movin' on up

Welcome to our annual REAL SIMPLE Home! Come in and see how seven top designers turned a blank-canvas Brooklyn, New York, penthouse into a deluxe apartment in the sky.

- ERICA FINAMORE, HANNAH BAKER, LESLIE CORONA & TEDDY WILLSON

Primary Bedroom

David Quarles IV @david.quarlesiv

The Memphis, Tennessee-based designer created a playful oasis featuring mixed patterns, lush textures...and a tiger pillow triptych.

He took color inspo from the city below, with an orange shag rug (the sunset), navy blue walls (the night sky), and an earthy green bed and ceiling (the trees).

Speaking of the ceiling, the overhead light (seen on previous page) is actually three identical pendants, hung at varying heights to look like a custom fixture. An accent wall displays the '70s-style biophilic wallpaper David designed and named after his grandma, Ruth (aww!). "I'm putting the jungle back in concrete jungle," he says.

Office

Michelle Gage @michellecgage

You can do a little wallpaper, or you can do a lot! Michelle went with option B. "I try to strike a balance with bold prints and patterns," the Philadelphia-based designer says. "I wanted it to feel exciting but not overwhelming." She kept some decor nice and neutral-the woven shades, framed rabbit print, dark wood desk, and rattan console. But other elements, like the blue chair and purple closet doors, echo the wallpaper's bold color scheme. The effect is a harmonious space that's a maximalism how-to.

Living Room

Bobby Berk O@bobby

Now this is a living room we could live in! We tasked the Queer Eye star with making this big, bright, glass-and-steel box feel cozy, inviting, and fun. Bobby started with an energizing palette of blue and peach, anchoring the space with a plush, peacock blue rug.