The term “dopamine decor” has been floating around TikTok and Pinterest the last few months, and for good reason. Who doesn’t want their homes to make them happy? This Williamsburg loft by designer Sarah Tract is about as cheerful as they come.
The homeowner is a young professional and New York City native. “It’s important to her that her home is cool and funky—just like her personality,” Sarah told us. “She asked for an elevated yet cozy design with edgy art and funky details. She works from home multiple days a week and loves to entertain, so it was important that the space fit multiple purposes.”
It wasn’t just decor that was required, but a full renovation. “We gutted the entire apartment,” Sarah says. “The only thing that we didn’t change was the floor plan itself. From the floors, which were replaced, to the paint, which was completely redone, there isn’t one area that we didn’t touch.”
While the kitchen’s footprint remained intact, the space was entirely reimagined with custom cabinetry and beautiful marble countertops from ABC Stone. “The focal point is definitely the tiled hood detail,” the designer says. She sourced the effervescent Zellige from Zia Tile.
The kitchen shares an open concept with the dining and living areas, so Sarah kept things mostly neutral. “I brought in elements like boucle, burled wood, and rattan. The art by Jenna Krypell Studio, which sits above the sectional, is commanding,” she says. Speaking of the sectional, it nearly derailed the whole project. “It didn’t fit into the service elevator! While we always do our best to prepare for this (especially in a city environment), sometimes, even with accurate measurements and an understanding of angles, you cannot predict if it will fit,” Sarah admits. “We got around this by working with Sofa Doctor, who came the same day. They are truly one of my favorite services! They took apart the sofa, brought it into the space, and re-assembled it. Looking at the finished space you’d never know we encountered this issue, but it sure makes for a fun story!”
The primary bedroom is calm and serene, with cozy textures found in the area rug and the boucle bed. The space boasts a showstopper: an Ultrafragola mirror. Similar tones are found in the primary bathroom, which has marble mosaic floors from Tile Bar and a bespoke oak vanity with double sinks.
As the client often works form home, it was important for the guest room and office would be configured just right. “We designed a custom Murphy bed and desk unit to serve dual purposes,” Sarah explains. “When the Murphy bed is closed, it just looks like a shelving unit, but when open, the room is transformed into a cozy spot for guests.”
The powder room feels like a delightful surprise, with slabs of Travertine and Calacatta Viola cut into 12×12” squares, creating the perfect patterned floors. “We used what was left over from the Viola slab to create the bespoke wavy floating vanity,” Sarah says. “The real wow factor is the Kelly-green butterfly wallpaper from Schumacher. We painted the trim and the ceiling green to create an entirely cohesive space. We call this jewel box of the home and rightfully so as it completely takes your breath away when you walk in.”
To recreate a similar vibe in your home using bold color, pattern, and art, Sarah recommends designating what is meant to be on display versus what needs to be stored away. “Every home can benefit from art,” she says. “It helps to finish the space.” And contrary to what you might think, the designer doesn’t believe it has to match. “It’s completely subjective and personal. I love bringing in color, but I think texture and materials also elevate a space. With color, it’s more about how you tie that color in multiple places to tell the story throughout the home. For example, we included green wallpaper in the powder room, then used green throw pillows in the guest room. While these rooms are on opposite ends of the apartment, they tie back to each other on a broader scale. Similarly, the blush pillows in the family room speak to the blush stools in the kitchen. In the home, it is all connected, and whether we intend to or not, how you use it is what sets your home apart.”
Take a tour in the slideshow.
