a special mention of the two exquisite penthouses that form part of the Crown Collection.

Elena Sarkissan, the Director of Sales at 108 Leonard, couldn't contain her excitement over the rooftop's inauguration. This space, spanning two levels, offers residents unparalleled views of the city skyline, with the iconic Clocktower standing tall as a testament to the building's historic past. But the rooftop is just the tip of the iceberg. Residents can also indulge in a plethora of world-class amenities, including a 75-foot lap pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a chef's demonstration kitchen, and the enchanting Marble Room lounge.

With only nine residences still up for grabs, ranging from $3,715,000 to $24,450,000, 108 Leonard is fast becoming the epitome of luxury living in TriBeCa.


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Inside Savannah Guthrie's NYC Condo Just Listed For Sale

Morning darling and Host of The Today Show Savannah Guthrie has just listed her her gorgeous Tribeca home for $7.1M. Spectacular, turn-key, one-of-a-kind home in Tribeca. This 3,735 square foot, full-floor loft features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a home office and soaring 10’2” ceilings.

No expense was spared in the meticulous and thoughtful renovation of this entire home by AD100 architects Ike Kligerman & Barkley and AD100 designer Monique Gibson. Cortnee Glasser of Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage is the listing agent.

All photo’s courtesy of Travis Mark for Sotheby’s International Realty.


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