Shapeless Studio

Former Warehouse
Transformed into a Sunny Loft

CAST-IRON LOFT BUILDING
This building on Greene Street in SoHo was originally built to be a warehouse, but today contains apartments featuring soaring full-height windows and cast iron structural columns. The entire apartment was rebuilt during the renovation, and every detail was considered to maintain the feel of the authentic New York artists' loft.

CELEBRATING HISTORY AND TEXTURE
The exposed brick perimeter walls were painted with a natural limewash paint, to neutralize the color and make the space feel clean and bright. To maintain an artist loft feel, we exposed the original wood structural beams and heavy-duty lintels above the windows, highlighting their rustic patina. The flooring is the original wide-plank cedar that was used for the warehouse, and has been painted with a heavy-duty paint intended for boat hulls.

LIGHT AND AIR
One of the challenges during the renovation was determining the best way to allow fresh air and natural light into the lofted space and the bedroom, since these spaces don’t have their own windows. Custom oak windows and doors were designed that could open and close as needed, and linen drapery can be drawn closed to provide privacy.

The walls of the primary bedroom were painted a very dark taupe to create a moody, restful space for sleeping. The furnishings in the apartment were all selected to reinforce the handmade textures and neutral colors in the apartment.

After Almost Two Decades, Book Conservator Gets His Own Custom Library

Homeowners Frank Trujillo and Stephanie Leahy are long-time New Yorkers and art, object, and book collectors. We worked with them to transform the brownstone they had been living in for almost two decades.
A PERSONAL LIBRARY
Frank works as a book conservator at the Morgan Library, and came to us just after he had inherited a large number of volumes from his mentor- doubling his already large collection. The design of the parlor floor centered around how many linear feet of books we would be able to incorporate, without making the space feel cluttered. We were able to give him 230 linear feet of shelving to house his complete collection, nestled within thick plaster shelves, becoming part of the architecture of the space. A rolling library ladder is needed to reach the upper half of the book shelving.
ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
In the renovation, great care was taken to preserve some of the nice period details, but elements that are created new have an extremely clean, almost minimal aesthetic. The fireplaces, for example, are clean slabs of marble, fashioned with an arched firebox opening, and a stepped detail at the edges. The arched fireplaces complement the stepped arches found between the rooms on the parlor floor– they have a similar stepped edge detail, but a different shape. Much of the furniture in the home is by Sawkille, which like the architecture, creates a very simple version of traditional details. Everything is made from considered, natural materials.
KITCHEN
The kitchen was originally located in the narrow extension, and one of the challenges of the renovation was to turn it into a pleasant space that feels connected to the dining room. We added a new large window in the kitchen, above a narrow breakfast nook, that bathes the room in soft natural light. The kitchen cabinetry continues straight through to the dining room, acting as a storage credenza.

Bold Colors and Playful Silhouettes Meet Dad’s Handmade Hardware

The Cobble Hill Townhouse was a comprehensive renovation for a young couple who wanted to create their "forever" home in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The owners are young professionals: an actress/dancer/singer in a Broadway production, and an attorney; they love to entertain.

DESIGN CHOICES
Rich colors and materials were used throughout, including several varieties of natural stone, handmade Zellige tile, and fluted glass. French doors were installed in the new openings in the rear kitchen to give an expansive view to the backyard. The owners were willing to take some stylistic risks with bold colors, textures, and silhouettes in the furnishings.

LUXURIOUS PRIMARY BATHROOM
The primary bathroom is especially striking, as it takes up the front third of the house. The shower was designed as an all-stone room, so the bench, built-in niche, floors and walls are all cut from the same stone, with the veining carrying through between pieces. It almost looks as if it’s carved from the inside of a marble block.

CABINET HARDWARE MADE BY DAD
The owner's father owns a metal manufacturing business that specializes in precision machine parts, and he was able to fabricate custom brass handles that we designed for the kitchen and the dressing room, which adds a fun personal touch.

Making Space for a Growing Family

RENOVATE VS MOVE?
A young couple residing north of NYC was about to welcome their first child, and they needed more space. Because of the housing market, they decided to invest in improving their current home, which was built in the early 90’s, rather than purchase a different one.

ADDING SPACE
To make the home function well for this next phase in their lives, we had to find more space wherever we could. Their list of goals included finishing out the basement to include a family room, a guest room, a full bathroom, and a laundry space. On the ground floor, they wanted to expand the kitchen into an awkward double-height atrium, which we suggested they fill in to make the kitchen feel balanced. That allowed us to create a new study upstairs, where we had filled in the floor above the kitchen.

FINISHES AND DECOR
The whole house got a fresh coat of paint, the bathrooms were all overhauled, and millwork and other custom elements were added throughout the home. We also worked with them to select all new furnishings, artwork and other decorative elements. While focusing on using natural materials, we selected finishes and furnishings with earthy, solid colors and soft textures, to create a space that feels both playful and grown-up.