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3. Tidy up the hallway. Hallways tend to get clogged up with a mountain of kicked-off school shoes, trainers and pumps, making a serious mess of our entrances. This straightforward solution requires investing in a slim shoe storage unit (which you can pick up at lots of big retailers these days). Then tailor the unit to your space by having a cabinet built around it, with doors you can shut to hide the entire stash.
Photos by Christian GaribaldiLiving Room at a GlanceWho lives here: Designer Jennifer Connell and her husband, ShaneLocation: Soho neighborhood of New York CitySize: 800 square feet (74.3 square meters)The backstory: Soon-to-be empty nesters Jennifer and Shane Connell wanted to downsize to a cozy and fun loft in New York City. “We’d been preparing for all of our children leaving,” Jennifer says. “We live in New Jersey. It’s a beautiful home but we wanted something different.” They wanted theater, art, nightlife and entertainment options instead of a local community that shut down at 9:30 p.m.Goals: The couple wanted a loft that could host and seat all of their family and friends. That’s the main reason they were moving to the city, and that desire dictated all of their decisions. Jennifer, who runs her own design company, knew that to get ample entertaining space out of the loft, they would need to furnish it intentionally. “I consider the functionality of every piece of furniture, every niche and entranceway, and every accessory down to the most minute of details,” she says, “including the teapot on the stove.”Style: The elevator opens onto the loft, where you’re greeted with a ...
3. Compact Chopping StationDesigners: Marina Rubina (architect) and Giedre Miller (interior designer)Location: Princeton, New Jersey Size: 216 square feet (20 square meters); about 12 by 18 feet (3.6 by 5.4 meters)Homeowners’ request: For this new house, the owners wanted a family-friendly kitchen with a comfortable seating area. They “never found sitting at a taller island comfortable enough,” architect Marina Rubina says. “At the same time, cooking at an island was also important.”Island alternative: Rubina separated the two functions of a typical island in this kitchen. The compact “working” island has a butcher block countertop and a small sink for washing vegetables. The side facing the range has large drawers for pots and pans. Meanwhile, eating and socializing happen at the lower table with the bench. “This makes for much more comfortable, cozy and relaxing seating,” Rubina says.
Other special features: Skylights. Bamboo floors. Open shelving. Custom cabinets. “The homeowners are both commercial airline pilots and enjoy working in small spaces, and they wanted their kitchen to reflect that,” Fagerland says. “Built-in appliances and storage, recessed can lights and versatile surfaces were key to developing that feel.” Designer secret: “Typically we don’t use skylights in our designs, as they can be difficult for the homeowner to maintain and can cause problems in our harsh coastal environment,” Fagerland says. “However, in a single story with low ceiling heights, these will be accessible for cleaning and maintenance. They were the key to making an otherwise small room feel much larger. The open shelving compounds on that open-air concept for the space.”“Uh-oh” moment: “The homeowner had already installed some nice bamboo flooring throughout the cabin, but patching and extending that flooring into the kitchen proved to be quite challenging,” Fagerland says. Appliances: Bosch; countertops: Caesarstone; porcelain tile: custom, via Bergerson Tile & Cabinets; custom-built cabinetry: Bo Olson of Alpine Woodworks; photographer: Don Frank PhotographySee more of ...
A vertical pocket planter hangs on the other side of the wall.
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