Design studio durodeco was commissioned by expectant parents to make significant layout changes to their two-bed, two-bath Manhattan apartment, creating larger bathrooms, a convertible nursery-guest room and a dedicated home office for remote working, all within existing building constraints and with an aesthetic nod to the new mother’s Brazilian roots.
Initially, the impetus for the renovation stemmed from a tiny phone-booth-sized shower stall that the homeowners had grown tired of. Imagining the impact that a bathroom expansion would have on their day-to-day lives led them to enlist a design team capable of envisioning other possible improvements to the space. Durodeco assessed the goals and set to work on creating a dedicated office space to enable comfort and privacy while working-from-home, a flex-guest room/nursery, lots of storage, and improved circulation between all rooms.
Durodeco zeroed in on a layout that not only met the owners’ functional goals, but also struck a balance between openness and sufficient storage; this was done by utilizing a combination of ready-made and custom solutions. Every element of the design, including cabinetry, doors and details, were designed to contribute aesthetically and functionally to the project.
“For the kitchen, we devised a solution to streamline the appearance of existing dropped beams in the ceiling that would have made for a convoluted look if exposed, or a low ceiling and uninviting space if fully concealed,” explains Michael Dunham, engineer and founder, durodeco. “Instead, we created a light cove that both hides the beams, provides the code-required separation of the kitchenette and highlights a modern light fixture selected to define the new peninsular countertop below. In terms of materiality, we selected two-tone kitchen cabinets to fit the neutral palette while introducing warmth. Subtle rounded details became a recurring theme as we worked to soften corners wherever possible, to make for a safe home for a new baby and an inviting space for guests.”
A key design driver for the renovation was bringing as much light as possible into every room. To achieve this and to further enhance the flow from living room to nursery, a glass double-pocket-door was created to connect the two spaces. This allowed the light from the nursery window to flow into the living room, whether the door is open or closed. The large door enables a truly flexible space: When the homeowners are entertaining, the nursery becomes an extension of the living room. When hosting guests for an overnight stay, the space can be turned into a more intimate, private guest room. Day-to-day, the space functions primarily as a nursery for the family’s new baby.
To address the original goal of a larger shower in the primary bathroom, the design team reconfigured both existing bathrooms, adjusting all proportions and locations of plumbing fixtures to provide a more thoughtful and generous layout without physically expanding the overall size of the apartment footprint.
“During the course of this renovation, as in most renovations, there were surprises and challenges to making the layout changes, which were discovered once we opened up walls and surveyed the building’s formerly concealed infrastructure,” recalls Rachel Robinson, architect and founder, durodeco. “In the primary bathroom, for example, we discovered a large storm drain running from the building’s roof through the middle of the new plan, so we adapted the layout around it and were able to create an even more generous shower than originally planned.”
With the layout hurdles overcome, the studio moved on to materiality—this was a gut renovation with a “carte blanche” approach in terms of finishes, so durodeco embraced the mother-to-be’s affinity for tile floors from her childhood homes in Brazil. A large-format concrete tile was chosen, which created a neutral backdrop for contemporary lighting fixtures, black and brass accents, and subtle textures throughout, such as the natural cane on the custom living-room millwork.
The studio took advantage of all opportunities to add storage, making the most of the apartment’s existing footprint by creating niches and cubbies whenever the opportunity arose. Durodeco oversaw all design work including architecture and interior design, as well as permitting, approvals and construction management.
PHOTOS: Nicholas Venezia
