Design Practice

Boasting views of the Museum of Natural History and Central Park, the Beaux Arts and French Renaissance style building built in 1900 was once home to a luxury hotel. Over the years multiple hotel rooms were combined into the larger apartment residences that exist today. The resulting units, while large in size, lacked the continuity of a single formed space. StudioLAB was presented with the challenge of re-designing the space to fit a modern family’s lifestyle today with the flexibility to adjust as they evolve into their tomorrow. Thus, the existing configuration was completely abandoned with new programmatic elements being relocated in each and every corner of the space. For clients that are big wine connoisseurs, the focal point of entry and circulation lies in a 400 bottle, custom built, blackened steel and glass, temperature controlled wine cabinet. The once enclosed living room was demolished to create one main entertaining space that includes a new dining area and open kitchen. Hafele bi-folding pocket door slides were used in the Living room wall unit to conceal the television, bar and display shelves when not in use. Posing as kitchen cabinetry, a hidden integrated door opens to reveal a guest bedroom with an en suite bathroom. Down the hallway of wide plank ebony stained walnut flooring, a compact powder room was built to house an original Paul Villinski installation of small butterflies cut from recycled aluminum cans, entitled Mistral. Continuing down the hall, and through one of the walnut veneered doors, is the shared kids bedroom where a custom-built bunk bed with integrated storage steps and desk was designed to allow for play space and a reading corner. The kids bathroom across the hall is decorated with custom Lego inspired hand cast concrete tiles and integrated pull-out footstools residing underneath the floating vanity. The master suite features a bio-ethanol fireplace wrapped in blackened steel and integrated into the Tabu veneered built-in. The spacious walk-in closet serves several purposes, which include housing the apartment’s new central HVAC system as well as a sleeping spot for the family’s dog. An integrated URC control system paired with Lutron Radio RA lighting keypads were installed to control the AV, HVAC, lighting and solar shades all by the use of smartphones.

Southwest one-story stucco exterior home photo in Salt Lake City with a metal roof

Photography by Oliver Irwin
Minimalist kitchen photo in Seattle

Trendy blue tile gray floor and double-sink bathroom photo in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, an undermount tub, an undermount sink, white countertops and a floating vanity

Elegant kids' white tile and mosaic tile mosaic tile floor bathroom photo in Phoenix with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets and white cabinets

Small and quaint eating area. Photography by Mike Schwartz.
Dining room - contemporary dining room idea in Chicago

Design: Monica Fairbairn Photo: Daniel Nystedt

Entryway - mid-sized craftsman porcelain tile and gray floor entryway idea in Chicago with blue walls and a white front door

Shiplap Fireplace
Example of a mid-sized transitional open concept light wood floor, multicolored floor and vaulted ceiling living room design in Atlanta with white walls, a standard fireplace and a shiplap fireplace

Inspiration for a modern kitchen remodel in Minneapolis

Inspiration for a large coastal formal and enclosed dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and no tv

Enclosed kitchen - large transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen idea in New Orleans with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Example of a mid-sized trendy dark wood floor and brown floor entryway design in Miami with beige walls and a glass front door

Example of a tuscan dining room design in Los Angeles

Martin King Photography
Example of a large beach style light wood floor kitchen design in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Example of a transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Example of a large classic brick floor and red floor sunroom design in Other with a standard ceiling and no fireplace

Adding legs to this island really makes it feel like a piece of furniture and the toe kick lights add a fun unique element.
Large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Exterior of our house on Cherokee. We did a major renovation in 2008-2009 and have been doing incremental improvements ever since. The house was built in 1888. All photos taken by Chris Brown, my husband.