“Wellness is multifaceted, encompassing everything from beauty to mental clarity, physical vitality, and beyond,” says Onyedikachi Achilike, founder of Blue Nomad, who decided to focus on skin health for her first space. “Inspired by my great-grandmother, a renowned Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) herbalist who used plants to heal many in her time, I've always been drawn to practices that heal and restore. I studied biology with the intention of advancing into ethnobotany, driven by her influence. However, after college, I found other interests in business, working as an investor and company builder, among other professional pursuits. Though wellness remained a lifestyle and passion, I initially explored it as a hobby, creating supplements and skincare products for friends and local farmers' markets. In 2018, I chose to formalize my passion by focusing on skin health as a foundational pillar of my study of wellness. I earned my NYS esthetics license and pursued advanced training at the International Dermal Institute. My residencies at Dermalogica Soho and the Four Seasons Tribeca further deepened my understanding of how skin health connects to overall well-being.”
Blue Nomad is located near Madison Square Park, in New York City on the 10th floor of the Townsend Building, a landmark Gilded Age gem (constructed between 1896 and 1897 by architect Cyrus Lazelle Warner Eidlitz) and one of Flatiron District’s finest architectural features.
"At Blue Nomad, we’re reimagining wellness and skin health through a cultural lens, beginning with our signature facial therapy,” says Onyedikachi Achilike. “This treatment combines time-tested healing rituals from around the world with advanced skincare technology, offering an experience that evolves with the seasons—think Swedish massage techniques in winter, Japanese-inspired protocols in spring, and Malagasy masking practices for purification and rejuvenation in summer, and on. We blend these ancient methods with technologies like LED, microcurrent, and more. Using an ever-evolving selection of carefully curated professional products, we craft completely personalized treatments that adapt to each client's unique skin needs. All of this is wrapped in one premium price for an immersive wellness journey where ancient wisdom meets modern skincare—no rigid protocols, no confusing add-ons, just pure quality, rich cultural narratives, and total personalization.
Beyond our treatments, we offer a highly curated selection of retail skincare products, sourced both locally and globally. We actively engage with our audience through initiatives like Office Hours, where people can drop by for complimentary skincare consultations. We cast real clients and community members in our campaigns, striving to build a truly community-driven brand. When we start creating products, we plan to do so in co-creation with our community, ensuring they are part of the process every step of the way.
Our approach is quite novel in the spa market. Traditional spas often rely on rigid protocols and endless add-ons that can overwhelm newcomers, operating in a closed-off way with minimal audience engagement. We take a collaborative, guidance-driven model. We’re constantly innovating alongside our community. We operate at the intersection of function and soul. Our treatments are scientifically driven, culturally rich, and transcendental.”
The atmosphere is calm and restorative. Instead of traditional greenery, glass and reflective surfaces were incorporated to evoke a sense of nature — fluidity and water through glass, with chrome echoing the iridescence of sea shells. Subtle green tones appear in glass block accents and wall paint, offering a calming nod to nature.
“By forgoing wood in favor of chrome and vibrant tiles, the space achieves a balance of modernity and soulfulness — serene yet dynamic,” describes Onyedikachi Achilike.
Previously, the studio served as a mini office and production space for a swimwear brand.
Crafted by architect and interior designer Silvana Vergara Tobin, founder of Studio Trove, the space has an open floor plan. A custom partition was designed to create distinct zones: a tranquil treatment area and an inviting waiting space. The biggest challenge was fitting multiple functions — treatment, retail, waiting, office, and storage — into a compact space without it feeling cluttered. From the outset, the team steered clear of typical wellness materials like wood and plain whites. Instead, they embraced a palette of muted blue-greens and warm neutrals to evoke calm and balance. To anchor the space, Cantera stone was used, a natural volcanic material from Mexico in a striking pink-purple hue. Limewash paint added texture and an earthy feel, while reflective elements like glass bricks and chrome brought depth and light. These materials harmonize to create a space that feels both organically warm and modernly vibrant. One of the interior designer’s inspirations came from a trip to Morocco where she felt attracted by the use of natural materials in the architecture paired with engraved metallic accessories such as buckets and trays. “That is how we quickly decided that the walls should be in a finish such as plaster for a more organic look,” says Onyedikachi Achilike. “Additionally, based on her architectural background, Silvana has been a long time admirer of Peter Zumthor’s work and she particularly loves how water reflection plays with light and shades to create a restorative experience in his project Therme Vals.” This was another influence for this project.
Blue Nomad introduces a broad vision that encompasses wellness today (beauty, lifestyle, etc.). This skin health studio is just the first expression of this vision.
Team:
Client: Blue Nomad
Interior design: Silvana Vergara Tobin, founder of Studio Tove
Photographers: Nick Glimenakis, Julia Morris
Stylist: Mariana Marcki-Matos
Materials Used:
Silvana Vergara Tobin custom-designed the waiting area bench, upholstered in luxurious Dedar fabric.
Bespoke millwork, with both the walls and millwork finished in Portola paint.
Mudd sink and Cantera tiles from Zia Tiles.
Curated pieces from brands like DB Barcelona and Frama.
The design team also got creative with budget-friendly items as well such as simple plaster indirect lights from West Elm which they painted to match the color of the ceiling and stainless steel subway tiles to cover the furniture for that reflective look.
