West 12th Street Residence

The renovation of this stately pre-war unit in the Greenwich Village Historic District sought to reclaim the former glamour and sleekness of its early 20th century design. Where possible, many elements were sensitively restored, including uncovering architectural beams to articulate ceiling volumes and delicately stripping years of old paint from the original wood-burning fireplace, paneled doors and hollow metal frames. Referencing 1940’s techniques, the new white oak flooring was finished with a clear matte natural wax to allow the warmth of the grain to come through. In the kitchen, the awkward layout was reconfigured to be a fully-functional modern space. A combination of dark-stained lower cabinets, off-white upper cabinets and variable depth pearlescent tile adds drama and acts to reflect light from the west-facing windows. Numerous custom details were thoughtfully executed, such as blackened steel appliance pulls, open display shelving and a hidden microwave ventilation hood above the range to maintain simple, clean lines. The fully renovated bathroom contains subtle Art Deco touches, featuring burnished brass finishes, a classic wash basin with exposed plumbing, a custom recessed medicine cabinet with sliding doors and a fluted glass shower panel to provide extra privacy and filtered light. Additional clever storage ideas captured every useable inch of the small space including a full-length shelf extending from medicine cabinet into the shower stall, a wrap-around corner towel bar and a discrete flush wood linen closet set behind the entry door.