Quay Tower is one of the most coveted residential buildings in Brooklyn Heights, largely thanks to the sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn Bridge, and East River. The original space was a blank, somewhat stark apartment that the owners—lawyers with two young children—wanted to warm up. Having worked with Elizabeth Mercer of Mercer INTERIOR since 2008, they knew she would be able to transform the space to their liking. 

Elizabeth was tasked with furnishing the open-concept dining, living, and kitchen space, as well as the primary bedroom and bathroom, and a hallway bathroom. She used a muted color palette and textured approach to her design to create a haven in the high-rise residence—calling on grass cloth wallpapers, carved wood furniture, and a bold Hygge & West botanical wall covering to make the space feel modern and sophisticated.

In the living and dining areas, Elizabeth transformed the once-stark walls and windows with double-layered drapery and brought in a custom sofa to fit the space. Behind the television, a cork wallpaper adds dimension. 

The primary bedroom boasts custom closets, a muted rose grass cloth wallpaper from twenty2, and a custom Verellen bed upholstered in a fabric from Schumacher. “The closets are a work of art,” Elizabeth says, “with a back panel of wood that matched the floor and a paint color that matches the grass cloth wallpaper.” The bathroom has a muted blue wall color—pulled from the veining of the marble countertops—giving the space a sense of calm. 

The 18-week project went relatively smoothly, apart from a pivotal piece that arrived damaged. “The stone bedside lamps in the bedroom originally had matching stone shades,” the designer recalls. “They were perfect. Unfortunately, one shade arrived smashed into several pieces.  We attempted to have the shade repaired but, in the end, had to resort to sourcing traditional shades as a replacement.”

Even still, the clients think their home is absolutely perfect. “The client was thrilled,” Elizabeth says. “Yesterday she texted me, ‘Just last night I was lying in bed thinking, wow. This is amazing. Gorgeous.’”