Nellie’s New Old Home

published Jan 25, 2010

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Name: Nellie
Location: West Village
Size: 500 square feet, 2-bedroom
Years lived in: 11 years

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

BEFORE. A crowded feeling kitchen. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

After 10 years of tolerating its propensity to accumulate clutter and never seem to have room for anything, Nellie wanted her home to change, noticeably. She got in touch with Azadeh and Kermit, made her style known, expressed her desire for a coat closet, and an open kitchen, among many other things, and then moved to a sublet in Brooklyn for six months. Because the project went incredibly smoothly, she was able to move back in after that period of time!!

Azadeh and Kermit of Made by Two took on the project with an anti-gut renovation approach. They used a lot of the existing walls and built-ins and respected the integrity and design of Nellie’s original pre-war apartment. They report that “Nellie was clear about her tastes and budget, very decisive, incredibly enthusiastic, positive, patient and appreciative about our aesthetic vision for her home.” According to Made by Two, their client was a dream client.

Once the space was designed, Azadeh and Kermit helped Nellie source lighting, wallpaper, and some new furniture. The challenge of creating space out of a small footprint was helped by the apartment’s great bones. In addition, Nellie had the flexibility of sacrificing one of her existing bedrooms to serve as a living room, while still maintaining a good proportioned dining room.

The natural light and the very white built-ins help create airiness in which to indulge. The clean lines with all that wonderful away-from-sight storage make for a home that celebrates open space more than stuff.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Apartment Therapy Survey
Style: French farmhouse meets 1940s tenement apartment

Inspiration: Morocco, ocean, children’s art

Favorite Element: wood

Biggest Challenge: creating systems for storing and finding things easily

What Friends Say: great energy, satisfying use of space

Biggest Embarrassment: a coffee table that belongs on a back porch somewhere in 1945

Proudest DIY: Does jury-rigging a screen into my window count?

Biggest Indulgence: Perlick drawer refrigerator

Best Advice: simplify and de-clutter

Dream Source: green reeds flowing flat in glassy stream

Resources
Designer: Made By Two LLC, New York
Contractor: Bluetec Cabinetry, New York
Wood Stripper: Rodney Taitt Woodstripping, (347) 707-9455
Floors: Original, refinished.

Kitchen
Refrigerator: 48″ Perlick, 2 fridge drawers and 1 freezer door
Dishwasher: 18″ Bosch
Range: 24″ Bluestar (available in tons of colors!)
Kitchen Hood: Sirius
Kitchen Drawer Handles: IKEA
Cherry Butcher Block Countertops: John Boos
Faucets: Rohl, Country Kitchen Deck-Mounted Bridge Faucet
Farm sink: Barclay
Cabinetry Hardware: Hafele
Wood cabinets: original kitchen built-in, stripped and finished by Rodney Taitt

Dining Room
Custom Cabinetry & Shelving
Washer/Dryer Combo Unit: LG
Dining Table: custom, West Barnstable Tables
Chairs: Ebay
Chandelier: Anthropologie
Wallpaper: Neisha Crosland

Living
Sofa and Arm Chair: John Derian
Custom Cabinetry & Shelving

Bathroom
Sink Faucets: Rohl, polished nickel
Handwash Basin: Villeroy Boch
Shower Fixture: Rohl, polished nickel
Toilet: Toto
Floor Tiles: Daltile 1″ hex tiles, special order pattern
Wall tiles: Daltile, Semi-Gloss, Glazed Ceramic, White

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Images: Made By Two LLC

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