Name: Roy, Jen and Gabriel (infant)
Location: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Size: 815 sqft. 2-bdrm co-op
Years lived in: 4
>> Enter Jen and Roy's Gallery!
Jen and Roy share an architecture firm and know that their own home should project their tastes and talents. While they were enthusiastic about creating a showcase, they also wanted to take time to make thoughtful choices. So, they lived here for a couple of years before partaking in a major renovation.
>> Enter Jen and Roy's Gallery!
After learning the apartment's sunlight patterns throughout the day, they decided to knock down the walls of the front bedroom and create a very perforated room. The walls are actually shelves. They allow in light and sounds but hide Jen and Roy's son's toys.
To keep down costs, Roy and Jen took on demolition, electrical rewiring, basic plumbing work, metal trim work, the ventian plastering of the bathroom walls, and simple construction and installation projects. They knew their limits and hired/(bartered with) trade professionals when necessary. Roy and Jen were also not afraid to make use of Ikea products to fill in the gaps.
This is an apartment that feels incredibly spacious, light, and well thought out. As architects, Roy and Jen clearly had no fear of gutting the space and starting all over again. While the planning and approval process took over a year, the renovation only took 4 months to complete. They have the talent and they gave themselves the luxury of time to do it right!
AT Survey
Style: modern/simple/clean
Inspiration: The path of the sun throughout the day (we lived in the apartment prior to renovating. The sun flowing through the south-facing window in the flexible space gave us the idea to enclose the room with an open bookshelf.)
Favorite Element:: The flexibility. By subdividing the master bedroom into a bedroom + nursery, we were able to free up the second bedroom to use as a flexible space. We use it (currently) as a playroom/ yoga room/ TV room/ guest room (most often for Gabriel’s grandparents). It allows us to keep the toy mess out of sight. In the past we have used the spaces differently. The big open kitchen where Roy will teach Gabriel to cook. Jen’s is the bookshelves, where she can keep an eye on Gabriel (also good for peek-a-boo).
Biggest Challenge: The biggest architectural/ construction challenge was moving the kitchen and finding a way to route the pipes. The biggest design challenge was to design for a child we didn’t yet have.
What Friends Say: Our neighbors say that this apartment doesn’t look like it is in the same building as theirs. Our friends (most of whom are parents) really love the way it works. Our parents love having a room of their own.
Biggest Embarrassment: Some of the craftsmanship (the D.I.Y. stuff)
Proudest DIY: The bathroom door. It is extremely heavy. One of our friends made the handle as a housewarming present.
Biggest Indulgence: The David Weeks chandelier and the Jean Prouve light
Best Advice: Hire an architect. A good one.
Dream Source: BDDW in Soho. Although we don’t have anything from there and probably never will.
Real Source: Ikea
Resources:
Living Room:
Couch - IKEA
Dining Table - DWR
Chandelier - David Weeks
Light fixture: Jean Prouve
Bookshelves: Custom (Bear Woodworking)
Rugs: FLOR tile
Art: all by friends and family
Coffee Table: Roy Leone Original
Living Room Chairs: Eames
Kitchen:
Cabinets - IKEA
Butcher Block - Hardwood Lumber Co (placed on top of restaurant supply adapted stainless steel table)
Appliances: Jenn Air
Bedroom:
Arm light fixture: David Weeks
Bed: West Elm
Bathroom:
Bathroom door's sliding mechanism - barn door tracks from McMaster Carr
>> Enter Jen and Roy's Gallery!
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I like this a lot, especially the kitchen. Great job!
view Sydney's profile
Cool mix of DIY, Ikea and some high-end pieces.
view particlebored's profile
This is so inspiring. I am positively enamored with David Weeks lighting, especially the lights above the bed. I know I could never afford it, but I wonder at the price.
I think you guys did such a great job with the flow - and there is so much ROOM to DO stuff - the flex space is brilliant, having two big tables for working/playing/cooking/crafting is such an easy luxury, and I really dig all the materials used. I love those green goblets displayed, too! :) You have a very honest space.
This is definitely one of my fave house tours to date! Thanks!
view kdkaboom's profile
Beautiful!
view lemonadefish's profile
Where are your kitchen stools from?
view gonorth's profile
It looks like an architects home, the kitchen almost looks like an architectural design firm's library but in a really good way because here it divides the space and functional.
You guys did a really nice job.
Its amazing that two architects that share a firm, renovated their home (together) and have a kid, my hat off to you both!
view LoriSF's profile
this is a home i would want to visit again and again. it's so inviting!
view creative*type's profile
what a great space! they really capitalized every nook and cranny but made it look clean and spacious.
view lucymom's profile
love the space, the light, all the white, the marble ledge, the ikea reworking, and your finishes. really love some of your furniture choices, particularly anything david weeks.
not sure what is going on with the mesh baseboard and think the overhead cubby, the open bathroom shelves, and the scarf closet wall should be covered or changed to the sleeker lines and finishes used throughout. nitpicking at details as you are so close to perfection for me.
thanks.
view healthyhome's profile
really nice place! thanks for posting it!
view travislessness's profile
Love it! One of my all time favorites on AT.
Can your friend make me a couple of door handles, please? Seriously. Those are exactly the solution for my three sliding doors that I need but can't find commercially.
I think I would put frosted plexi on the pod side of the shelves. Something about looking at the back sides of the stacks of books makes me feel unsettled while the rest of your place is so absolutely calm and lovely and perfect.
view splatgirl's profile
Where are your dining table chairs from? I love them.
Love how it strikes me as both stylish, city-chic and playful, child-friendly. Thank you also for showing things like the radiator cover because it is a nice reminder that all spaces even this beautiful are a work-in-progress.
view 2lastnames's profile
WOW, Nice! That's all
view plastolux's profile
LOVE IT!! The best I've seen in a while.
The one thing I'm puzzled by is the uncovered storage wall in the bedroom. Is one side covered by the curtain (which I like, if it's the one just above the comments section---the slideshow makes it hard to tell if it's the same) and the other side uncovered? It's so unfinished looking compared to the sleekness of the rest of the space.
view Pixie's profile
nice! I particularly like the funky coffee table. Is it a DIY? And does anyone have suggestions on where to pick up very large wheels/casters to make that table?
view aaronSFNY's profile
aaron...tool stores like Harbor Freight and Northern usually have a good selection of tire wheels like those. Or a farm supply place
view splatgirl's profile
All my favorites in one place. Ikea, Eames, DWR...Love it. What a great use of space. So organized, I'm smiling all over.
view modernguy's profile
I really like your place. The bedroom closet is a bit scary being so close to the bed but my bedroom is not much better.
Great job!
view luvdecor's profile
i love the marble in the bathroom and the bookshelf wall and pretty much the entire space
view wampler's profile
very pretty.
are those bamboo stems on the kitchen table? if so, where in bklyn did u find them at that height?
view mizz's profile
wow!
view Joan in SB's profile
Wow-thank you all for the great comments. To answer a few of your questions:
The bar stools are the Precision Stools from design within reach
Check out David Weeks' annual sample sale for great deals
Tim Watkins is our friend who made the bath door handle. He and his wife create amazing museum installations, exhibits and public art (www.maywatkinsdesign.com).
They recently completed the "totally tots" exhibit at the Brooklyn Children's Museum.
The dining chairs were a random ebay find... we've never been able to figure out who manufactured them.
The radiator covers were a disaster. But that's why we experiment on our own place and not a client's. We are working on a new design ASAP because Gabe is starting to crawl.
Roy designed and made the coffee table-the casters are from Caster City.
Can't remember where we got the bamboo...sorry
Thanks again. we'll try to answer any other questions that come up...
Roy & Jen
view roy jen's profile
Really nice apartment! It's a great mix of modern, clean, and sleek...without feeling cold or rigid. Do you remember where you got the orange-y blanket with the stripes? Very pretty. Thanks for sharing.
view epindc's profile
i love that kitchen. and that table in front of the couch, on what looks like rubber wheels, just gave me great DIY ideas :)
view cootiefree's profile
It's just a tiny thing, but I like the way you've stored your green wine glasses - each one the opposite way up to its neighbour. It turns mere storage into a little work of design.
view Blandwagon's profile
I agree with Blandwagon. I got the most excited about the alternating up and down wine glasses.
view jesscon0202's profile
This is an amazing use of space...open yet plenty of private space. very inspirational.
2 questions:
1. the name of your firm
2. the dimensions of the rooms
thanks for peek!
view jz's profile
If I lived in New York this is exactly the kind of space I'd want. I LOVE the kitchen with the long table and wall of bookshelves. The only thing that would drive me crazy is the bedroom closet situation. And I hope all the furniture on casters can be locked into place, because once that baby starts pulling up on thing it will be a nightmare otherwise.
view madsarah's profile
This is a great example of ingenuity and hard work. Lots of great ideas to maximizing space (except the open bedroom closet/storage - most people don't like to have all their stuff on display). I'm not a fan of such open kitchens (impractical for formal dinners), but I do like the cabinetry "look" and layout. The apt. style will not appeal to everyone's tastes as it's too DIY for me, but your space planning thought process comes through as very creative and special. Enjoy your newly renovated home!
view ndvheller's profile
Roy and Jen's firm is leonedesignstudio.com
view jill's profile
Fabulous use of space!
view Clarity's profile
I spy a rainforest jumperoo!
view eilEnemy's profile
Books in kitchen not a good idea - they get greasy and smelly. Love your Obama doll.
view bromelia's profile
Awesome use of space! I particularly like the shelves in the kitchen being used for books rather than kitchen items - makes for a fresher look. Congrats!
view BlondeinBrooklyn's profile
I want to hire you to design the renovation of the small house I haven't yet bought. Count on a call from me in 2-3 years.
Gorgeous. LOVE the kitchen and bookshelf space.
view amandaja's profile
Epindc, the striped bedding is from IKEA.
view monroe's profile
Beautiful, beautiful space, especially the kitchen. Great job breaking up the space and creating nice flow. What kind of countertops did you choose with the Ikea cabinets?
view Abbe's profile
What a beautiful space! Very light and airy, but there's also plenty of color.
By the way...
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/small-cool-2005/apartment-4-jen-roys-minimalist-reno-002506
^
Looks like this is the same Roy and Jen?
view fineur's profile
Fantastic job! We're about to start a reno project in Brooklyn and would love to know the name of your contractor or any subs you thought were great. Thanks, and enjoy your beautiful space.
view lkny's profile
the kitchen is incredible. It blends so seamlessly into the rest of the apartment.
view LeahDC's profile
I absolutely love the spaciousness you created in your kitchen! interestingly enough, we have the same kitchen and as i'm a bit stumped while finishing mine, i would like to ask you a few qustions:
1- what did you use as a bottom frame for your upper cabinets (Ikea cabinets are unfinished and need to have a base frame, yet I do not like any of the options they offer as they add an air of heaviness, and I love the clean look of your cabinets)
2- what did you use as a backsplash?
3- what is the source of your above the counter lighting?
I would tremendously appreciate your answer as these are key isues in the process of refining my kitchen and I can't seem to get a solution for them, while you have found the perfect solution for yours!
Thank you so much and enjoy your beautiful new apartment,
elena
elena_godi@yahoo.com
view elena_ny's profile
great space, great use of space. love it
view artbybabz's profile