Designer Manon Roux transforms a once-sterile West Village apartment into a warm, deeply personal home with a creative spirit.
The story of this West Village apartment is one of creativity, the kind that spills across disciplines and seeps into the walls themselves. First, you have the homeowners—jewelry designer Mia Moross and screenwriter Stuart Blumberg. (She’s known for her collection of 18th- and 19th-century fine-jewelry antiques beloved by the likes of Zoe Kravitz and AnnaSophia Robb; he earned an Oscar nomination for The Kids Are All Right.) Then you have the interior designer—Manon Roux, the rising design star behind Atelier Roux, whose spaces feel less decorated than carefully composed.
“I began working with Mia and Stuart in January 2024 on a full renovation of their three-bedroom apartment, which hadn’t been updated since the early 2000s,” Manon recalls. “The space felt flat and very contemporary forward, with prefab bamboo floors and minimal architectural details. So, the goal was to bring in warmth by selecting thoughtful millwork and layered materials that felt bold, inviting, yet refined.”
From the beginning, Mia spoke about wanting the home to feel lived-in, with a mix of English country, bohemian, and warm modern influences. “She gravitated toward a balance of antiques and contemporary pieces, with a love for texture, pattern, and subtle colors,” Manon shares. “There was also a desire for a sense of ease and informality, where the home could feel collected over time rather than overly designed.”
Manon’s approach is rooted in function first—understanding how a space needs to perform—so that materiality and aesthetics can take shape in a way that feels cohesive and considered. “Growing up between New York and Paris, I was exposed to two very different creative perspectives, but both were rooted in a strong foundation in fine art and design,” she reflects.
The designer’s mother is a creative and strategic leader in the beauty industry, who got her start in editorial, working with big-name photographers like Helmut Newton, Ellen von Unwerth, Annie Leibovitz, and many more. “I grew up on set during a time when editorial was at its peak, which gave me a real understanding of composition, lighting, and storytelling,” Manon tells us. “She later became the global spokesperson for Chanel and moved into product development, helping shape and launch collections across major global beauty brands. Having exposure to this world absolutely defined my understanding of luxury and craftsmanship, as well as the importance of innovation in design.”
As for her dad, he’s a multidisciplinary artist who trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and has worked across music, costume design, and jewelry, including designing for Yves Saint Laurent and Thierry Mugler. “That dual influence shows up in my work through a very considered, almost photographic approach to interiors—thinking about perspective, balance, and scale, and how a space is experienced,” Manon shares. “In this project, that translated into a strong focus on proportion, symmetry, and how each space is experienced visually—how architectural elements align, how sightlines unfold, and how color and materials are layered.”
Manon was charged with a full renovation of the apartment, including reworking the layout, introducing new interior finishes, and developing a cohesive architectural language throughout the home. “Our scope focused on improving functionality and flow, particularly at the entryway and main living spaces, while layering architectural details to add depth and character to a space that lacked them,” she notes. “This included new flooring throughout, a complete kitchen redesign, custom millwork, and ceiling interventions to integrate lighting within the constraints of the existing structure.” The result is subtle but transformative: a home that now feels as though it has always existed exactly this way, despite being almost entirely reimagined.
To Manon, solving design problems is the most satisfying part of the job. “There are so many layers to consider, and my background in project management allows me to approach those details methodically and find solutions, even when construction becomes unpredictable,” she tells us. “I also love seeing what clients bring to the table and how they think about their space. Breaking that down and translating it into something cohesive is always fascinating. Every client is different, and that process allows me to constantly explore new ideas, materials, and references within my work.”
In this case, Mia was a true collaborator, sourcing art for the home and connecting with artists she admired, which ultimately led her back to painting herself—a medium she’d set aside in favor of jewelry for many years. “I think it brought a new creative energy into her own work,” Manon says. “It felt like she was at a moment of transition, when moving into a new home, and that process gave her the space and confidence to start exploring again.”
Through the process, Manon and Mia worked closely to curate a collection of works from a mix of emerging artists—some that Mia has relationships with and others they discovered together—including works from Georgia Beaumont, Papou Koliopoulos, Monika Morito, and Jessica Sellinger. “I helped guide the selection to ensure the pieces felt cohesive within the home, while still reflecting Mia’s point of view,” the designer says. “Their collection of prior art and new art feels deeply connected to Mia’s identity as a designer and also completely intentional on the walls of this home.”
Manon credits her Parisian perspective for much of this project’s success. “What I’m drawn to in European designers is their relationship to material and history. While American designers tend to approach space in a more sculptural and pragmatic way, I try to balance both,” she explains. “I’m very drawn to designers like Pierre Yovanovitch for his clarity and restraint, and the way he lets materiality lead the design. At the same time, I admire the playfulness and confidence in the work of Laura Gonzalez and Hugo Toro—particularly their use of color and pattern. I also connect with the work of Augusta Hoffman and Giancarlo Valle who tend to be more eclectic and more relaxed.”
Perhaps the real triumph of the apartment, though, is that despite the artistry, references, and careful composition, nothing feels overly precious. It’s a space to live beautifully, every day.
