Bedford-Stuyvesant Apartment

Small home renovation for a family of four

A single-floor apartment for a young family with not a lot of budget but the desire to do the renovation work themselves.

Finding ways to use affordable, readily-available materials was crucial for this client, along with maintaining plumbing
and structural elements in their existing locations to avoid unnecessary costs.

Strategic cost decisions were made throughout: simple white IKEA kitchen cabinets were dressed up with an off-cut piece of Carrara marble countertop; simple white subway tile was selected for the kitchen backsplash; and the largest format affordable natural material was selected for the floor – grey, minimally cleft Slate stone.

“Studio Officina made our home so beautiful. Every day we feel so happy to live in this space.”

Emily

A non-conventional but inexpensive wall finish was used in the bathroom – clear-coated furniture-grade plywood panels for both walls and ceilings.

A simple grey-painted porcelain socket light sits above the utilitarian wall-hung sink.

Free-standing off-the-shelf IKEA closets were built into niches to create the appearance of custom millwork. Leftover space was grabbed for bookshelves.

Dashes of color are introduced throughout via mirror frames and industrial-style lamp fixtures. A backdrop of white-painted walls allows wall-hung artwork to stand out.

An old brick fireplace was exposed and stripped of plaster, adding natural texture to the living room.

The existing pre-finished cheap wood flooring was left in place but sanded and stained black to conceal and neutralize its poor quality grain.

Studio Officina Architecture PLLC

studio@studioofficina.com

196 MacDonough Street

Brooklyn NY 11216

We are a small, friendly Brooklyn-based architecture and design studio. We are dedicated to working closely with our clients to create buildings and spaces that
are a joyful and honest reflection of who they are and how they live and work.

We believe that high-quality spatial design should be available to all,
no matter the budget or brief. And we place sustainability at the core of what we do, as we seek to use nature’s resources carefully and efficiently.

icona_footer1-1

Studio Officina Architecture PLLC

studio@studioofficina.com

196 MacDonough Street

Brooklyn NY 11216

We are a small, friendly Brooklyn-based architecture and design studio. We are dedicated to working closely with our clients to create buildings and spaces that
are a joyful and honest reflection of who they are and how they live and work.

We believe that high-quality spatial design should be available to all,
no matter the budget or brief. And we place sustainability at the core of what we do, as we seek to use nature’s resources carefully and efficiently.

icona_footer1-1

Bedford-Stuyvesant Apartment

Small home renovation for a family of four

A single-floor apartment for a young family with not a lot of budget but the desire to do the renovation work themselves.

Finding ways to use affordable, readily-available materials was crucial for this client, along with maintaining plumbing and structural elements in their existing locations to avoid unnecessary costs.

Strategic cost decisions were made throughout: simple white IKEA kitchen cabinets were dressed up with an off-cut piece of Carrara marble countertop; simple white subway tile was selected for the kitchen backsplash; and the largest format affordable natural material was selected for the floor – grey, minimally cleft Slate stone.

“Studio Officina made our home so beautiful. Every day we feel so happy to live in this space.”

Emily

A non-conventional but inexpensive wall finish was used in the bathroom – clear-coated furniture-grade plywood panels for both walls and ceilings.

A simple grey-painted porcelain socket light sits above the utilitarian wall-hung sink.

Free-standing off-the-shelf IKEA closets were built into niches to create the appearance of custom millwork. Leftover space was grabbed for bookshelves.

Dashes of color are introduced throughout via mirror frames and industrial-style lamp fixtures. A backdrop of white-painted walls allows wall-hung artwork to stand out.

An old brick fireplace was exposed and stripped of plaster, adding natural texture to the living room.

The existing pre-finished cheap wood flooring was left in place but sanded and stained black to conceal and neutralize its poor quality grain.

Studio Officina Architecture PLLC

studio@studioofficina.com

We are a small, friendly Brooklyn-based architecture and design studio. We are dedicated to working closely with our clients to create buildings and spaces that are a joyful and honest reflection of who they are and how they live and work.

We believe that high-quality spatial design should be available to all, no matter the budget or brief. And we place sustainability at the core of what we do, as we seek to use nature’s resources carefully and efficiently.

196 MacDonough Street

Brooklyn NY 11216