Room of the Day: Custom Storage and Furnishings Rock This Living Room
A space-savvy cabinet, bench and shelving unit near the entry help a busy New York family stay organized
Danielle and Stephen Krupa love all the fast-paced activity that New York City has to offer, especially the live music. The living room of their Soho loft needed to better accommodate their family’s get-up-and-go lifestyle. Originally built in 1895, the once-commercial fourth-story loft was converted to residential space in 2001. After they bought it, the Krupas undertook a major renovation with Stephen’s sister, architect Julia Krupa.
The addition of two daughters to their family created the need for more and better-designed storage near the entry. They also wanted to update some of the living room’s stylistic elements. Designer Megan Grehl maximized the space’s storage while keeping the look in line with the Krupas’ fun-loving “rocker” aesthetic.
The addition of two daughters to their family created the need for more and better-designed storage near the entry. They also wanted to update some of the living room’s stylistic elements. Designer Megan Grehl maximized the space’s storage while keeping the look in line with the Krupas’ fun-loving “rocker” aesthetic.
Behind the elevator, Grehl and team designed a new wardrobe structure to house typical grab-and-go items, like strollers, coats, shoes and umbrellas. Grehl took cues from the couple’s dark, cosmopolitan aesthetic and referenced metal details from the previous renovation.
Furniture maker Brad Hornbake of A.B. Hornbake fabricated the unit from stained walnut and blackened cold-rolled steel. “The blackening agent creates a reactive process that changes the color without hiding the character of the steel surface the way paint or lacquer would,” says Grehl, who designed the hardware and had it fabricated.
Inset tempered-glass door fronts with a tight, textured combed pattern obscure what’s inside the unit and add a sense lightness.
Grehl measured the family’s clothes, shoes, strollers, toys and guitars to ensure that everything would fit perfectly. The project wasn’t without its challenges, though. “Due to the change in heights in the ceiling and age of the building, many of the corners were not ideal 90-degree angles,” she says. “We had to make sure every dimension was exact, and actually cut down the structures on site to ensure they fit all the angles.”
Glass: tempered European Clear Corduroy, Bendheim
Furniture maker Brad Hornbake of A.B. Hornbake fabricated the unit from stained walnut and blackened cold-rolled steel. “The blackening agent creates a reactive process that changes the color without hiding the character of the steel surface the way paint or lacquer would,” says Grehl, who designed the hardware and had it fabricated.
Inset tempered-glass door fronts with a tight, textured combed pattern obscure what’s inside the unit and add a sense lightness.
Grehl measured the family’s clothes, shoes, strollers, toys and guitars to ensure that everything would fit perfectly. The project wasn’t without its challenges, though. “Due to the change in heights in the ceiling and age of the building, many of the corners were not ideal 90-degree angles,” she says. “We had to make sure every dimension was exact, and actually cut down the structures on site to ensure they fit all the angles.”
Glass: tempered European Clear Corduroy, Bendheim
On the adjacent wall, new shelves and cabinets house books and family heirlooms. Hornbake also custom-made the library ladder system to allow access to the cabinets.
Interspersed between the supports hang two of Stephen’s prized guitars. The Krupas purchased the Phillips 66 painting in 2011, and Grehl worked it into the design.
Artwork: Robert Mars, purchased at DTR Modern Galleries
Interspersed between the supports hang two of Stephen’s prized guitars. The Krupas purchased the Phillips 66 painting in 2011, and Grehl worked it into the design.
Artwork: Robert Mars, purchased at DTR Modern Galleries
The bench serves as seating for both adults and kids. “Audrey and Emme can easily sit themselves on the bench while they take off their shoes, or hang out,” Grehl says.
Storage drawers beneath the bench hold additional shoes. The bench also covers a radiator, and it’s open at the bottom to allow heat to flow into the room. Above, an audio speaker was built into the top left side of the cabinetry.
The Krupas had the walls painted in a two-tone, rag-rolled finish in 2010 by decorative painter Haleh Atabeigi.
Rug: Homeowners’ collection
Storage drawers beneath the bench hold additional shoes. The bench also covers a radiator, and it’s open at the bottom to allow heat to flow into the room. Above, an audio speaker was built into the top left side of the cabinetry.
The Krupas had the walls painted in a two-tone, rag-rolled finish in 2010 by decorative painter Haleh Atabeigi.
Rug: Homeowners’ collection
The girls have a playroom on the other side of the kitchen, so while the living room is a family space, it’s frequently used for casual entertaining and carries an edgy adult vibe. For a pop of color, a new magenta-hued rug grounds the seating area.
While the Krupas furnished much of the living space on their own after the renovation, they looked to Grehl for help on lighting, a rug and window treatments. The deep blue linen drapery panels and rope tiebacks pull all the elements together. “The loft ceiling height is so expansive, and having a softer material frame the height created a warmer space,” she says.
The track lighting was completed during the previous renovation. Danielle found the arc floor lamp years ago in an East Village shop. Grehl added the pair of vintage-style sconces.
Drapery and hardware: Restoration Hardware; sconce: Restoration Hardware; table lamps: Restoration Hardware; sectional and bench throw pillows: CB2; area rug: ABC Carpet & Home; sectional sofa, Eames chair and ottoman, side and coffee tables: homeowners’ collection
While the Krupas furnished much of the living space on their own after the renovation, they looked to Grehl for help on lighting, a rug and window treatments. The deep blue linen drapery panels and rope tiebacks pull all the elements together. “The loft ceiling height is so expansive, and having a softer material frame the height created a warmer space,” she says.
The track lighting was completed during the previous renovation. Danielle found the arc floor lamp years ago in an East Village shop. Grehl added the pair of vintage-style sconces.
Drapery and hardware: Restoration Hardware; sconce: Restoration Hardware; table lamps: Restoration Hardware; sectional and bench throw pillows: CB2; area rug: ABC Carpet & Home; sectional sofa, Eames chair and ottoman, side and coffee tables: homeowners’ collection
Floor plan from Megan Grehl Design
The yellow area represents the loft’s open living and dining area, adjacent to the kitchen, in the middle. The elevator is shown at the upper right, marked with the X. The girls’ playroom is to the left of the kitchen.
Millwork: Brad Hornbake of A.B. Hornbake
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The yellow area represents the loft’s open living and dining area, adjacent to the kitchen, in the middle. The elevator is shown at the upper right, marked with the X. The girls’ playroom is to the left of the kitchen.
Millwork: Brad Hornbake of A.B. Hornbake
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Living Room at a Glance
Who uses it: Danielle and Stephen Krupa and their two young daughters, Audrey and Emme.
Location: Soho neighborhood of New York City
Size: 682 square feet (63 square meters)
Designers: Megan Grehl, Courtney Ellis and Emma Montgomery of Megan Grehl Design
The Krupas’ loft condo is mostly open-plan, with the elevator entry, visible here on the left, opening directly into the living and dining space. Since there’s no dedicated foyer, finding enough space to store coats, shoes and strollers without mucking up the elevator area became challenging — especially with two little ones. An existing wardrobe served as a catchall, but it didn’t accommodate four people or maximize the space’s 13-foot-high ceilings. Grehl’s storage design needed to offer more organization in a tasteful vertical format.
The entry chandelier is finished with faceted crystal rods and, paired with the dining chandelier, adds a bit of sparkle to the space.
Entry chandelier: Restoration Hardware; dining chandelier: purchased by homeowner in 2008 from ABC Carpet & Home