Modern Meets Organic in the Brooklyn Apartment of Delia Kenza’s ‘Bad Ass’ Client
A sure-fire sign that a designer and a client are sympatico? When the client asks for the exact same furniture and lighting that the designer has in her own home.
“She purchased her place and saw a photo of my Brooklyn home, and she said she immediately bought the chairs and light that I had—and then realized she needed my help and gave me a call,” explains designer Delia Kenza, of how she came to be hired.
“The client’s vibe inspired the project. She appreciates things made by hand, prefers a vintage organic vibe over stark, and has beautiful pieces she either inherited or purchased,” says Delia. “She has a real sense of what she likes and does not like.” On the like list: the grand proportions, large windows, and pre-war architectural details of her two-bedroom apartment. On the dislike list: the kitchen.
Now that Delia has applied her considerable design talents to the space, her client—”a real bad-ass (and I mean that in a good way) professional woman”—has a home that marries old with new, bold with refined, and Delia’s curatorial eye with the client’s personality.
Below, Delia takes us on a tour of the refreshed home, now as “bad-ass” as her client.
Photography by Nick Glimenkis, courtesy of Delia Kenza Interiors.
Above: To give the pre-war apartment a more modern feel, Delia had all the walls and millwork painted a super-pale gray. “What I like to do, especially in smaller spaces, is wrap the entire room in one color so you can’t tell the difference between the wall and ceiling. I also use the same finish on the walls and trim,” says Delia.
Above: Delia mixes new and vintage pieces in the living room. A West Elm sectional plays nice with two vintage leather chairs handed down from the client’s father.
Above: The Mooi Random Light and the Drop Chairs are the pieces that Delia also has in her own home. “That light has become a thing. Many of my clients request the same light, because, I think, it is so dramatic,” shares Delia. The dining table and rug are from Etsy.
Above: The French doors were “another one of the beautiful elements still intact. There was no way we would have taken those out,” says Delia.
Above: All the artwork is from the client’s own collection. “She has an amazing collection of art and vintage items mostly inherited from family, so it was important those things were used and featured throughout.”
Above: The client is an avid cook and requested a gut renovation for the kitchen. It turned out to be Delia’s favorite part of the project. She added a ton of storage, thanks to custom cabinets by Urban Homes. The swirly tiles are by Kelly Wearstler, the light is Thomas O’Brien’s Hicks Pendant.
Above: “What we managed to squeeze in in that narrow space, I think, is incredible,” says Delia of the kitchen. “In situations like that, where your square footage needs to be maximized, going custom is the way. We were able to create a lot of storage; the entire wall of cabinets near the window is storage. We also created a coffee-making section with shelves for her cookbooks.” The client’s Kiss cookie jar was repurposed as a vase.
Above: “We selected a greige leaning towards light lilac for the cabinet fronts,” says Delia, who chose carrara marble for the counters and backsplash. The faucet is by Kohler.
Above: The Clam Floor Lamps flanking the bed are by Avionstudio. “I use these often in projects,” says Delia. “I love their shape.” The desk is from Blu Dot.
Above: The round velvet pillows are from West Elm.
Above: A quiet, artful corner. The parquet floors are original to the apartment. “We embraced all the imperfections, including the floor. We sanded them and stained them with one of my custom color combinations.”
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