{ "vars": { "account": "UA-59334946-1" }, "triggers": { "trackPageview": { "on": "visible", "request": "pageview" } } }

Design Meets Wellness at Blue Nomad’s Tranquil NYC Studio

In Flatiron, Blue Nomad blends global design, skin health, and serenity to redefine what a wellness space can be

By House & Garden South Africa | October 6, 2025 | Category interiors

In a sunlit corner of New York’s Flatiron district, a new kind of wellness space is quietly rewriting the rules — where thoughtful design, global influences and skin health converge in perfect harmony.

The tiny yet mighty hotspot offers a transformative journey with bespoke facial treatments and wellness experiences, Image: Supplied

Tucked inside a Gilded Age landmark near Madison Square Park, Blue Nomad is a tranquil jewel-box studio redefining wellness through design. Founded by Onyedikachi Achilike, a biologist and licensed skin therapist, the space is shaped by her global journey — one that spans Lagos, Johannesburg, Paris and New York.

Founder and owner Onyedikachi Achilike with architect and interior designer Silvana Vergara Tobin, founder of Studio Tove, Image: Supplied

The design, by Brooklyn-based Silvana Vergara Tobin of Studio Tove, creates a space that defies wellness clichés. Here, soft blue-greens and warm neutrals meet volcanic cantera stone in a rare pink-purple hue. Reflective chrome, limewashed walls and plaster finishes evoke a sense of fluidity and calm, inspired by Moroccan textures and the meditative light play of Zumthor’s Therme Vals.

The custom-designed waiting area bench is upholstered in a Dedar fabric and framed by a wall of glass bricks to create depth and light, Image: Supplied

Custom millwork defines an open floor plan that seamlessly accommodates treatment, retail and waiting zones. No detail is spared, despite the petite footprint. Blue Nomad’s considered design reflects Achilike’s broader mission: to build a global network of wellness spaces rooted in inclusivity, beauty and intention. As she says, ‘Wellness begins the moment you step inside — wherever in the world that may be.’

To anchor the space, cantera stone was used (a natural, volcanic material from Mexico with a striking pink-purple hue), while limewash paint adds texture and an earthy feel, Image: Supplied

Text by Catherine Mo