Lush Colors in a Minimalist Brooklyn Heights Apartment RENOVATION

The natural light in our Grace Residence is always dramatic.

This 5th floor apartment is above the rooflines of most of the surrounding buildings. The rich colors chosen for the walls and ceilings act as a canvas for the natural sunlight, especially when the weather is moody and soft.

The project was a gut renovation of a one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn Heights, including interior design, furnishing, decoration, and a custom velvet sofa.

Originally the kitchen was in a cramped, windowless room near the apartment entrance, and one of the biggest puzzles was figuring out how to partially open the kitchen up to the living and dining spaces—maintaining a sense of separation, but with a curated visual connection.  There was plumbing in the original walls of the kitchen which couldn’t move, so we created a wide, symmetrical opening, and installed custom brass shelving into it.  A second doorway was opened towards the window, which allows natural light through, to create an enjoyable cooking space.

Above all, our client wanted a calm, quiet space where she could return home after a long day, relax, and read a book.

The owner is a teacher and an avid reader, so convenient book shelving and a writing nook were essential. She wanted everything to have a nice level of craftsmanship and attention to detail, and she was interested in using natural materials to create a space that feels simple yet elevated.

Conceptually, the apartment was imagined as two zones:

the sunny, south-facing daytime half, which we painted in an all-over warm taupe color, and the nighttime half, which is a luscious green. All the surfaces and elements in each room were painted in these colors– walls, ceilings, cabinetry– only a slight difference in sheen differentiates wall surface from woodwork, which helps to highlight the alignments and details. These moody tones create a calm atmosphere that feels both calming and full.

The windows in the living room have a splayed jamb detail, which makes the windows appear twice as large. Since the jam angles away from the window, sunlight is able to spill into the space all afternoon. Beneath the windows, caned millwork panels hide the radiators and the air conditioner.

The furnishings and light fixtures in the space were selected very carefully.

The finish palette was intentionally limited to cream, black, taupe and wood tones, to reduce the visual clutter and allow the wall color to be the star. Each space has a mixture of all these colors, from the lighting, rugs, case goods, etc.

we designed the velvet sofa to suite the space

It was upholstered in a lush velvet that complemented the room color perfectly. The piece was designed to look structured and elegant, but have soft cushioning and good lumbar support. As the main seating in the apartment of an avid reader, it was an essential piece.

There were a few alignments that were important: The sofa had to be a specific width, to keep this half of the L shaped room feeling centered. The arms and back of the sofa match the height of the window sill, so light could spill onto the cushions, highlighting the texture of the velvet. The cushions should look tidy, but still be very comfortable and supportive. The talented Pierre Atelier brought the piece to life.

FINISHES

Paint colors: Benjamin Moore Whispering Woods, Benjamin Moore Porch Swing, Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist
Kitchen countertops: Calacatta Caldia
Terrazzo: Concrete Collaborative Venice Large Alabaster with marble chips
Tile: Town and Country T-499, Horizon

HARDWARE

Sawkille Oval Drawer Pull
Bocci electrical outlets
Frama mirror

LIGHTING

Ladies and Gentlemen Studio: Myrna Pendant
Workstead: House Sconce
Noguchi Akari Floor Lamp
Atelier de Troupe: Dome Pendant in White
Menu Peek Table Lamp
Artemide Dioscuri
Allied Maker T2 Sconce
Noguchi Alari pendant
Apparatus: Trapeze 1: Surface

PLUMBING

Faucet: Vela D by MGS
Shower: California Faucets Rincon Bay faucet

FURNITURE

Sofa: custom designed by Shapeless Studio, brought to life by Pierre Atelier
Dining table: Gubi Epic Dining Table
Dining chairs: Siro+ Woodnotes Chair in black
Armadillo Agra Rug in Porcini, custom
Coffee Table: Kristina Dam Studio Curved Bench
End table: Bludot Note Side Table
Living Room Chair: Phillipe Malouin, Group Chair
Armadillo Palermo rug, in Bone
Lounge chair: Zara Home Faux Shearling Chair
Bed: Custom design by Shapeless Studio, fabricated by Armada NY