After nearly a decade in the industry, Townsend Lloyd opened her own design firm — Townsend & Co. The New Yorker is known for creating sophisticated spaces that embody modern luxury. Think clean lines, layered neutrals, and, for furnishings, a thoughtful use of restraint. For this project in Tribeca, Townsend was tasked with creating a home that would be sophisticated, yet not too precious, and the timeline was a quick 3 months. Of her clients, she says, “They like to live in their homes, which I appreciate, and needed furniture and textiles that could handle kids, dogs and lots of entertaining.” In a recent chat, she told us more:

First, we’d love to know a bit about the clients! What can you tell us about them?
This home belongs to a young, growing family with two young daughters and a golden retriever. My clients briefly moved from Battery Park City to Greenwich, CT before they quickly realized their life and relationships were rooted in lower Manhattan. When they decided to return to the city, they elected to live at the highly sought after new development, 111 Murray. The apartment provides a spacious floor plan with four bedrooms, allowing for a home office and separate bedrooms for their daughters. The family is very active and because she has a passion for nutrition and cooking, the floor plan’s large kitchen with an oversized island make it a great space to entertain, cook and converse as a family. He works from home most days and the fourth bedroom provides a comfortable and private office space that allows him to focus on work while being a part of his children’s day to day routine. The family also owns a weekend retreat in Southport, CT allowing them to keep the clutter and “kid-mess” in New York to a minimum.

Tell us a little bit about the home. What was it like designing in a new development? 
The apartment was pretty much a dream canvas. Gorgeous finishes, crisp white walls, and stunning herringbone floors throughout. We really did not need to change much in terms of capital improvements. We invested in a few light fixtures but really prioritized the budget for decorating. My clients rent this apartment so they did not want to invest in changes they would have to reverse at the end of their lease and/or couldn’t take with them such as wallpaper and window treatments. Our goal was to warm up the space and make it comfortable and chic while catering to the functional needs of a young family.

Are there any details that you feel make the space?
I take a very balanced approach to design and tend to be of the belief that less is more and it is all about finding that sweet spot with a variety of textures and close attention to scale. When someone walks into a space it should feel finished and cohesive, then they start to look at the details and layers that create the seemingly simple space. For me, texture was so important in this project and pieces like the marble coffee table and textured area rug in the master bedroom are wow moments that elevate the space.

This home had a quick timeline. How did you bring it together in 3 months?
It was a complete whirlwind but my clients were incredibly decisive and trusting which makes the project move much faster. We knew we had to source from vendors that could accommodate a quick lead time (8-10 weeks, at most) so we prioritized those manufacturers in making our selections and prayed for no hiccups along the way!  

What did the family say when they first saw the completed space?
The clients went away for a few days and we came in to finish the installation and stage the home. It is always better when the client leaves and comes back to a finished space, it allows us to work our magic behind the scenes and deliver the wow factor to the client. When they came home from their trip, I received a really nice phone call about the finished space, they were totally thrilled. We are now working together on our second project and for me that is the biggest compliment.

See more in the slideshow.