My Houzz: This 400-Square-Foot Apartment Is Surprisingly Spacious
Modern built-ins, a smart layout and double-duty furniture bring out the best in this New York City apartment
Benjamin Ezrick and Thomas Dobrowolski’s New York City apartment may be just 400 square feet, but its efficient layout and innovative storage system create a surprising sense of spaciousness. “We had to take advantage of every inch…. There are built-ins everywhere,” Dobrowolski says.
Dobrowolski, left, and Ezrick relax in their living room, where they like to settle in with a glass of wine and enjoy the latest episodes of their favorite television shows.
Much of their West Village apartment when they bought it was hidden under old finishes and layers of drywall. With a little ingenuity and the help of architect Brett Masterson of Hecho and contractor Gordan Rafajac of NY Landmark Construction, the couple reconfigured the space, transforming a once-standard studio into a well-organized one-bedroom apartment.
Much of their West Village apartment when they bought it was hidden under old finishes and layers of drywall. With a little ingenuity and the help of architect Brett Masterson of Hecho and contractor Gordan Rafajac of NY Landmark Construction, the couple reconfigured the space, transforming a once-standard studio into a well-organized one-bedroom apartment.
Blending form and function, the coffee table also serves as the dining table, which gets “propped up” for many of Dobrowolski’s home-cooked meals. “We roll it against the wall for dinner by the windows … overlooking historic Hudson Street,” Ezrick says. Performing triple duty, the table functions as a desk as well when either is working from home.
Table: Brunch, Ligne Roset; chairs: Peking-B, Organic Modernism
Table: Brunch, Ligne Roset; chairs: Peking-B, Organic Modernism
The ceiling beams, once covered by a layer of drywall, were a happy surprise. “The contractor poked a hole and kept poking until we saw beautiful beams. They’re original beams reaching 11 feet,” Ezrick says.
Given that this is a prewar building, the lower ceiling served a purpose. According to Dobrowolski, the apartment, built before residential air conditioning was common, had false ceilings to help trap hot air above the room in the summer. He says high hat lights and in-ceiling speakers have been added to the newly exposed ceiling for ambiance.
Given that this is a prewar building, the lower ceiling served a purpose. According to Dobrowolski, the apartment, built before residential air conditioning was common, had false ceilings to help trap hot air above the room in the summer. He says high hat lights and in-ceiling speakers have been added to the newly exposed ceiling for ambiance.
A mirrored side table with a simple flower arrangement feels elegant in the minimal, uncluttered space.
Side table: ABC Carpet & Home
Side table: ABC Carpet & Home
The oversized mosaic artwork adds drama and a vintage pop culture reference to the ’50s and ’60s to the space. It’s made from circles to reflect magazine covers from that era.
Ezrick spotted the artwork at an art gallery while on vacation in Melbourne, Australia. At that time, only the Frank Sinatra mosaic portrait was available. He later commissioned the mosaic portrait of Sammy Davis Jr. “We can imagine the Rat Pack at an old West Village jazz club,” Ezrick says.
Mosaic artwork: Tim Shepheard
Ezrick spotted the artwork at an art gallery while on vacation in Melbourne, Australia. At that time, only the Frank Sinatra mosaic portrait was available. He later commissioned the mosaic portrait of Sammy Davis Jr. “We can imagine the Rat Pack at an old West Village jazz club,” Ezrick says.
Mosaic artwork: Tim Shepheard
One of the couple’s favorite features in the apartment is the double-wide sliding barn door. “They are regular Shaker slabs,” Dobrowolski says of the panels. “There’s two of them. The contractor joined them together.” The barn door keeps with the original rustic elements of the space and acts as a divider between the living room and bedroom. It also covers the recessed television when it is not in use.
Their architect intentionally designed the divider wall on a 5-degree angle. “It’s called a forced perspective and makes the room appear larger,” Dobrowolski says.
Barn doors: Gordan Rafajac; barn door paint color: Kendall Charcoal, Benjamin Moore
Their architect intentionally designed the divider wall on a 5-degree angle. “It’s called a forced perspective and makes the room appear larger,” Dobrowolski says.
Barn doors: Gordan Rafajac; barn door paint color: Kendall Charcoal, Benjamin Moore
The decorative custom-made grilles over the radiators add decorative architectural touches
Grilles: Artistry in Architectural Grilles
Grilles: Artistry in Architectural Grilles
Prior to the couple’s renovations, what is now the kitchen consisted of two closets with a Murphy bed on the opposite wall. Now filled with sleek custom cabinetry, it feels modern and is packed with storage. The built-in fridge with a freezer and dishwasher seamlessly blends in with the cabinetry. Classic statuary marble countertops and matching backsplash complete the sophisticated look.
Dobrowolski wanted to ensure they avoided renovation mistakes commonly found in small spaces when it came to the kitchen design. “People don’t maximize the space. They either have an under-the-counter fridge or a huge one. We wanted to find a middle and didn’t want to compromise on style because we had a tighter space,” he says.
Refrigerator: Liebherr, AJ Madison; dishwasher: Bosch integrated dishwasher, AJ Madison; faucet: Lefroy Brooks
Dobrowolski wanted to ensure they avoided renovation mistakes commonly found in small spaces when it came to the kitchen design. “People don’t maximize the space. They either have an under-the-counter fridge or a huge one. We wanted to find a middle and didn’t want to compromise on style because we had a tighter space,” he says.
Refrigerator: Liebherr, AJ Madison; dishwasher: Bosch integrated dishwasher, AJ Madison; faucet: Lefroy Brooks
For resale purposes, as well as to save space, the couple went with a combination microwave-convection oven and an induction stove. “I thought I couldn’t live without a gas stove until I learned about induction cooking,” Dobrowolski says. “It heats up food to a perfect temperature.” A pocket door separates the kitchen from the bathroom.
Oven-microwave: Sharp convection microwave, AJ Madison; stove: induction cooktop, True Induction; undercabinet hood: Bosch, AJ Madison
Oven-microwave: Sharp convection microwave, AJ Madison; stove: induction cooktop, True Induction; undercabinet hood: Bosch, AJ Madison
A generous amount of statuary marble is used in the bathroom, both on the floors and vanity area. The vanity is complemented by a large-scale mirror that makes the apartment’s only bathroom feel larger and accentuates the bright light from the skylight. “It opens up the whole space and fits seamlessly into the tile,” Ezrick says. To add a bit of charm, the toilet was the one thing the couple did not change. “It’s an old-school elementary school-style toilet … and so strong when it flushes. Most people would have gotten rid of it,” Dobrowolski says.
Vanity: Kohler
Vanity: Kohler
The choice to go with a wall-mounted faucet in the bathroom adds what Ezrick refers to as “understated luxury.”
Fixtures: Lefroy Brooks
Fixtures: Lefroy Brooks
This built-in cabinet in the bathroom is one of the couple’s favorite features. It’s a convenient alternative to over-the-sink storage. “While most people would just use a medicine cabinet, we decided to put it behind the sink at easy reach,” Dobrowolski says. “And it doesn’t show fingerprints like a traditional mirrored cabinet,” Ezrick says.
Like the rest of the home, the bedroom is kept bright and uncluttered with natural light, white walls and plenty of storage. The DIY custom built-in headboard is a key architectural element inspired by the couple’s stay at different boutique hotels. “We had the mirror professionally installed but created the frame ourselves — it’s charcoal gray-painted wainscoting,” Ezrick says.
The ceiling fan is modern, simple and “very powerful,” Dobrowolski says. “It’s marketed to commercial spaces.”
Headboard paint color: Kendall Charcoal, Benjamin Moore
The ceiling fan is modern, simple and “very powerful,” Dobrowolski says. “It’s marketed to commercial spaces.”
Headboard paint color: Kendall Charcoal, Benjamin Moore
The bedroom throw pillows from Restoration Hardware add contrast and pattern against the neutral headboard and bedding.
Instead of traditional bedside tables, the couple opted for custom built-in storage that blends in with the walls and keeps the space from feeling cramped.
Pillow covers: batik mud-resist pillow cover, Restoration Hardware
Instead of traditional bedside tables, the couple opted for custom built-in storage that blends in with the walls and keeps the space from feeling cramped.
Pillow covers: batik mud-resist pillow cover, Restoration Hardware
At the end of the bed is a built-in closet that extends from the bedroom and opens on the other side of the wall by the kitchen where the coat closet is. The double-sided closets maximize both storage and access.
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My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Benjamin Ezrick and Thomas Dobrowolski
Location: West Village, New York City
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters); one bedroom, one bath
Architect: Brett Masterson of Hecho
Contractor: Gordan Rafajac of NY Landmark Construction
Year built: 1940
An open-concept kitchen and living area, strategically edited furnishings and the use of natural materials such as wood and marble make the space modern and warm. “We wanted to modernize the place while maintaining its original charm,” Ezrick says. “We took inspiration from the neighborhood and building when we designed the apartment.”
To contrast with the bright, white walls, the couple installed a rustic grade of red oak on the floor. “The flooring was relatively inexpensive because it has more knots and texture than others,” Ezrick says. The flooring choice was inspired by the wood floors in a boutique hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. “We contacted the hotel after our stay and got in touch with the architect. He gave us the name of the materials and finishes.”
Door paint: Kendall Charcoal, Benjamin Moore; couch: Sunset Park sofa, A&G Merch