The owners of this 2300sf converted loft unit in Soho had a clearly defined vision for what their renovation wasn’t. Their close friends and neighbors in the building had recently renovated their identical loft with BC—OA - a Soho loft design with clean, minimalist detailing throughout. In contrast, these clients were looking to embrace the loft aesthetic to a greater extent. Instead of the sleek white ceiling of their neighbors, this design accepts the imperfections of the original tin ceilings, providing substantial reveals where it meets new materials to accommodate the irregular surface, and highlights the exposed piping and sprinklers with a charcoal grey paint. Original plaster along the north wall of the space was removed to reveal a 90’ long wall of well-preserved original brick which was white-washed and sealed. Demolition also revealed original timber columns of this former light bulb factory which were restored to remain exposed.
The long and narrow floor plan with windows at the two extremes is a quintessential Soho loft proportion which limits configurations and natural light. The corridor at the private portion of the unit aligns with the back window, providing views to natural daylight at the two extremes. The kitchen crosses and diffuses that view with a sculptural unit of floating upper cabinets clad in distressed bronze. This feature reflects light and creates a clear delineation between public and private without obscuring the expansive read from front to back of the unit.
To accommodate the client’s colorful aesthetic and collection of tchotchkes, the selection of new materials remained simple and desaturated, including superwhite walls, wide-plank oil finished white oak flooring and white lacquered cabinetry.
Material Used :
1. Flooring: European white oak engineered flooring by Heirloom Woods
2. Doors: Custom
3. Appliances: Subzero and Miele and Bosch
4. Plumbing Fixtures: California Faucets and Duravit
5. Interior Lighting: Lightolier, Cedar and Moss, onefortythree
6. Kitchen: Caesarstone countertops, custom distressed bronze and white lacquer cabinets
