Gramercy Pied à Terre - AKA Insight

THE STORY

THE CHALLENGE: This 450 SF studio apartment in the fashionable Gramercy NYC neighborhood was small! The charming and large casement window was advantageous but only visible from half the apartment. There was insufficient closet space and outdated finishes. All of the solutions needed to be eco-friendly, cost-sensitive, and reuse what we could.

THE CLIENT: A chic bi-coastal businesswoman with a passion for art sought a Manhattan pied-à-terre. She craved a space that exuded comfort, felt like home, and allowed for seamless entertaining during her frequent visits to the city.

THE TRANSFORMATION: This 450sf studio acts bigger than it is. We maximized space and light and eliminated unnecessary elements. The large window now offers city views from every corner. We uncluttered the Kitchen, reused the cabinets, and moved everything below the counter. We carefully selected furniture to accommodate entertaining guests, and intimate dinners for two. We devised a spacious closet with a dressing room experience, a smart night-time configuration, and under-bed storage. Some new bathroom finishes and new art lighting elevated the studio to match its posh surroundings.

Read Allegra’s design insights about this project in our blog post

GOLD WINNER Houzee Awards 2024: Compact Living Design – Interior Category.

HONORABLE MENTION BLT Design Awards 2023: Interior Design / Residential Category.

BEFORE Built-in cabinetry blocks the view of 2 windows and divides the space.

AFTER The whole apartment is now visible upon entering; each element draws the visitor through the space toward a light-filled sitting room with a classically proportioned casement window.

The dining table opens to seats 4-6; the interior shade separates the sleeping nook from the more public spaces.

Continuous countertops integrate the kitchen with the living area. The Furnishings gracefully adapt to a gathering, a sleepover, or time alone.

To make the apartment feel more extensive, we removed an extraneous partition, soﬃt, and cabinet to make the space more expansive.

This minimalist kitchen integrates into the main entertaining space with full amenity appliances below the counter.

Empty room entrance with white walls, dark hardwood floors, and grey structural column.

A cozy, curtained sleeping alcove white with red accents on the bedding. A small painting and light slot personalize the space. A built-in dresser and a wide closet are on the far side.

BEFORE Looking toward the front door.

AFTER The floor area is maximized with customized storage, and the bed is tucked into a nook under a window for fresh air.

The second layer of doors reveals 15 linear feet of multilevel hanging and over 30 linear feet of shoe storage!

The bathroom was “re-skinned” with new tile over the bright red mosaic to create a calm experience. We retained All other elements with the combined intention of saving money and reducing construction waste.

The daybed is decorative and inviting during the day.

It transforms into a calm sleeping alcove at night.