« Surprise! Brooklyn Foreclosure Numbers Relatively Benign Bay Ridge Gets Green Market »

September 30, 2008

Interiors: Sleek and Minimal on Sterling

Welcome to our new interiors feature. The week, the transformation of a featureless 800-square-foot two-bedroom on Sterling Place into a sleek, minimalist and comfortable place for two architects and their burgeoning family. Got a project you'd like us to publish? Send us some photos and a note.
Leone Design Studio describes the layout of their apartment as a "box with a tail," re-conceived as a loft-like living area: kitchen, living/dining area and office nook wrapping a flexible space defined by open bookshelves that maximize sunlight. The flex space is used as a sleeping room, playroom and den, with Japanese futons stored in a specially designed nook. The palette is simple and bright: white acrylic for the bathroom door and white lacquer for the cabinetry. Oak floors were stained a dark walnut, to set off the white. The ceiling over the entry hall was dropped make main living space ceilings feel higher.

More from Leone: "The bookshelves were made by a carpenter we met while watching a Yankees game at Bar Minnow (now closed), in Park Slope. The kitchen cabinets are IKEA, but we used a local kitchen shop to build the countertop and other metalwork. Our biggest obstacle was trying to accommodate everything we thought would accompany a child into our lives, such as toy storage and playspace, a comfortable place for family members to stay when visiting, and a place to work from home on occasion. Our son Gabriel was born in July, and the apartment is functioning perfectly. Our dressing room was turned into the perfect size nursery, close enough to our bedroom so we can hear him when he cries. The flex-space functions as a playroom by day, a TV room at night, and a guest room when his grandparents visit. And we have a sleek living space free of kiddie-clutter to enjoy when he is asleep.




Posted by lisa at 10:31 AM | Comments (21)
Categories: Interiors

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/6413

Comments

One pair of shoes for an entire burgeoning family? That IS minimalist.

Posted by: MR at September 30, 2008 10:39 AM

nicely done

Posted by: Whoops Johnny at September 30, 2008 10:45 AM

Nice, although it looks more like the lounge area of a Swedish corporation than an American home. This kind of uncluttered look is impossible to maintain with children. They don't get the "less is more" thing. At all.
For singles, this is far superior to the dirty, airless walkups with "found" furniture and dirty laundry decor, which I think is more or less the norm in this City.

Posted by: sam at September 30, 2008 11:09 AM

who makes the lighting fixture above the dining table?
thanks

Posted by: winthropst at September 30, 2008 11:12 AM

Pretty amazing use of space I would have to say. Well laid out and thoughtfully designed. Perhaps a little spare for my sensibility decor-wise but still a really nicely done apt.

Posted by: wasder at September 30, 2008 11:14 AM

Very nice. I like what they've done. I think the mass bookcase allows for some clutter. The open low shelves will lend themselves nicely to toy storage in bins.

Is there also a floor plan to share? I'm curious to see what space they've left for bedrooms.

Posted by: Bessie at September 30, 2008 11:29 AM

yea it does not look like an American home cause it actually has some taste and looks like it was designed by an professional instead of by some nitwit contractor. Uncluttered? Um maybe, but only cause it was staged for the photos.

Posted by: billyboomer at September 30, 2008 11:33 AM

Place needs a shot of love: More artwork, more "stuff," more evidence that someone actually lives here. This is coming from a minimalist...

Posted by: Fjorder at September 30, 2008 11:44 AM

this is beautiful, and i am jealous. a fine testament to the skills and efforts of the designers. is it even possible for a non-rich person to afford this quality of design? every time i see something this clever, it's either self-designed by architect owners (or architect best friends or something), or a multi-million dollar project. the problem seems to be that paid designers and architects are often less willing to work with the kind of compromises on materials (like ikea cabinets) or layout or to work to find innovative solutions or designs that this space and budget might require. i understand the reasons why not, but it's frustrating for us talentless plebes!

Posted by: i disagree at September 30, 2008 11:48 AM

I like American style. This sort of neo-Bauhaus decor is cute too but a stray toy, or doggie dish, or kitty scratch pole, would ruin the whole look. That makes it less than practical for real life, although it makes for a great staged photo.
What's that on the wall? round placemats? Dunno.

Posted by: sam at September 30, 2008 11:57 AM

This is absolutely great. A little too minimalist for my tastes, but I can admire good design, both in materials and space. Also shows that you don't have to spend a ton of money to look good...I like the IKEA cabinets (great value for money) with more high-end counters and that work table, though that could have more storage.

And it's so bright! No dark wood "details," hooray.

I have the same dining chairs and love their looks but they are not too relaxing and a good way to curtail long dinner-time arguments.

They may get a little tired of rolling up the futons every morning though. Is there really no separate bedroom?

Posted by: cmu at September 30, 2008 12:05 PM

Nice! Where did you get the acrylic bathroom doors and what made you choose them?

Posted by: gila at September 30, 2008 12:08 PM

lighting is designed by david weeks: http://www.davidweeksstudio.com/lighting.html
great isn't it.

Posted by: herenow at September 30, 2008 12:13 PM

David Weeks is a friend of mine and a terrific guy with fantastic designs. His country home was just featured in Cookie Magazine. Check it out.

http://www.cookiemag.com/homefront/decor/2008/08/country_house

Posted by: Biff Champion at September 30, 2008 12:26 PM

love it. for me, it's about 1000 square feet too small with a kid tho. once ours was 1 1/2 we fled 1300 sq feet. to go up to 2000 in fact.

for the record, i live like this picture for the most part. my place is immaculate.(although this mid century thing is not my aesthetic), so it's not far fetched for me. And, to back up billyboomer, i have a swedish friend who is not an architect or decorator (has a husband and kid), and keeps her place is this clean and minimalist as well. agree that many americans just accumulate too much and don't throw things away and are far too comfortable living with loads of clutter and mess.

Posted by: wine lover at September 30, 2008 1:07 PM

Wine Lover-

If you really have a toddler and live like these pictures then you are my hero. As is your child.

Posted by: MR at September 30, 2008 1:52 PM

Books in the kitchen? I hope they're cookbooks. But beautiful.

Posted by: denton at September 30, 2008 2:26 PM

Everyone with a messy disaster of a home or apartment looks at these pictures and thinks ...."ahhhhh".
But those of us with beautiful, comfortable homes are not as thrilled at the anonymous, almost sterile look of something like this. Corporate lounge is exactly right. And would you really want to eat lunch on those stools? I mean, look at them! And can you just imagine what a seven-year old with a normal imagination could figure out to do with a coffee table with giant tonka wheels?


Posted by: Inigo at September 30, 2008 4:14 PM

It is not that minimalist. Why the need for people to be so critical? Many a "comfortable" home can also seem "anonymous" until you know the people who live there.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at September 30, 2008 10:15 PM

are you kidding me? If you walk into a home that looks like this, I mean a private, real-life home, your first thought would be: these people are from Vremulac...it is in France.
N'est-ce pas?


Posted by: Inigo at September 30, 2008 10:54 PM

Look. It's fine but not very imaginative. DWR, drywall and plywood...not to mention white paint...save the day.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at October 1, 2008 6:17 PM

Post a comment

Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.

Latest Restaurant Additions