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Harris's Live & Work Space
House Call

Name: Harris
Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn NYC

I work from home and was planning on proposing to my then girlfriend (now wife). I wanted to find a way to open up the space and still provide separation for our work and home lives. It was a brand new building and the apartment had nice appliances and and basic furnishings, but lacked a lot of personality.

 
 

I also HATE wires, so the audio/visual system had to be integrated without being pronounced. It also had to allow one-click access to emails, web, music, video in every room, but be as close to invisible as possible. We had several items custom built by local Brooklyn craftsmen — including built-ins for the living room, a wood wall/sliding door and a real 375 pound fire door that slides on an external track — allowing us to open up or close off the work space. Doing all of this allowed us to create a modern yet very comfortable decor using a lot of textures, woods and metals with character. We took a new clean space and turned it into something warm, interesting and seductive to the eye — a perfect compliment to the floor to ceiling windows that provide 270-degree views North and East and South.

Thanks, Harris!

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House Tours, House Call, Brooklyn, DUMBO

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Comments (27)

awesome house call! It looks so warm... I'd like to get lost there someday:)

posted by dunklekatze on September 28th 2009 at 2:30pm
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Love your space Harris - and I really really like your dining table set - breaking the rule of all chairs the same is my fave. It looks swell :-)

posted by Anusha73 on September 28th 2009 at 2:32pm
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I love this.

posted by alllebasii on September 28th 2009 at 2:41pm
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Wow this is what I would imagine my apartment to be like. So warm, clean and inviting without being sterile. Not to mention I love his sectional and have been looking for something similar for myself. Good work!

posted by ellearRVA on September 28th 2009 at 2:54pm
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Love the space, would love a more detailed house tour of this space. :)

Laura
http://www.justalittlebit.net

posted by grafxnerd on September 28th 2009 at 3:02pm
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Beautiful space! So warm, clean and organized!
Does anybody know where this gray sofa comes from?? -It's so perfect.

posted by aslaugiris on September 28th 2009 at 3:26pm
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aslaugiris-it looks like the jasper sectional from room and board.

posted by MisaL on September 28th 2009 at 3:47pm
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The sliding door is super great! That living room looks like the right spot to be for movie night, looks so comfortable.

posted by LoriSF on September 28th 2009 at 3:51pm
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Really great. If only we could all afford stunning apartments like that in DUMBO :)

Emily

posted by Emily Sneds on September 28th 2009 at 5:03pm
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Warm, inviting and personal. Love the mix of brown, orange and red, this time of season is very inspirational. Very appropriate posting for this time of year.

posted by mag on September 28th 2009 at 5:50pm
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I especially like the dining room... feels fresh and unexpected...

posted by PaminBoston on September 28th 2009 at 7:30pm
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Great space! I really like the touches of red throughout. And those floors.
I'm curious about the window treatments, as I'll be moving into a similarly windowed apartment. Where are the blinds and curtains in the living room from?
Thanks!

posted by seetheworldnow on September 28th 2009 at 7:33pm
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I love this space

posted by wild-er on September 28th 2009 at 7:43pm
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it still lacks personality. What a waste of those windows.

Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. (And what an ego!)

posted by kushkush on September 28th 2009 at 9:50pm
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What a cleverly designed layout and arrangement of clean lines and details! And it is personable, as if we could visit and put our feet up!

kushkush, such a critic.
(yawn) Zzzzzz.

posted by Vincent B. on September 28th 2009 at 11:10pm
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Love the dining area!

posted by fineur on September 29th 2009 at 1:37am
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great style!! I love this!

posted by yiyehtov on September 29th 2009 at 4:05am
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Heck, if this was my home, I'd brag, too! It sounds like they had very clear ideas about what they required to be happy and were willing to invest. Good advice for anyone.

posted by queenbee1230 on September 29th 2009 at 4:40pm
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harris, how was it, assembling that norm69 light? i love them, i think they look great. the assembly part makes me shudder.

posted by cizinka31000 on September 29th 2009 at 5:00pm
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Bummer, it's a bachelor pad. Look at that bdrm and rug. And the colors are guy all the way. Your only concession was the red chairs in the dining room. Other than that you should have giant leather furniture and a big ol' entertainment center. In no way is that a girl's bdrm, it is totally batch all the way. So sad for your girlfriend.

Linda in Santa Cruz, CA

posted by bokjoy on October 3rd 2009 at 7:35pm
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I don't understand what's sparking these nasty comments. This is like no bachelor pad I've ever seen--I'm a woman and I would have no trouble living in this space. I'd also like to request a house tour to see more of the interesting woods going on.

posted by KidMoe on October 3rd 2009 at 8:07pm
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I would like to see pictures of this as a work space. I imagine you work at the dining table?

I am also puzzled by the negative comments. The colors are dark, but as a woman, I don't feel out of place there. This certainly doesn't scream "bachelor pad" to me.

I like it!

posted by klem on October 3rd 2009 at 8:31pm
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Tasty and tasteful. A well-organized space with lots of pizzaz. All in all, big style in a little package.

posted by aychihuahua on October 10th 2009 at 3:55pm
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Excellent job! I think you did a tremendous job!

posted by Jen Coutureglass.com on October 13th 2009 at 10:47am
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i too am puzzled by the completely WRONG, negative comments!
harris, this is an utterly brilliant, gorgeous, sexy space you have!
hell, i'd be proud too!
you did a fabulous job with the wall colours, accessories, furniture...everything!
it looks beautiful!

~victor

http://urbanshedstudio.com/victor.cfm

posted by urbanshed on October 15th 2009 at 9:13am
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I don't understand why it feels too masculine to some commentators!? I love it and think it's a great compromise between too masculine and too feminine. An apartment is in the end not just about colours, but texture, fabric types, art and other decorations too.

In my opinion this flat feels like a place where you can be creative, but also find some peace. Well done!

posted by luftskibet on October 26th 2009 at 8:28am
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I love the customized wall-door. It is fabulous. I wonder if you can give me referral. I am looking to install sliding doors from my closets and can use some good hands.

posted by poly on November 13th 2009 at 9:44pm
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