If you love interior design and spend time on social media, you’ve probably seen the stunning transformation series of Chi’s Lagos apartment (@the_real_chi_). If not, you should check it out. Chi didn’t just decorate her apartment; she created a sophisticated, playfully monochrome sanctuary that mixes classic European elegance with bold modern touches and soulful Nigerian art.
This style is high-end, surprising, and truly memorable. Our custom style guide and mood board show you the key elements that make this space stand out, along with curated shopping options so you can bring this unique vibe into your own home.
🌸 The Curated Mood Board: Luxury Pink Meets Architectural Edge
We have designed this physical mood board to show you how these seemingly disparate elements—soft dusty rose velvet,precise wainscoting, dramatic marble, and sunshine yellow art—layer into a We have designed this physical mood board to show you how these seemingly disparate elements—soft dusty rose velvet,precise wainscoting, dramatic marble, and sunshine yellow art—layer into a singular, luxury Lagos aesthetic.
(Insert Mood Board Image: This new, clean rendering, presented on a flawless, plain background, highlights the specific design elements while preserving all the intricate details from Chi’s original transformation, including the unique yellow art prints, the specific velvet sectional, the marble bathroom inspiration, and the sophisticated wainscoting.)
🌸 Key Elements of Chi’s Design Palette
To get the look, you must commit to the bold contrast. It’s not just a ‘pink room’; it is a thoughtful, architectural application of colour and texture.
- Monochromatic Blush Base with Wainscoting: This is the foundational secret. The entire flat uses sophisticated blush and dusty rose tones across the walls, which are elevated by the installation of classic, precision European wainscoting (applied moulding). This moulding turns simple pink walls into a classical architectural feature, which Chi then softens with floor-to-ceiling sheer linen drapery in the same soft hue.
- High-Contrast, ‘Grand Antique’ Marbling: The main bathroom transformation was perhaps the most viral moment. Chi balanced the all-pink palette with dramatic, black-veined white marble—reminiscent of Grand Antique marble. Pairing this heavy, high-contrast stone with a pink porcelain toilet and polished gold/brass fixtures is what creates the instant “luxury” impact.
- Modern Block Seating in Velvet: The living room features a modular, channel-tufted sectional in dusty rose velvet. The modern, low-profile, blocky silhouette provides a sleek contrast to the classical wall wainscoting.
- Sunshine Yellow & Contemporary Art: To keep the monochrome space from feeling flat or overly saturated, Chi introduced a surprise, vibrant contrast: Sunshine and mustard yellow. We see this in specific mid-century style mushroom lamps, but most importantly, in custom-framed contemporary African art. The key pieces—depicting Black women with sunflowers and striped yellow details ground the space culturally while providing that critical colour relief.
- Warm, Concealed Tray Lighting: In the ceiling architecture, warm yellow-toned LED strip lights are built into custom drops and tray structures. This warm, hidden light bathes the entire pink space in an inviting glow,completely softening the all-over colour palette and providing cozy ambiance.
🛍️ Curated Buying Guide: Get the Look
Here are the exact pieces (or highly-curated alternatives) you need to recreate this unique style:
| Category | Signature Item | Design Details | Styling Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living Room | Tufted Modular Block Sofa | Channel-tufted, modular velvet in deep dusty rose or salmon pink. | Position opposite a minimalist, white/cream floating console against a wainscoted wall. |
| Art & Lighting | Abstract Contemporary Art Prints | African-inspired art (Black women figures) with dominant yellow and sunflower motifs. | Frame these prints in thin gold/brass directly above the modern headboard. |
| Architectural Accents | Polished Brass Hardware & Handles | Look for sleek, minimalist polished gold and brass lever handles, dual flush bathroom plates, and minimal light switch covers. | Replace all existing builder-grade chrome hardware with these elevated brass alternatives. |
| Bedroom | Yellow Mushroom Table Lamp | Iconic Mid-Century modern dome/mushroom table lamp in vibrant mustard or canary yellow. | Place on a minimalist glass and brass tiered nightstand. |
| Bathroom | Black-Veined Marble Tiles | Large-format tiles replicating Grand Antique marble (heavy black/charcoal matrix with white highlights). | Install floor-to-ceiling for maximum drama in the main bathroom. |
Final Styling Tips for Your Space
- Vary Your Pink Textures: If you go monochrome, use texture to create depth: try velvet on the sofa, sheer linen on the curtains, a high-pile rug, and matte paint on the walls.
- Wainscoting and Light are Key: The moulding makes it feel classical and expensive, and the warm tray lighting is what prevents the colour from overwhelming the space.
- Invest in Unique Hard-Finishes: The details like the dramatic marble and the specific gold bathroom flush plate are what differentiate this look from a standard, trendy renovation.
