This NYC Pad Takes Pantone’s Crush-Worthy Coral to New Heights

When Pantone announced that Living Coral was its 2019 color of the year, reactions were mixed. (After all, it's not exactly the most intuitive color for incorporating into your existing decor.) But Homepolish Designer Ashlie Broderic knew just how to handle the polarizing hue: with an unexpected ombre effect. The crown jewel of this East Village duplex has to be the bedroom walls, which almost seem to be blushing in the tone. And with such an artful balance of masculine and feminine elements throughout the space, this space is sure to win over Living Coral doubters.

"The homeowners are startup restaurateurs who operate several locations throughout NYC," Broderic says. That translated into an emphasis on locality when designing the space. "Our goal was to achieve a refined, industrial aesthetic with unique, quality furniture sourced from New York-based boutique shops."

A mix of hard and soft textures helped bring the space to life. Broderic worked with an artisan to get the effect of the faux-concrete fireplace just right, and the added attention to detail really shows. Heavy floor-to-ceiling blackened steel doors and windows act as a grounding element of the overall design, adding just the right industrial element to stay true to the space's East Village roots.

Stunning splurge pieces dot the home, but Broderic insists that the final result is a delicate balance of more accessible styles too. "We invested in certain statement pieces, like an Aja Blanc mirror in the entry, but there are spaces where high and low mix," she says. (We've been coveting this internet-famous piece for a while.)

As you'd expect for a family of restauranteurs, the kitchen is particularly on-point. Broderic kept the color palette minimal here to really play up the varied textures at work.

Matte black cabinets by Cesar add some serious gravitas (and on-trend appeal) to the space.

Of course, there's no denying the bedroom is the heart of this home. "The coral ombre wall in the bedroom is one of the most impactful moments in the project," Broderic says. "I wanted the room to feel like waking up inside of a sunrise." We think she definitely achieved her goal — and managed to make this surprising color feel accessible at the same time. We'd be happy to wake up here every day.

"The space doesn't get much natural light, so we utilized color to create a feeling of brightness. We worked with a special finisher to get the color just right," Broderic explains. (That being said, this seems like a DIY we'd like to try at home!)

"Overall the space turned out beautifully, thanks to great clients who were willing to have fun and take a few design risks!" Broderic says.