NEUTRAL TEXTURES IN A RENOVATED SOHO LOFT

The Greene Street Loft is situated in a classic SoHo loft building in the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District.  Originally designed by architect Alfred Zucker in 1886 to use as a warehouse, the building today houses loft apartments with soaring full-height windows and the original cast iron structural columns, which are featured prominently in the main living spaces of this apartment. Every detail was considered to maintain the feel of the authentic New York artists' loft while providing modern amenities and convenient storage.

The space had not been renovated in over 40 years when purchased by the current owner, and was in dire need of updating. The main goal of the renovation included completely reimagining the space and all the finishes, while celebrating the textures and history of this classic New York loft apartment. The double-height living space is the heart of the apartment, with a warm grey paint finish and natural wood and stone elements throughout.

The exposed brick perimeter walls were painted with a natural limewash paint, to neutralize the color and make the space feel clean and bright, while allowing the brick to breathe. Original wood structural elements, like the heavy-duty lintels above the windows and the central beam supporting the ceiling, were also left exposed, which ties in with the new wooden elements in the apartment. The flooring is the original wide-plank cedar that was used for the original warehouse, and has been painted with a heavy-duty paint intended for boat hulls.

Originally there were two disconnected lofted areas around the perimeter of the apartment, which were taken down and replaced with one consolidated loft above the primary bathroom, which houses a guest bedroom and bathroom. 

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 when needed.  The walls of the primary bedroom were painted a very dark taupe to create a moody, restful space for sleeping.

The kitchen cabinetry is built into the wall beneath the loft, and fitted with panel-ready appliances, painted to match the walls, which allows the kitchen to recede into the background. This means the main living space isn’t dominated with kitchen cabinetry, which can sometimes happen in open-concept apartments. The island, situated between the two cast iron structural columns, has oak cabinetry matching the loft’s windows above.

The finishes in the bathroom were selected carefully to reflect the other design choices in the space, while adding some depth and texture. The floor tile is dark burgundy zellige, which has a handmade texture and proportion similar to the painted exposed brick in the main space. A lively marble was chosen for the vanity that adds a bit of color to the space.

The furnishings in the apartment were all selected to reinforce the handmade textures and neutral colors in the apartment, and have created an elegant, yet casual home.