Houzz Tour: Tribeca Through and Through
Surrounding neighborhood elements and history inspire a New York loft's gut renovation
When architect Jane Kim first encountered this Tribeca loft, most of the traces of its roots were not exposed (the early 20th-century building was once an industrial warehouse). Her clients wanted to get that industrial feeling back, while keeping an open expansive feel and fitting in three full bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The loft was stripped back down to its raw elements, and spaces were designed to borrow light from other rooms and to transform from open to private. An interplay between indoor and outdoor architectural elements is a thread that runs throughout the space. "I think in the whole space there is a feeling of referencing the city outside and the industrial quality of Tribeca," Kim says. Here's a look at how she accomplished this.
Related: See More Modern NYC Lofts
Related: See More Modern NYC Lofts
In a previous renovation, most of the original industrial details were covered with paint and gypsum board. "The client's wish was to return the space to its original industrial feel and to strip the materials of all their layers of paint to expose its original state," Kim says.
The stripping included removing layers of paint from the brick, removing gypsum board from the columns and cleaning the cast iron that had been hidden underneath. The wood joists were stripped of paint and sealed. For the floors, "we installed a random width reclaimed oak floor that shows its age with nail holes and imperfections," Kim says.
Reclaimed barn wood, concrete and stainless steel were used in the kitchen to continue this aesthetic. In addition, a unique glass canopy inspired by the surrounding neighborhood hangs overhead, defining the kitchen space within the open floor plan.
"The canopy was designed as a way to reference the existing steel awnings that you can still find in the neighborhood," Kim says. "We documented the awnings that hang over the sidewalk in the neighborhood and interpreted a clean design for the kitchen space. The finish is blackened steel, and we used a frosted wire safety glass to give a complementary texture to the space."
The stainless steel kitchen cabinets are made by Alpes Inox, an Italian company. "All the pieces are free-standing, so installation was really easy," Kim says. "They also made the oven, sink and cooktop."
The stainless steel kitchen cabinets are made by Alpes Inox, an Italian company. "All the pieces are free-standing, so installation was really easy," Kim says. "They also made the oven, sink and cooktop."
A major industrial element in the space is the unique dining table. "It is a repurposed industrial mill table base from Get Back Inc. in Connecticut, and it still works!" Kim says. "It is beautifully restored; the wheel adjusts the table height just like it used to when it was used in heavy machinery applications." Get Back Inc. also restored the vintage Toledo industrial chairs you see at the kitchen island.
Salvaged materials extend from the floors to the table and up to the kitchen's counters and open shelves. "A lot of the materials were reclaimed or salvaged to enhance the authentic feel of the space," Kim says.
Regarding the open shelving, Kim says, "It was a great way to highlight the brick on the walls. For the owner, it was also an issue of convenience to have everything out in the open."
Tip: Using single color dishes and cups with open shelving helps to make the area look clean and interesting.
Regarding the open shelving, Kim says, "It was a great way to highlight the brick on the walls. For the owner, it was also an issue of convenience to have everything out in the open."
Tip: Using single color dishes and cups with open shelving helps to make the area look clean and interesting.
The theme of using outdoor street architecture indoors carries through to the bedroom space, where the hanging globe pendants recall vintage street lamp design. In this image we see the clear view through the bedroom and out its south-facing windows. "When not entertaining, the owner can feel like the bedroom flows into the main living space without obstruction," Kim says. The space can be closed off via pocket doors when privacy is desired.
Elements from the kitchen canopy were repeated in these ten foot tall blackened steel and glass pocket doors, which separate the master bedroom from the main living space. "The glass here is also a frosted wire glass to give an interesting shadow and texture," Kim says. "When the doors are pushed into the wall pocket, the unit has full north and south exposures. In New York, we're always conscious of southern exposures in homes so we can maximize the light." Even when the doors are closed, light moves through from the master bedroom to the main living space.
"There was a conscious effort to highlight all the great materials in the space, like the brick and cast iron, so when we were working with painted surfaces, we tried to keep them as simple as possible," Kim says. A clever, functional solution keeps the master bedroom streamlined and the focus on the details — a niche behind the bed. "The niche was a nice way to provide light for reading above the platform bed and also to create an area to display artwork in the future," Kim says.
Reclaimed wood carries through from the main space. "The contractor, Bulson Management, built the bed for us of the same reclaimed wood we used in the kitchen," says Kim. All of the light switches and outlets were integrated into the side of the bed itself to keep the wall as clean as possible.
Reclaimed wood carries through from the main space. "The contractor, Bulson Management, built the bed for us of the same reclaimed wood we used in the kitchen," says Kim. All of the light switches and outlets were integrated into the side of the bed itself to keep the wall as clean as possible.
Beyond more glass and steel doors, a long master bathroom has an existing window at the far end, which is on an axis with the bed and creates an exaggerated sense of depth. "We ended up putting the sink there so that we could eventually put a round mirror over the window to have a nice moment of depth in the space," Kim says. "The light fixtures also reinforce this axis in both of the spaces."
Another vintage Toledo chair made its way into this bathroom, enhancing the continuity of the aesthetic throughout the entire loft.
Another vintage Toledo chair made its way into this bathroom, enhancing the continuity of the aesthetic throughout the entire loft.
The satin nickel bathtub, the vanity in the master bath and the majority of other fixtures, like towel bars and lights, are from Urban Archaeology.
Upon entering the long bathroom, the width expands due to the use of clear glass around the shower stall. This keeps things open and light.
Part of the fun of stripping everything down to its original condition was unexpected discoveries. "You can see a brick arch on one of the walls of the master bath shower," Kim points out. "We were really excited when we discovered that after taking down the gypsum board on that wall."
The rest of the master bath shower is lined with reclaimed marble slabs found at Olde Good Things in Pennsylvania.
Part of the fun of stripping everything down to its original condition was unexpected discoveries. "You can see a brick arch on one of the walls of the master bath shower," Kim points out. "We were really excited when we discovered that after taking down the gypsum board on that wall."
The rest of the master bath shower is lined with reclaimed marble slabs found at Olde Good Things in Pennsylvania.
More southern light streams through the window in this second bathroom, where the tub and shower share space in the same tiled area.
The ultimate exterior element used inside this loft is in the powder room. It is a reclaimed architectural copper piece, salvaged from a building in upstate New York. Kim had extra copper pieces fabricated to extend the copper over the entire wall. "Because the mirror is at the scale of architecture and is of the scale of an old window opening, you really get the feeling like you're looking into another room when you stand in front of it," Kim says. More reclaimed wood forms a simple countertop and the mirror was centered at eye level.
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