apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

...thanks in great part to Tom's efforts. He took great pains to bring it to its current state. After doing all the demolition himself, he hand scrubbed and patched each exposed brick--opting for elbow grease rather than toxic cleaners. "Exposing the arches [above each window] was critical," said Tom. He also exposed the hardware that sustains the exterior fire escape! He then put in a bare bones kitchen, and had a carpenter build a newly configured staircase.

The staircase's location and Tom's preference for a downstairs bathroom helped to determine how the rest of the apartment would be laid out. The bulk of the work took about 4 months. Tom's overarching goal is simplicity--revealing and celebrating the infrastructure and functionality of the space. It remains a work in progress. Tom wants to live in his apartment for a while, until he can discern the best solution for his individual needs. He is full of patience; he knows what he likes. I have great faith that, with time, Tom's space will evoke a richness, clarity, and sense of history that epitomizes home.

AT SURVEY:

Style: Scandinavian Zen

Favorite Element: Everything

Biggest Challenge: Making a small space not feel small

What Friends Say: "Nice"

Biggest Embarrassment: Some of the impacts on neighbors during construction, like brick dust raining down

Proudest DIY: Stripping it down to create space and expose elements I like

Biggest Indulgence: Deciding to basically gut and start over

Best Advice: Plan on everything taking a lot of time

Dream Source: My imagination