A Sleek, Urban Loft in An Old Cheesecake Factory
Name: Carlos
Location: Williamsburg — Brooklyn, New York
We were looking for something with character that felt like New York – we didn’t have a big renovation budget but were willing to find the right space and do our best to personalize it. Since we’re both expats we wanted a home that felt relevant to its geography and it doesn’t get much more New York than a former cheesecake factory! It’s a triplex walk-up that begins on the 4th floor of the building (LOTS of stairs), but having the dream come true of an outdoor terrace was absolutely worth it.
Our favorite thing about the apartment is that it is a reflection of who we are and what we like to do. We live in it, one of us works out of it (Carlos runs his home decor ecom business from home), and love to entertain. To have a space where all this could co-exist was our guiding principle.
When we renovated the kitchen, since Carlos is proudly a messy cook, the stone was purposefully chosen for its resilience – but it still had to be beautiful!
One of our favorite items is The Tiger Circus print above the sofa that was originally found in a flea market on our third date and Greg loved it… but when Carlos went back to get it as a surprise birthday gift, it was sold!! So he had to track down another vintage copy from Poland. Looking back at it now he might regret setting the bar a little high so early on, but we think it looks great.
We also love that we didn’t rush to decorate and tried to find the perfect pieces. From the clearance Crate & Barrel dining table (reduced 3 times!) to the $20 dining chairs from Vienna via Keith McNally’s warehouse sale, we’re proudly thrifty!
Every piece of art means something to us. From the vintage posters of Greg’s favorite childhood movies to pieces that Carlos found in Portugal as he was launching his home decor business, we truly feel at home here.
Thanks, Carlos!
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