Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Feng Shui Lightens a Brooklyn Loft
See how stripping parts of a home's structure can boost its energy flow along with its design chops
Tired of her dark, closed-in apartment, a New York mom wanted a new look to give her and her twin toddler daughters a fresh start. Once a Brooklyn warehouse, this space had beautiful brick walls and beamed ceilings that had been covered up by Sheetrock. Interior designer Reiko Gomez stripped the space down to make it feel like a loft again and implemented feng shui principles to give both the client and her home a new life.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A mom with twin toddlers
Location: Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1,800 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A mom with twin toddlers
Location: Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 1,800 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
The apartment faces north and has windows on only one side, so Gomez opened it up as much as possible.
A previous wall between the living room and master bedroom had created a long, dark and stifling space. So right off the bat, she tore it down to create a single well-proportioned room. "It's not good feng shui to chop up a space and limit its natural chi flow," she says.
A previous wall between the living room and master bedroom had created a long, dark and stifling space. So right off the bat, she tore it down to create a single well-proportioned room. "It's not good feng shui to chop up a space and limit its natural chi flow," she says.
Gomez tore down the old Sheetrock walls to expose most of the home's original brick. But, of course, not all the brick looked better at first. She painted along one side to give the brick an antique look and mask odd discolorations.
Gray rugs: vintage
Gray rugs: vintage
Removing the Sheetrock presented an unexpected problem: lots of pipes. Exposing the walls and ceiling also revealed a tangle of pipes and gas lines. Gomez had many rerouted, painted others white and used some as a creative element — such as the copper piping near the TV.
Coffee table: wood, client's own; couch: Restoration Hardware
Coffee table: wood, client's own; couch: Restoration Hardware
The appliances and kitchen layout already worked well for the client, so minimal changes were needed. Gomez simply added a custom concrete island — an affordable choice to help stay within the budget — and industrial pendant lighting for a bold look.
Island top: custom by Concrete Atelier; pendants: Barn Light Electric; bar stools: client's own; range, hood: Wolf
Island top: custom by Concrete Atelier; pendants: Barn Light Electric; bar stools: client's own; range, hood: Wolf
Once revealed, the wooden beams on the ceiling hung almost 16 inches down. Too many overhead beams make for bad feng shui, so Gomez adjusted them so that only 4 inches of each beam now hangs down. This also created room for additional recessed lighting between the beams.
Couch: leather, Anthropologie; desk: Restoration Hardware
Couch: leather, Anthropologie; desk: Restoration Hardware
The open space initially made it difficult to find a place for the master bedroom. But the client didn't need her massive walk-in closet, so Gomez turned it into a sleeping alcove. Velvet curtains and an arched opening make it extra romantic and cozy.
Wallpaper: Timorous Beasties; chandelier: Anthropologie; bed frame: client's own
Wallpaper: Timorous Beasties; chandelier: Anthropologie; bed frame: client's own
Now the client's closet is located behind antique French doors in built-ins around the corner from her bedroom. Gomez had these beautiful worn-down doors altered to work as closet doors.
Doors: Eron Johnson Antiques
Doors: Eron Johnson Antiques
The client wanted an office area in this sunlit corner, but it's bad feng shui to have your back to a corner that juts out. To make it work, Gomez rounded the corner, and the client found a round desk that mimics the corner's shape.
The dining area now sits directly down the hall from the loft's front door. "I felt that by placing the dining room within the line of the front door, you would have the wow moment of seeing the chandelier when you enter," Gomez says.
Chandelier: French antique, 1stdibs
Chandelier: French antique, 1stdibs
The twin girls' room initially had no windows, natural light or air circulation. Custom transom windows that open solved all of those problems, and Gomez had a new ceiling fan installed to help fresh air filter through the space.
Wallpaper: Ferm Living; ottoman: vintage
Wallpaper: Ferm Living; ottoman: vintage
A wall of cabinets in the girls' room provides storage without taking up much space. Gomez even incorporated the radiator into this custom piece.
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Your turn: Show us your loft renovation!
Next: Explore more great loft designs
Dining table: client's own; bench: Crate & Barrel; chairs: Anthropologie; purple rug: One Kings Lane