Inside Lucy Liu and Son Rockwell's 'Accessible and Beautiful' Live-and-Play Space in New York City

Her wide-open space is now "playful, friendly and just warm," says Liu
By Megan Stein
August 10, 2017 04:00 PM

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Lucy Liu's Grown-Up Kids' Space

Joe Schmelzer

As the star of a hit TV show and a busy mom, Lucy Liu was struggling to find the time to fashion a functional space that could be a playroom for her son Rockwell, 1, and a sophisticated hangout for her in their New York City apartment. “You can’t do everything on your own, it’s impossible,” Liu, 48, says. The Elementary star teamed up with the Studio at One Kings Lane designer Nicole Fisher, who helped her craft a living area that works for everyone. “She was able to achieve a playspace for kids, as well as a social environment for adults,” Liu says.

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From Bare to Beautiful

Joe Schmelzer

Before the room felt like “a wide open space without a name,” Liu admits. “I had very little furniture in there and it was very sparse.” 

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Curated Display

Joe Schmelzer

New finds combined with items Liu already owned, like her collection of wooden tribal masks, helped achieve her eclectic vision. “I wanted to make it look more multicultural,” she says. “I don’t know, there’s something about that added texture and the weave that brought the different elements of what New York City is to me, because it’s a city with so many different things going on and so many different cultures.”

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Calm Color Scheme

Joe Schmelzer

The room now exudes a cheerful, youthful vibe. “[Nicole] made it special by toning down the color and making it more monochromatic,” she says. “The color that is there pops and feels playful, friendly, and just warm.”

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Room to Run

Joe Schmelzer

Rockwell’s favorite part of the makeover is a no-brainer: “He’s obsessed with the tent,” Liu says. The duo also likes to spend time together listening to music. “There’s a lot of ‘Shake Your Sillies Out,’” she says with a laugh of the song that tops their shared playlist. “Sometimes we put on opera because he heard opera at Washington Square Park.”

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Organized Chaos

Joe Schmelzer

Liu’s favorite feature is a bit more practical. “They also put the toys and books so you can see them, so it’s accessible and beautiful at the same time,” she says. “He can pull out what he wants without making a mess.”

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Smart Storage

Joe Schmelzer

Wood-framed chalkboards, pom-pom baskets and plenty of cubbies can store Rockwell’s goodies and help keep the space feeling neat. “I think one of the keys to parenting is organization, not just with your time, but also the elements within your space,” she says. “They were really able to discover that and draw that out in an artistic fashion.”

For the full details of Liu’s fun but functional living space, visit One Kings Lane. 

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