This 800-Square-Foot Bachelor Pad Is Long on Sophistication

Tour the chic Long Island City home of designer Alvin Wayne which makes brilliant use of a small space.

December 16, 2020

By: Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason

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Traveling in Style

Interior designer Alvin Wayne has the kind of style that travels well. After starting with a degree from Florida A&M University, Alvin went on to study interior design at the Savannah College of Art and Design's Atlanta campus, before taking his talents to Texas. Now, after two years in Brooklyn, Wayne has made a new home in Long Island City, in an 800-square-foot new-build apartment perfect for a life on-the-go.

Learn More : Tour a Designer's Chic Long Island City Pad

Up and Comer

Alvin's highrise apartment occupies one of New York City's fastest growing communities, just across the East River from Manhattan: Long Island City in the borough of Queens. “I honestly think the thing that stands out the most is the view,” he says. “This apartment was clearly designed to capture the view of the New York City skyline, so I made sure that my design complemented the view.” Aligned with the windows, the designer created a gorgeous seating area, full of light. Nothing in the living room impedes stunning views of the city.

Killer View

Alvin describes his style as “midcentury modern, masculine, natural and cozy.” His living room design beautifully expresses the mix, combining a variety of neutral tones and natural textures. He uses plants to add life and color to the space. Alvin says he capitalizes on the view “by choosing natural elements and keeping the scale of the furniture low.”

Dream Dining Room

Alvin’s masculine style brings a warm, earthy touch to the dining area. With seating for four, an eye-catching, modern chandelier and its own view of the city, it’s the type of spacious dining room that’s a rarity for apartments in New York City. “The dining room is my favorite room,” the designer reveals. “I've always wanted a ‘formal' dining room and the fact that I actually have one in a New York apartment blows my mind!”

Favorite Pieces

When you’ve lived in as many parts of the country as Alvin has, you pick up some things along the way. Pieces you love from previous places become building blocks for future designs, and part of the story your home tells. This dining room is home to one of the designer’s favorite pieces from the past, a massive antique mirror. “I've had it since I lived in Atlanta over six years ago,” he explains. “I'll never part with it.”

Bedroom Bliss

If the hallway was the hardest part of the home to perfect, then the bedroom was undoubtedly the easiest. “I already knew exactly how I wanted to feel when I woke up every day and when I went to bed,” Alvin explains. Of course a big part of starting every day off on the right foot is getting a full dose of the view from the room’s wall-length windows. Luxury touches like the desk, bed, handmade rug and sumptuous dark wall color up the lush, cozy factor.

Small Details = Big Style

Though the bedroom is one of the smallest spaces in the apartment at just 130 square feet, Alvin has a number of tricks to make it seem bigger without sacrificing style. "I painted the wall behind the bed black (Broadway by Behr) in a matte finish," says Alvin. "Painting this wall black makes the room feel larger. I also placed a mirror at the foot of the bed to reflect light and the city view."

Bringing It All Together

From one end to the other, Alvin Wayne’s Long Island City apartment is a perfect mix of great bones, impeccable style and pieces curated during a lifetime of travel, adventure and apartments past. “My home is truly a reflection of me and where I am right now in my life,” he says. “And honestly that's what I love most about it. I see me and a collection of all the things I love.”

A Nice Problem to Have

Because it was a new build, Alvin’s apartment didn't need major renovations. Putting his own stamp on the space was therefore much easier. The one exception was the long hallway that extends from the entrance to the living room. “It was probably the hardest part of the whole home to decorate,” he recounts.

The Light at the End of the Hallway

“The hallway in my place is dark and kind of forgettable,” Alvin begins, “but I wanted to make it a moment.” The key was doing something unexpected. So he augmented the impact of his wallpaper and modern seating choices by adding a bright, pink neon sign — a former window display prop. The “Kiss Me Karl” message is a playful homage to late German artist and fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, and is the title of one of the last collections Lagerfeld created.

An Eye-Popping Powder Room

One of the biggest benefits of a new build is not having to remodel an outdated bathroom. But because they’re such functional spaces, there’s limited opportunity to give the space the look you want. Alvin took full advantage of what his bathroom had to offer. “I added my touches with removable wallpaper, paint and changed out the light fixtures.” Sticking with a mostly black and white palette, he added a small fur rug and eye-catching stick-figure wallpaper. Beyond the black and white, the warm wood tone of the vanity and the addition of plants infuse the space with color.

Belly Up

Alvin’s Long Island City home is full of features many New York apartment owners can only dream of. As if the view and the formal dining room weren’t enough, this home goes the extra mile with a bar separating the kitchen and living room. Alvin makes the most of this feature with a trio of metallic bar stools. The kitchen features a special piece that he’d been after for some time. “My favorite piece in my home is my Daniele Fortuna sculpture,” he grins, indicating the acid-green sculpted head sitting on his kitchen countertop. “I saw it and I had to have it. I saved up and now it's mine!”