Encore!

Encore, Tribeca

It’s the most wonderful thing to have longtime clients. I was beyond thrilled to have the opportunity this year to help past clients make some alterations to their home, which I had originally helped them complete in 2013.

The clients originally came to me with the idea to finish what we had started: really make the entry hall fabulous, which we hadn’t fully furnished previously. One thing led to another, and pretty soon an idea for “just a couple of tweaks” led to us all sitting there one night scheming a full kitchen renovation.

We had furnished the living room, study and bedrooms in 2013, but this time around, we embarked on some major construction.

We identified a way to open up the apartment and create a dining alcove (above). While this involved moving a gas pipe (and some major headaches), the end result rendered a dynamism the apartment didn’t previously possess. The space now flows effortlessly from front door to dining area to living room with a wonderful sense of openness.

We revised the kitchen with a smaller and better-placed kitchen island to increase the living room size, and increased storage above the sink. The wood finish we custom-designed for the kitchen contrasts the existing white lacquer and serves to bring the living room and kitchen together. The island, being wood, feels more like a piece of furniture than a large kitchen piece plopped in the middle of the living room.

We also fulfilled the client’s original wish of a built in cabinet in the entry hall. The family’s toys and other necessary items are stored behind this sleek exterior.

Of course, in the end, we did also “finish” the entry. The silk wallpaper has just enough understated shimmer to provide a quiet, sophisticated glow, day or night, and the rug gives the hall some shape and continuity.

This project was a joy to create and remains one of my favorites.

In good design,
Brooke