With tinted white walls, natural plank floors, and uncomplicated furnishings this flat becomes a retreat from the clamor of New York’s streets. The renovation expanded the single bedroom apartment, which was the rear half of the building’s third floor, to occupy the entire floor. Challenged with designing a sanctuary within a tourist center of New York, inspiration came from Scandinavia minimalism and Japanese interconnectedness.
Using a continuity of materials, focal points for each room are powerful while being understated. In addition to maintaining the 12-foot high ceilings and original crown molding, dating back to 1846, we kept the same principles of the former residence by connecting utilitarian and aesthetic elements of the design. This manifested as a centralized ‘cube’ that provides the amenities and storage required by each room adjacent to it. Each of the faces serves one of the three defined spaces; the living and dining area, the bedroom and office, and the kitchen.
The cube’s simple white panels and recessed pulls are as ubiquitous to each room as the Douglas Fir plank floors to provide a simple continuity that encourages tranquility in the resident’s otherwise enterprising life. To increase quietude, the street-facing living and dining room has a large high pile rug and is lined with curtains to reduce the murmur of the Flatiron District.
With a modest palette of white, tan, and grays we are able to highlight key elements in each room without any over-embellishment. As each space is comprised of a loose collection of furniture, we elected to use warmer oak and walnut furniture to contrast the whitewashed wood floors and avoid the distraction of entirely foreign material.
Throughout the process, the client expressed the need to be able to wind down after long and demanding days. As the owner of small businesses, the entrepreneur lifestyle requires constant ingenuity that becomes very taxing. The simple interiors and efficiently organized space allow them to avoid unwanted distractions and focus on recovering physically and mentally from a day’s challenges. The resulting is a home whose cornerstones are wellness and serenity.
Material Used :
1. HenryBuilt - Custom Kitchen Millwork
2. DWR - Furniture - Eames LCW, Crosshatch Chair, Nelson Platform Bench, Tuck Sleeper Sofa
3. Blu Dot - Furniture - Woodrow King, Turn Stool
4. Gus Modern - Furniture - Principal Chair
5. Ethnicraft - Dining Furniture - Bok Dining Table, Bok Dining Chairs
6. Hem - Dune Rug, 12811
7. Artifox - Desk 02
8. West Elm - Monroe 80" Sofa
9. Hawa - Pivot Swing Door Hinge, Concepta 40
10. Soss - Invisible Hinges, Model 220AS
11. Valli & Valli - Diviera Door Handle, Serie 1049
12. Runtal Radiators - Wall Panel Radiator, VLX49/49
13. Lucifer Lighting - Series 2 Down Lights, 2SW1WH / 2SD1WH
14. Gaggenau - Kitchen Appliances - Downdraft Vetilation, AL400700
15. Gaggenau - Kitchen Appliances - Vario Gas Cooktop, VG264
16. MechoShades - Window Treatment - Electroshade, Custom Model
17. Dinesen Floors
18. Douglas Wide Plank flooring
Software
1. AutoCAD LT 2017 - Drafting + Documentation
2. Rhino 6 - 3D Modeling + 3D Visualization
3. VRAY - Rendering + 3D Visualization
