Architecture and design studio Husband Wife was given a unique design prompt for this 3,800-square-foot apartment on the Upper East Side: a mix between New York Uptown and Downtown fashion-forward girl. “She wanted a home that simultaneously felt like her and would be livable for her kids – nothing too precious or stuffy,” the firm says. The result is a home that feels dreamy and ethereal, surprising and calm, elegant and informal.

This part of Manhattan is permeated with a mix of historic buildings and newer mega-block apartment complexes that typically lack the same character. The client wanted her home to be a calming reprieve and still reflect the beauty of living in a city. Layout would play the biggest role in achieving the look and feel she wanted. “So much of this came down to arrangement, space-making in a way that felt open and approachable,” the designers say. “Even though many of the furniture elements have a sculptural presence, they are open, lounge-like, and suggest a casual and fun use. In the living room this meant a large open space bookended by curved sofas. In the primary bedroom this meant pulling the furniture away from the walls and breaking the rigidity of the room.”

In the slideshow, Husband Wife gives us a virtual tour, highlighting favorite details along the way.