BHG: How the Real Simple Home Made a Modern New-Build Feel Instantly Cozy
October 1, 2025
By: Morgan Noll
The 2025 Real Simple Home might be a real-life deluxe apartment in the sky—literally a duplex penthouse on the 23rd floor of a swanky Manhattan high-rise—but it, along with a two-bedroom annex, is bursting with ideas for transforming a white box, new construction into a comfortable, layered home filled with personality. For its eighth annual show house, Real Simple tapped an all-star cast of designers, content creators, and tastemakers who infused each room with character that you can easily translate to your own home, no matter where you live.
To rein in a small room with high ceilings and sweeping views, Los Angeles-based interior designer Mandy Cheng channeled traditional wall paneling with a modern twist. “I knew I needed to add layers and textures to make the room feel cozier,” she says. “I wanted to add millwork, wainscoting, molding, and trim everywhere [but] I thought about how to create it using non-custom pieces.”
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