Today’s home tour comes to you from New York, where a dark and dated apartment in a 1940s brownstone block has been given a very stylish makeover by design studio sheep + stone.

Set in Gramercy Park, it has a gently glamorous air and is a perfect example of how minimalism needn’t be stark or soulless. And, despite its high-end appearance and pricey furnishings, it’s brimming with ideas that could be incorporated into any home, no matter what the budget.

The apartment faces an inner courtyard and lacks natural light at certain times of the day, so the first task was to open up and brighten the interior. An old pantry was knocked down to create a larger living space and dark wooden shutters were removed; banks of internal windows and an open staircase with floating steps were also installed to filter light from one room to another. In addition, mirrors were cleverly positioned to bounce light into gloomy corners – a very simple and cost-effective solution if you don’t have the funds for structural changes.

The whole place now looks airy and spacious – a feel that’s enhanced by the limited colour palette of white, grey, beige and black. It’s far from boring, though, thanks to a clever combination of different textures. Sleek white walls and smooth floors sit alongside swathes of exposed stone, and touches of brass, marble and blackened metal are dotted throughout. There’s also a wonderful balance between pale and dark in the furniture, fixtures and accessories – another easy-to-borrow idea that doesn’t require lots of investment.

My favourite space is the double-height living area, which blends Scandinavian-inspired simplicity with New York loft-style living. The light-grey Egg Collective sofa works perfectly with the black-stained coffee table, as does the white marble dining table with the smoked-oak ‘In Between’ chairs, designed by Sam Kallio for &tradition. Accessories have been kept to a minimum (just a few monochrome cushions and a fluffy Moroccan-style rug), but there’s still plenty of drama thanks to a stunning ‘Cloud’ chandelier by Apparatus and a dual-arm wall light by Serge Mouille.

I also love the bedroom, which is more understated and calming but no less appealing. Again, there are lots of different textures on display, including smooth opal-glass bedside lamps, a soft leather headboard and patina’d bedside tables from BBDW. The same applies in the bathrooms, where brass and matte-black fittings contrast with smooth marble and simple white tiles.

All in all, a beautiful home that has my head spinning with ideas. How about you? What aspects of this apartment caught your eye?

Photography by Nicole Franzen for sheep + stone

P.S. There are more tips for maximising natural light in your home in this post from last year.