Eclectic Midtown Gem

A playful mix of colors and cleverly placed niches brings cheer to a sunless room in midtown Manhattan. The same lighthearted, airy spirit continues in the compact bathroom, where bold choices make a small space feel expansive and fun.

Located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, this apartment presented a familiar New York City design challenge: a room with limited natural light that needed to feel alive and welcoming. The solution was bold color, unexpected niches, and a curated collection of objects that give the space energy without visual clutter.

The compact bathroom received the same playful treatment — proving that small NYC spaces can pack enormous personality when approached with imagination and precision. Every square foot was considered, with custom tile work and clever storage making the most of a tight footprint.

Tonos Design Studio is a New York City architecture and interior design firm with expertise in transforming Manhattan apartments of all sizes — from compact midtown studios to sprawling pre-war co-ops. We specialize in making every New York City space work harder and feel better.

Colorful modern bookshelf with books and decorative items, mounted on a pink wall. Adjacent wall has a multicolored abstract clock.
A colorful bookshelf with circular cutouts displaying various books and decorative items in a living room, with a window and window seat with striped cushion in the background.
A colorful bookshelf with pink and white sections, featuring various books, small decorative items, and illuminated display niches in different shapes and colors. There is a TV on a white cabinet below the bookshelf.
Sketch of a room interior with hanging lights and a central display or seating area, featuring colorful circular elements.
A handmade 3D model of a sports stadium or arena made from paper and colored with markers. The model shows a seating area, a field, and various sections in different colors, with some 3D elements representing seats or other features.
A digital illustration of a man standing next to a large colorfully divided shelving unit with various geometric shapes on it.
A brightly colored bookshelf with pink and green geometric light fixtures, decorated with books, small sculptures, and framed photos, next to a window and a bed with a colorful, patterned blanket.
Modern bathroom with a glass shower enclosure, white vanity with black fixtures, a white cabinet, and a toilet.
Glass shower enclosure with black fixtures and colorful floral-patterned floor inside a bathroom.
Modern shower with white tiled walls, black fixtures, a small frosted window, and a colorful floral-patterned floor tile at the bottom.
A decorated shower area with a colorful floral mosaic on the wall, featuring various shapes and colors, with a drain in the center.
Light-colored wooden floor in a small entryway or corner of a room, with a door and shelf on the left side.