Left Walls: in | Trim: in | Ceiling: in . Right Walls: in | Trim: in | Ceiling: in | Bed: in .
In a historic district of Brooklyn, tucked inside a 1920s art deco co-op, Tony Liu has transformed his first home into a canvas for his passions. Best known for the irreverent fashion Instagram account, Diet Prada – Tony studied painting before moving into fashion. And his background in fine art continues to shape the way he sees the world.
“Colour was always the starting point for me,” says Tony. “There’s something super satisfying to me about tonal combinations.”
When he moved in, Tony didn’t bring many major pieces of furniture, so colour became the foundation. To help refine his ideas, he worked with Farrow & Ball Colour Consultant and International Brand Ambassador Patrick O’Donnell.
Patrick remembers: “Tony’s brief was clear. Most clients hesitate with colour, but he already had Dior pinks, Prada browns, Cecil Beaton’s Wiltshire garden room, even Valentino catwalks, in his head. My role was to create cohesion, to make a canvas he could then layer.”
The result is a home where each room tells its own story, but together form a harmonious palette inspired by art, cinema, and fashion. Join us as we take a look around.
Hallway and Foyer
Walls: in and
Painted in , the hallway and foyer set the tone immediately.
“There isn’t any light here so I wanted to go with the darkness,” Tony explains. “I wanted it to feel like this tunnel-like transition before it opens up to the other lighter spaces.”
The richness of draws out the apartment’s previous baseboards, which frame the hallway’s arches. For Tony, the choice was also a nod to Miuccia Prada’s genius for elevating the ordinary, transforming something as utilitarian as UPS brown into high style.
“It’s pure Prada. On its own it’s understated, but in context it feels deeply sophisticated.”
Living Room
Walls: in | Trim: in | Ceiling: in
The foyer opens up into the living room, which Tony was certain from the beginning had to be .
“When I think about couture I go to Christian Dior and all the soft pink silk moirés, taffetas, and satins. Working in the archives of the Chicago History Museum’s costume department and seeing how the fabrics and colours oxidise over time influenced my selection of this pink, which feels softened to the point of neutral at times.”
The colour has become a favourite among visitors, too. “It feels cozy and cocoon-like with the little curved ceiling detail. People really like it and sometimes don’t know what colour it is, because it changes so much with the light… I love that!”
Dining Room
Walls: in | Trim: in | Ceiling: in
The dining area shares the palette of walls, trim, and a ceiling, which allows the living and dining spaces to flow together.
“Patrick said Pink Ground would cast a beautiful glow on guests, which made it an easy choice for a space meant for entertaining. It’s also one of my favorite shades – one that, for me, recalls some of my favorite moments in fashion history, from 1930s bias-cut chiffon Chanel gowns to the sculptural silks of Christian Dior’s gowns of the 1950s.”
Study
Walls: in | Trim: in | Ceiling: in | Bed: in
Originally planned as a plant-filled room, the study became a retreat instead. Painted in with trim and a ceiling, it captures a sense of freshness while introducing an unexpected edge.
“Cecil Beaton’s conservatory at Reddish Estate was a starting point,” Tony says. “As well as the clashy impressionist colours of Monet’s estate in Giverny. I love how the gentle Green Ground plays against the bolder Churlish Green, giving the room tension and keeping the pastels from veering overly sweet.”
Bedroom
Walls: in and | Ceiling: in
For the bedroom – or ‘boy-doir’ – Tony embraced on the walls and trim, with a ceiling.
“Parma Gray was partly a nod to one of my favorite cinematic moments in How to Marry a Millionaire: not the exact shade, but that striking monochrome effect where curtains, furniture, and set dressing are perfectly in sync.”
Patrick describes it as “colour drenching through texture. Tony found this moiré fabric in almost the exact blue of the walls. It creates depth without introducing another hue. Exquisite, really.”
For Tony, the bedroom is a space to be bold. “I also love Regency colour palettes and this blue felt like a slightly punchier play on that. I wanted to go a little crazier and more personal here.”
He adds with a smile: “Maybe it’s just me, but I think everything looks beautiful against blue.”
A Story in Every Shade
Tony’s Brooklyn apartment is more than a collection of painted rooms – it’s a story told through colour, fashion, and art. “Every day I look at the walls and think what a gift it is to be surrounded by colour,” he says.
Patrick reflects on the finished home: “My work was only the beginning – the canvas. Tony drenched it with texture, fabric, and art. The whole apartment feels romantic.”
