September 26, 2021Interiors by New York–based designer Melanie Morris have a bit of hygge. But cozy and comfortable as they may be, you won’t be lulled to sleep in them. Her rooms pop with ’80s style, colors and materials, from pink and teal to shiny brass to a bit of Memphis. Not surprising, considering she counts designers Kelly Behun and Ghislaine Viñas as aesthetic influences.
Melanie Morris left a legal career to pursue her passion for interior design (portrait by Dennis Leon). Top: In a Park Avenue apartment, Morris created a playful dining room, complete with an Ettore Sottsass Ultafragola mirror (photo by Adam Kane Macchia).
A former lawyer, Morris ditched legal briefs for mood boards 11 years ago. Now, she’s known for creating homes that combine comfort with luxury — especially for families with young children.
Morris does it all, from custom millwork to walk-in closets to selecting contemporary art. She recently launched her Pop rug collection, featuring playful designs with witty names like Spill, Bolt and Doodle. “I couldn’t find rugs that were happy and fun but high-end,” she explains.
Morris outfitted a Purchase, New York, living room with a pair of curving Pierre Augustin Rose sofas and a Patricia Urquiola marble coffee table. Photo by Marco Ricca
Morris’s design for a family home in Greenwich, Connecticut, was more subdued than typical for her, with neutral textiles and dusky blue walls in the living room. Photo by Marco Ricca
For a family in Greenwich, Connecticut, her work is more understated than usual, displaying traditional colors such as a dusky blue. Whimsical fruit-themed wallpaper in a bathroom is a nod to the client’s work as a nutritionist, and a demonstration of Morris’s playfulness. For a Park Avenue apartment, she used a black-and-white palette with shots of pink and teal and chose bold, neotenic furniture. An ETTORE SOTTSASS ULTAFRAGOLA MIRROR leans against a wall, adding fun-house pizzazz.
In every project, Morris reflects the client’s personality, within the parameters of her bold aesthetic. “If they asked for something French provincial,” she says, “I’d turn them down.”
Prism Dining Table, 2018, offered by Wüd Furniture Design
“I love everything by Wüd, as its craftsmanship is impeccable. I’m especially drawn to the resin finish on this table, and who doesn’t love a lazy Susan!?”
“Note the use of rope on these stunning sculptural pendants, and the possibility of multiple configurations. These are versatile and would be especially beautiful over a kitchen island or a dining table.”
Natural Travertine and Oak Coffee Table, 2020, offered by dooq
“I can’t get enough of travertine, and I especially like the mix of materials and shape of this coffee table. I am placing this in my Bal Harbour project, in the living room.”
