Name: Brian & Kerry Grabowski
Location: Jamaica Plain — Boston, Massachusetts
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 4.5 — owned
Entering Brian & Kerry's loft, the first thing you see is the courtyard. It's hard to miss an entire wall of windows that reaches up to the 18-foot ceilings. "In the winter, it's like living in a snow globe," Brian reminisces, "...when it actually snows." Which is not the case on the day I visit, another unusually warm Saturday in New England. The effect, however, is still impressive. What the loft lacks in square footage, it makes up for in light.
Brian & Kerry were the first to move into the building, shortly after the conversion from an old brewery into condos. Although the space was quite basic, almost sterile, they fell in love with it instantly and put in an offer that day. 4 years later, the renovation is complete and the pair couldn't be happier.
With so much glass, industrial elements, and their modern aesthetic, the space could have easily felt cold and unwelcoming, but it doesn't. If it ever snows, I'll take a mug of cocoa and a front row seat to the snow globe any time they'll have me.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Minimal industrial modern
Inspiration: Clean lines
Favorite Element: Tall ceilings
Biggest Challenge: Glass wall
What Friends Say: You've utilized making a small space feel so spacious
Biggest Embarrassment: Our bitchy cat
Proudest DIY: Island countertop
Biggest Indulgence: Antique Venetian glass bowl
Best Advice: Embrace your space
Dream Sources: Marmol Radziner furniture, Lumens.com, Method homes, Nood design, Wetstyle, Bartel
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • Benjamin Moore: Whale Grey, Smoked Oyster, Silhouette
ENTRY
- • Closet: Ikea
• Custom iron and glass chandelier
LIVING ROOM
- • Couch: Ikea
• Art: Zane Turner
• Wallpaper: Graham & Brown
DINING ROOM
- • Table and chairs: CB2
• Antique Venetian glass bowl
• Lighting: Z Gallerie
• Shelving: West Elm
KITCHEN
- • Faucet and sink: Kohler
• Appliances: energy efficient GE
• Hand dyed butcher block island
BEDROOM
- • Floors: Cherry
• Bed: West Elm
• Hand painted rails
• Modular open shelving closet system
BATHROOM
- • Fixtures: Kohler and Toto
THROUGHOUT
- • Buffed and sealed concrete floors
• Ceiling fans: DWR
• Paint and wallpaper by Colortheoryboston
• Ecletic art (some by Brian!)
Thanks, Brian & Kerry!
Images: Tara Bellucci
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Absolutely gorgeous and looks bigger than 800 square feet. That kitchen island is amazing! And I don't think your cat looks all that bitchy.
Wow! You've got the best of both worlds! It's like the South End inside, but you get to live in cozy quirky JP. :)
Yeah this place is way cool. I love the little dining area, table, chairs, lamp. What fabulous views and windows!
el.oh.vee.eee!
Love it!
Love this home. They did really well working out the space to utilize it. Love the artwork too! One of my favorites on AT.
I really like the lighting and the space. Kudos to you guys. I do not, though, understand how you can do it without rugs. I just crave them on my feet in the winters!
Everything looks fine, but the closet area. I would install sliding doors...
May I just say...that Ikea chaise longue/sofa by the name of Kramfors is of the bycast leather variety. It is a really thin leather that has been split and laminated with plastic. It wears out pretty fast. Ikea know about it, and the new series of Kramfors is proper thick grained leather and your guarantee entitles you to change if you so wish. 10 year guarantee.
<3 love love love. Ahh love.
Love!
Snow globe? They mean fish bowl, right? The space is absolutely lovely, but the lack of privacy would get so tiresome.
really love the low alcove around the bed. It's like a subtle hug-- very apropos.
Wow, I absolutely love this space!! Very well done! Would love to know where the pendant lights over the counter top are from.
So interesting to see what people do with such little square footage. I think I'd go for this apartment, too. They did a good job. How cool is that building?
I'm interested in how they feel living with polished concrete floor.
Four Years? that's about twenty one years in cat time. No wonder she's miffed at you.
Where is your bedding from?
Did I miss the cat box? Good work guys - beautiful home!
Definitely gorgeous, but I agree with Tyson Williams, the closet is definitely not working. It would take an exceptionally amazing and well edited wardrobe to go without some sort of concealment when you can see it from the dining table. The shoe situation adds to the messy look of that corner, too. Everything else seems so much in its proper place, but the closet doesn't look like it belongs to the same couple.
How do you keep the cat from piercing holes in the white leather ottoman and chair? Our cat has destroyed really nice import leather seats in our homes entry. I've tried using sour apple spray we found on amazon.com the taste or smell wore off quickly apparently...
Really lovely! Also, Brian looks like a young Bob Vila.
This is a beautiful home but what do you do about privacy with those windows?
Guys, check out pic 25 in the Home Tour--- They have giant shades they can roll down when they want to. :)
I really liked this tour a lot - but the only thing as mentioned before, the closet!
It doesn't look like it is in the same tour.....
Saw this on Pinterest and added it to my home board. Great living room; the overall vibe is retro cool. I've got mad love for that wallpaper.
What inspired the wallpaper? Love it!
That building has such character! And I love the tall glass walls! Also love love love that big abstract painting with the curvy swirls. It's fabulous. Your bitchy cat is cute and I'll bet she's a sweetie. ♥
I love this! Everything is well planned and thought out! I liked the earlier mentioned idea of a wardrobe for your closet area! But, with everything else so beautiful, it seems a shame to mention the one little issue! You should be very proud!
what a building! how charming! thanks for sharing. how do you live with a concrete floor in a snow globe? the whole time i was taking your tour i felt chilly!
Love this tour!
Great space...are the cylindrical vases on the top shelf (right hand side) in the dining room, marked Paul Beau Montreal?, they look identical to a couple I have.
Cheers.
Wow! Great place! Really love the kitchen.
this is one of the coolest loft homes I've ever seen. so warmly decorated and such a RAD space!
Your bitchy cat looks just like my bitchy cat! :) Absolutely love your home.
Sweet Jebus, I want I want I want!!!!!! I love this space so much. Everything, I just adore. And I really like the sweet couple picture, you seem like nice people, which makes me like the space even more.
If I lived there (right! I wish!!) I'm have to put up a 1-way privacy see-out-don't-see-in film on the windows (unless maybe you already have that up?) because I have spent WAY too much time looking out my window instead of doing work or homework, and seen all kinds of things - interesting and horrifying, and once just perplexing.
A great space, but I couldn’t deal with the lack of privacy. I know that there are shades, but what’s the point of having windows like that if your shades are always drawn. Beautiful, otherwise.
GREAT! Closet needs a little help!