Luxury Interior Design Inspiration: Alt Concepts From Our NYC Renovations

Table of contents

• Render 1: Dramatic Blue & Walnut Primary Bathroom
• Render 2: Co-Op Primary Bathroom With Blue Vanity & Illuminated Mirror
• Render 3: Jewel-Toned Kitchen With Integrated Staircase
• Render 4: Function-Forward Kitchen Concept (Alternate Direction)
• Render 5: Whimsical Bathroom Concept with Patterned Walls
• Render 6: Modern Townhouse Kitchen — Bronze & Moody Lighting‍
• Render 7: Mosaic-Driven Bathroom with Lilac Stone

Before any of our renovations are built, ideas lead the way. Our designers explore alternate concepts, test materials, and push creative boundaries to uncover what a space can become. Some directions move forward. Others remain conceptual. All influence the final design.

This article highlights a series of alternate design concepts from our NYC renovations, highlighting renderings that showcase bold material pairings, functional rethinks, and expressive details that shaped the design process along the way. From dramatic bathrooms to kitchens driven equally by mood and use, each render offers a window into how our designers think, experiment, and translate intent into space.

[#1]Render 1: Dramatic Blue & Walnut Primary Bathroom[#1]

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Why We Loved It

The concept for this primary bath renovation leaned unapologetically into drama, fueled by rich blue tones paired with warm walnut and metallic copper accents. The design is illuminated by contrast, offering moody but refined balance, which is bold yet grounded. The integrated sink and feature wall turn the bathroom into an immersive, almost spa-like experience rather than a purely functional space. As our designer Kate Zharkva described it, “I wanted the bathroom to feel cinematic - like you step into a mood, not just a room.” This design is a reminder that bathrooms can be expressive, architectural moments - not just neutral backdrops.

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Designer Intent & Inspiration

Kate’s direction started with exploring saturated color in a space that’s traditionally kept light, then balancing those cooler tones with warm metals so it still feels inviting. The plumbing and hardware were treated like jewelry rather than utilities - intentional, elevated, and meant to read as part of the composition. “The blue, walnut, and copper combination was about tension and warmth living together,” Kate explained. And by carrying materials across surfaces - from wall to vanity to integrated sink - the concept aimed for a cohesive, sculptural feel rather than a collection of separate selections. “Bathrooms are one of the few places where you can be truly bold without overwhelming the home.”

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[#2]Render 2: Co-Op Primary Bathroom With Blue Vanity & Illuminated Mirror[#2]

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Why We Loved It

This concept explored a softer form of boldness, using color as a focal point rather than an all-over statement. The blue vanity anchors the space, while the illuminated mirror adds a sculptural, almost gallery-like quality. The tile selection brings texture and depth without overpowering the room, proving you don’t need a loud palette for a bathroom to feel memorable. As Kate said, “This was about showing how one confident move, like a blue vanity, can define the entire room.” This bathroom design is a great example of how color can feel intentional and elevated when paired with restraint elsewhere.

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Designer Intent & Inspiration

Kate’s goal here was to let a single design gesture carry the space, using color strategically, while keeping the rest of the bathroom calm and refined. She approached the concept with a practical mindset, blending affordability with visual impact so the room still feels elevated without relying on excess. “Lighting changes everything. An illuminated mirror instantly makes a bathroom feel designed,” Kate noted, treating light as a core material in the composition. And the tile was chosen to add depth and personality without becoming the main event. “I loved the tile here—it adds character without shouting,” she said.

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[#3]Render 3: Jewel-Toned Kitchen With Integrated Staircase[#3]

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Why We Loved It

This kitchen design from this townhome renovation was an exercise in fearless color and material layering, led by deep green cabinetry, dramatic stone surfaces, and blackened stair treads creating a space that felt both luxurious and deeply personal. What made the concept especially compelling was how the stone wasn’t limited to the kitchen, as we chose to carry the dark marble into the living area as well, creating a natural visual link between the fireplace and the kitchen. That continuity elevates the home from a series of separate rooms into one cohesive, architectural experience. As Kate put it, “When stone repeats, the design intent starts to feel architectural - not decorative.” The attached table extension also transformed the island into a multi-use, human-scaled gathering spot, challenging the idea that kitchens must follow standard formats. In Kate’s words, “This was one of those concepts where I thought, ‘This is why I love doing this.’”

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Designer Intent & Inspiration

Kate’s intent was to translate “jewel tones” into architectural finishes, bringing richness not just through color, but through depth, texture, and material weight. The stone was designed to dominate and define the space, acting as both structure and art, and then extended into the living area to create rhythm across rooms. “I loved the idea that the kitchen and living room were speaking the same language,” Kate explained, describing the goal of visual continuity. The island-table move was equally intentional and comfort-driven: “The table attached to the island was about comfort, specifically designed around how the client wanted to use the space” she said. And by treating the stairs as a deliberate visual feature rather than background infrastructure, the concept layered in contrast and drama without losing cohesion. “I wanted richness everywhere. Color, texture, weight.”

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[#4]Render 4: Function-Forward Kitchen Concept (Alternate Direction)[#4]

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Why We Loved It

This concept showcases how functionality can be the primary driver of a strong kitchen design. Rather than beginning with finishes alone, our designer Diana Maltseva adjusted the layout seen in render 3 above based more on how the space would be used - storage needs, cooking habits, appliance dimensions, and daily routines. That functional clarity is reflected in the cabinetry proportions, island size, and overall organization, giving the kitchen a heightened sense of balance and purpose.

What makes this render especially compelling is that the refined look represents a distinct design direction for the same space explored in the jewel-toned kitchen above. While the footprint remains consistent, shifts in cabinetry style, material selection, and detailing create a completely different visual identity, demonstrating how thoughtful design can evolve without reworking the architecture.

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Designer Intent & Inspiration

Diana’s process started with understanding use before form. By working through a detailed kitchen questionnaire (covering what needed to be stored, how often the kitchen would be used, and the exact specifications of appliances) the cabinetry and layout were designed around real, practical requirements. This intent-based approach meant that every cabinet, drawer, and appliance zone serves a clear purpose and fits seamlessly into the space.

From there, the design explored how material changes could reinterpret the same layout in a refined, controlled way. Variations in wood veneers, stone selections, and island detailing allowed the kitchen to feel fresh while remaining grounded in functionality. The result is a kitchen that feels intuitive, well-scaled, and adaptable. 

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[#5]Render 5: Whimsical Bathroom Concept with Patterned Walls[#5]

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Why We Loved It

This bathroom concept from a UWS condo renovation pairs classic materials with a more expressive wall treatment to create a space that feels playful yet elevated. The patterned wallpaper introduces movement and personality, setting a softer, more whimsical tone that contrasts beautifully with the structured geometry of the tilework. Large-format marble on the lower walls and floor grounds the room, while the herringbone tile in the shower adds texture and rhythm to the space.

Matte black fixtures provide a crisp, graphic counterpoint, helping the space feel modern and intentional. The glass shower enclosure allows the materials to remain fully visible, letting the wallpaper and tilework fuse for a single, cohesive composition rather than separate zones.

Learn more about designing based on functional zones via our blog Custom Layout Design For NYC Apartments: Maximizing Aesthetic And Function. 

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Designer Intent & Inspiration

Diana’s intent was to explore how surface treatments can transform the mood of a bathroom without changing its layout. By keeping the vanity, plumbing fixtures, and tile palette classic and restrained, the wallpaper is able to stand out as the defining design element. The scalloped wall sconce lighting was selected to feel soft and slightly decorative, reinforcing the approachable, layered feel of the space. The result is a bathroom that feels personal and character-driven, while still grounded in timeless materials and proportions.

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[#6]Render 6: Modern Townhouse Kitchen — Bronze & Moody Lighting[#6]

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Why We Loved It

This kitchen concept embraced restraint in form but richness in finish, driven by moody bronze metals, sculptural lighting, and a clean wall line without upper cabinets to let the room breathe. The look feels contemporary without turning cold, with traditional undertones carried through the detailing. As Kate said, “This was pure creative freedom. I had design flexibility and wanted to see how far I could push mood.”

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Designer Intent & Inspiration

Kate’s intent was to emphasize volume and light by removing upper cabinetry, creating a calmer, more architectural presence. The palette was anchored by bronze, which was chosen specifically for warmth and depth. “Bronze is my favorite metal. It feels rich without feeling harsh,” Kate explained. Lighting was treated as sculpture rather than an afterthought, adding shape and atmosphere while reinforcing the overall mood. Because the concept wasn’t constrained by tight spatial limitations, the design could prioritize proportion, breathing room, and clean composition. “Not having upper cabinets changes the entire energy of a kitchen.”

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Why We Loved It

This bathroom is a masterclass in texture and detail. In place of large-format tile, the design leans into mosaics, using pattern and texture to create a space that rewards both close inspection and a wider view. Lilac stone on the floor introduces color with restraint, while Art Deco–inspired fixtures bring a sense of glamour and MCM appeal. As Kate described, “This was about texture over scale, letting the details do the work.”

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[#7]Render 7: Mosaic-Driven Bathroom with Lilac Stone[#7]

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Designer Intent & Inspiration

Kate’s intent was to treat mosaic tile as the hero finish, using white as a clean canvas so the texture could read as the primary design language. “The lilac stone grounded everything and kept the design from feeling flat,” Kate noted, pointing to how tone can add depth without overwhelming the palette. The fixtures were selected to reinforce that elevated, decorative sensibility: “I wanted the fixtures to feel like jewelry.”

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Closing Notes

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Although unused, each of the renderings above show the range of ideas that go into our work and how different design directions are explored before anything is built. Even when a concept doesn’t move forward, these thoughtful design iterations help clarify what works, what feels right, and how a space should function day to day. 

Considering a complex apartment renovation in NYC and looking for a team that values both thoughtful design exploration and precise execution? Feel free to contact us so we can show how our full-service design-build approach supports clients from early concept development through construction, making the process clearer, more cohesive, and ultimately more successful.

We are an award-winning design-build firm in New York City with a full-service approach to residential renovations in Manhattan and Brooklyn that includes everything from interior design and architecture services to filing permits and construction. We’re experts in renovating pre-war homes, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, sourcing custom pieces, building entirely new rooms, millwork, and all that falls in between. Let Gallery bring your dream home to life.

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