Name: Keith and Brent
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey
Size: 550 square feet studio
Favorite Element: Kitchen counter
Keith and Brent aren't afraid to go the extra mile to build a real home. They decided to take on the challenge of a mildly renovated condo in an historic building in Jersey City. When looking for a place to live, they realized that Jersey City was cheaper and closer to their jobs in Manhattan, than Brooklyn. They were looking for an old place, so the fact that it's an 1888 structure with some quirks sealed the deal.
Both Keith and Brent have woodworking skills in their blood. They each grew up learning the trade from fathers who had cabinetry businesses. As a result they have a deep-rooted respect for fine craftsmanship and things that have aged well. Before moving here in January of this year, they lived in Oregon in a 1924 bungalow that they renovated from top to bottom.
This job was smaller, in comparison, and took only three solid months of coming home every day after work to demo, design, construct and furnish. The apartment was in pretty good shape to begin with thanks to a more recent renovation, but Keith and Brent were intent on making the space unique. They personalized it by using vintage pieces, one-of-a-kind finds, diverse surface materials and by creating a lot of the cabinets and shelving themselves.
In order to satisfy the condo association's designated work/noise hours, Brent cut the wood for cabinets and shelving on his table saw on the weekends. During the week they would do all the quiet stuff like tiling, painting and using screws instead of nails to assemble the cabinetry. Without a car, they became very innovative with a shopping cart and a nearby lumber store. If they needed more detailed cuts made, Keith would drag pieces of wood onto the path train and bring them to his friend's woodshop in a basement in the West Village. There, Tim and Larry, artists who make their money doing custom cabinetry, would make this arduous process slightly less arduous.
When it came to lessons learned, Keith says, "we expected the walls to all have studs at regular intervals, but they didn't, and everything we thought would be quick and easy never was." Keith and Brent made it through the trying moments and emerged from the other side with flying colors!
Resources:
• 2nd Hand Rose (Tribeca): vintage wall paper and linoleum
• Ebay: for rugs and knick-knacks
• Chelsea Flea Market: antique chairs
• Room & Board: Sofa and Chair in Living Room
• Schoolhouse Electric Co.: lights
• Jae Jarrells Vintage Menswear and Collectibles (Tribeca): little antique folding table.
• Classifieds on Apartmenttherapy.com: green enamel vintage 60's filing cabinets used as a desk in the bedroom.
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Comments (16)
Love,love,love the countertop!!! please share your resource,would love to try it in my kitchen and/or bath....
Beautifully executed and you guys obviously have some great construction talent.
I do question, though, the loss of so much counter space in the kitchen. The kitchen looks great overall, but doesn't seem very practical, or at least not if actually used for cooking very often. However, if you guys don't cook much and more often do carry-out, then I can see where it would work fine.
Something else you may want to reconsider, if it's not too late, is the location of the stove/oven right next to the refrigerator. Baking/cooking anything will warm that refrigerator right up and have its compressor running, running, running. It's just generally not a good practice to put those two appliances right next to each other.
Otherwise, good job overall.
Love the terrarium (SP!)
I really like what these guys have done - the kitchen seems so cozy, and I love the open shelves and lino counters, but I have to agree that the layout is pretty bad - I think I'd have installed an undercounter fridge with a counter over it, and built an open shelf/partition between the stove and dining area similar to what they did in the bedroom archway.
I also like what they did w/ the Bathroom, but the mirror is a bit 80's for me. I'd also like to see them enclose the shelf above the bathroom door to make a nice enclosed cabinet.
That bed is crying out for a cool headboard too - Can't wait to see what else these guys do with their place!
For my taste, the countertop linoleum, cupie doll sculptures?, slanted floor and barn door cabinets all = WTF?? The room divider on legs is gorgeous though.
Sure, a few details I'd adjust, but my impression is: stupendous job! Put me down as a big fan of your cabinets with the hasp hinges -- so much warmer than the usual safe choices.
Makes me want to live in a tiny space.
I don't care for the counter top, but overall it's cute!
Lots of hard work and nice details. The decoration part is too cutesy for me but the overall work is impressive. I have to say the bookcase room divider is a great feature, however the legs that are supporting it are too flimsy and cheapen the deal, so many other good options that won't cost too much.
To decor8 Holly:
If you happen to wander back to your posting, I saw your suggestion for new chairs "swanky clear acrylic ones from target, also folding." I am searching for a clear, acrylic folding chair and I searched the target.com website to no avail. If you can find the link to these chairs and could post it, that would be terrific.
Thanks,
Jen
You two do rock -- just in case it hasn't already been said. And even if it has been it's not for me to try and wax eloquent or witty -- to say I luv what you did to your place. Loverly!
Toniannette
OHHHHH, that bookshelf divider thing, drrrroooooollll.
I love the mid century tapered legs, and I was wondering if you guys built this piece yourself and added the legs- if so, where did you get them.
I like that it is not boring. But I think the fridge should be returned to the back kitchen wall--it looks like an afterthought and blocks light from the window.
I absolutely love the shot of the bedroom with the woods photograph above the desk. I hate the faux fireplace.
You two are incredibly clever. What a relief it is to see an original, interesting kitchen that actually reflects the owners' style. If I see another marble countertop, I'm going to vomit.
I love everything you've done. The space looks incredibly inviting and innovative. I love your mix of modern and very old looks, which does, completely work and isn't the usual combination of 2008 with 1964, but rather 1890 with 2008. Great job.
I know they'd probably hate me for saying this, but seeing what Keith & Brent have done with such a tiny space makes me regret living in a big 70s rancher in the country.
Very cute!