In this Lenox Hill apartment, interior designer Sarah Scales says her clients were intent on avoiding a renovation, instead choosing a newly built home for their family of four. “They wanted a home that felt family-friendly, safe, and comfortable while still feeling sophisticated,” she recalls. “It was important to have enough beds for everyone, plus an additional one for guests and friends.”

The children each needed spaces tailored to their stage of life—the high-school-aged girls share a bedroom and bath, while their son has a room of his own. “Overall, the apartment needed to comfortably accommodate the entire family when everyone was home, without feeling oversized when the children were away at school,” Sarah notes.

She was brought on to infuse the newly constructed residence with a colorful, eclectic point of view. “We made a few modest architectural changes to personalize the apartment, but the overall floor plan remained intact,” she says. “We embraced layering textures and patterns throughout. Some rooms remain light and simple to showcase artwork, while others use wallpaper as the art itself. Every room was designed around the personality of the family member using it.”

Sarah admits that the biggest challenge of designing within a newer high-rise is working around its limitations. “Structural elements and HVAC systems leave very little flexibility to alter the floor plan,” she shares. “We also had to carefully consider the logistics of delivery: every large piece of furniture, from the sofa to the dining table and beds, had to fit into the building’s elevators before it could even reach the apartment. Plus, an awkward angle to even fit things through the front door!”

From start to finish, the project spanned about nine months, with custom pieces arriving in phases. “The client absolutely loves the finished home, but one of my favorite compliments actually came from her 19-year-old,” Sarah says. “He gave a thoughtful message about how much they appreciated the unexpected color combinations, the layering of patterns, and the way the apartment transitions from lighter spaces to darker, moodier ones.”

See more in the slideshow.