An important part of the renovation was creating a first impression that wowed. "The previous entryway was a contorted, tight vestibule with odd angles," says Howell. "By reconfiguring the layout, we were able to open it up and reveal the diagonal views all the way through to the light from the windows."
This first impression includes bronze and walnut via the table and mirror, elements that repeat throughout the space. "My client carried this console table all the way home from the BDDW showroom," says Howell, laughing. "That's not something you see every day in New York City."
Captain's mirror: BDDW; table: Chall Hall Table, BDDW
by David Howell Design This first impression includes bronze and walnut via the table and mirror, elements that repeat throughout the space. "My client carried this console table all the way home from the BDDW showroom," says Howell, laughing. "That's not something you see every day in New York City."
Captain's mirror: BDDW; table: Chall Hall Table, BDDW
The original steel beams, exposed joists and masonry walls reflect the history of the building, which was two commercial warehouses in its former life. "We were respectful of the beauty of what was already there," says Howell. "We just made it more opulent and made it make more sense spatially."
The aforementioned original flooring was engineered and honey colored; Howell replaced it with a prefinished ebonized walnut.
by David Howell Design The aforementioned original flooring was engineered and honey colored; Howell replaced it with a prefinished ebonized walnut.
Heading toward the large steel windows from the entry, one passes by the kitchen.
"This pendant light from Karkula gives off a warm orange glow and draws people to want to hang out in this space," says Howell. The large scale is a great fit for the vast loft and the kitchen area.
by David Howell Design "This pendant light from Karkula gives off a warm orange glow and draws people to want to hang out in this space," says Howell. The large scale is a great fit for the vast loft and the kitchen area.
Howell reconfigured and expanded the kitchen. "The previous kitchen occupied the corner where the high cabinets are now," Howell says. "A door into the client's master bedroom completely cut off the space; it was right where the sink is."
by David Howell Design
Howell wanted the kitchen to be lighter than the floors but not white. Thus, he chose oak cabinets with a custom stain that is somewhere in the middle. The hardware provides strong, straight lines that honor the original warehouse elements of the loft and the opulent feel of the redesign.
Also to keep the kitchen light, upper cabinets weren't used all around. Howell clustered the high cabinets and refrigerator in the corner, freeing up space to leave the back kitchen wall as open and light as possible. A simple ledge follows a line created by the vent hood. The backsplash is the same Caesarstone as the countertops, which lends continuity and reflects the light.
by David Howell Design Also to keep the kitchen light, upper cabinets weren't used all around. Howell clustered the high cabinets and refrigerator in the corner, freeing up space to leave the back kitchen wall as open and light as possible. A simple ledge follows a line created by the vent hood. The backsplash is the same Caesarstone as the countertops, which lends continuity and reflects the light.
In the dining room, an oval table from BDDW breaks up all the rectangles. The chairs are vintage, and the client found the glass teardrop chandelier during a trip to Los Angeles.
The former fireplace was a very small corner unit. Howell enlarged it and wrapped the corner walls in a stunning Chinese quartzite to make the fireplace fit the scale of the loft.
by David Howell Design The former fireplace was a very small corner unit. Howell enlarged it and wrapped the corner walls in a stunning Chinese quartzite to make the fireplace fit the scale of the loft.
Opposite the dining room, a silk rug the client bought in the Far East defines the living room area, and its texture and color palettes tie the textiles and metallic pieces together.
The exposed joists provide a steady rhythm that works well with the rectilinear furnishings. Drapery rods are hidden between the joists, allowing the drapes to flow from floor to ceiling, and white sheers between the windows trick the eye into seeing a wall of light.
by David Howell Design
The exposed joists provide a steady rhythm that works well with the rectilinear furnishings. Drapery rods are hidden between the joists, allowing the drapes to flow from floor to ceiling, and white sheers between the windows trick the eye into seeing a wall of light.
A sculptural bronze side table picks up on other bronze pieces used throughout the home; a large coffee table stands up to the scale of the large sectional and wide-open space.
by David Howell Design
A second Far East silk area rug grounds the rectangular bedroom. Wall-mounted nightstands with ebonized handles from BDDW float over the floor so as not to interrupt the rug and exposed border of walnut flooring.
by David Howell Design
Also floating in the master bedroom is this built-in shelf unit, which tucks in right beneath the soffit and doesn't clunk up the room's layout. It provides much-needed storage and display space without interrupting the rectangular shape of the room and the rug.
by David Howell Design
The shower in the original master bathroom was so large that it dominated the room and threw off the entire configuration. "There was a poor hierarchy of spaces in here," Howell says. He created an oversize bathroom that felt right to his tall client, including high counters, a large bathtub and a raised ceiling. "Sometimes you need to grab extra space vertically ... extra inches overhead are really important for him," he says.
by David Howell Design
Both Howell and his client hail from New Zealand and were familiar with the Sydney sandstone aesthetic seen here. "These tiles are a porcelain version of Sydney sandstone," Howell says. The tile on the floors is a more abrasive, slipproof version of the tile on the walls. The simple color palette lends a relaxing feel.
The countertops and bathtub surround are natural stone. The edge of the bathtub surround serves as a shower bench; clear glass lends continuity and keeps the space feeling as large as possible. Howell also planned the convenient niches made of matching stone.
by David Howell Design
The countertops and bathtub surround are natural stone. The edge of the bathtub surround serves as a shower bench; clear glass lends continuity and keeps the space feeling as large as possible. Howell also planned the convenient niches made of matching stone.
The relaxing hues of the master bath were not required in the powder room. Opening the door reveals a surprise: bright red Florence Broadhurst wallpaper on the walls and ceiling. A floating vanity lets the floor extend uninterrupted all the way to the wall.
by David Howell Design
Stacked stone keeps the lively print from overwhelming the space and adds a contrasting rough texture.
"My client had never renovated a space before, but he had such a great time renovating this place that he's caught the bug; he's already eager to renovate another space," Howell says. It sounds like he'll be extending his new Saturday showroom browsing routine indefinitely.
by David Howell Design "My client had never renovated a space before, but he had such a great time renovating this place that he's caught the bug; he's already eager to renovate another space," Howell says. It sounds like he'll be extending his new Saturday showroom browsing routine indefinitely.
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Love the way the tub base & shower are integrated, providing seating in the latter!
What is used to hang the mirror? Is it a type of black cable?