Credits
From Shadow Architects
When friends of Shadow Architect’s Principal Larry Cohn purchased the top-floor apartment of an old townhouse in Clinton Hill, they contacted the firm to guide them through renovating the kitchen and bathroom spaces. Like many former townhouses converted into single floor apartments, the original renovation had a lot of the original townhouse details removed and had some awkward moments, mixing different design eras and budgets. Working with the new owners, Shadow Architects looked to accentuate the good bones of the space and provide a fresh yet contextual design for the home and its current use.
For the kitchen, open to the adjacent living room and connected to the apartment’s large outdoor space, the owners were looking for an eye-catching, classic appeal that would also be a cooking workhorse. The relationship of the range, fridge, and sink is textbook perfect, but given the small footprint of the room (a NYC scale of 75 sq. ft.), the team went further with the design to fully optimize the layout. After some early investigation, they were able to remove a defunct building shaft and unify the three main elevations of the room with a continuous countertop, interrupted only by the star of the show, a new LaCanche Range.
Flanking the range, tall glass-fronted cabinets set at the back of the counters on one side allow easy access and visibility to small appliances and specialized cookware, and on the opposite side of the room, adjacent to the sink and dishwasher, millwork doors conceal a compact combined washer-dryer unit (minimal slots routed into the side of the millwork provide air circulation to the appliance). To maximize natural light in the room, the range elevation is free of closed cabinetry, and open shelves provide a place for display and easy access to day-to-day goods. Taking cues from a built-in hall linen closet presumed to be original to the townhouse, the cabinetry has traditional construction and is hand painted, with the owners selecting a warm-toned green color. The renovated room delivers with good storage, a grand range, light-filled countertop work areas, and renewed charm.
The hall linen closet is directly opposite the newly renovated bathroom. Like the kitchen, the room has similarly tight quarters, but with a skylight overhead, it is drenched in light. A pedestal sink from Waterworks and a frameless glass shower enclosure keep the space from feeling crowded, and Clé Moroccan Zellige tiles create a full-height warm backdrop. The variation of each tile gently reflects the light from above.
The owners are furnishing the rest of the apartment bit by bit, which is often used for entertaining. The plantings on the outdoor terrace are flourishing, and meals often include home-grown herbs and veggies. The renovation feels both elevated and fully comfortable, bringing a natural charm to the home.