Apartment #4: the soul-stealer.

I want to live in this house.

We've never seen anything like it in our various hunts for rentals and purchases, and I'm certain we won't again. The current owner gave it not just the quickie kitchen & bath treatment, but a thoughtful, thorough, well-designed renovation. It's a tasteful modern update to an old townhouse building, which retains the best features of the old space while improving the layout and fixtures to make it a more comfortable and sophisticated apartment. Every corner of space is well-used, and not a penny was wasted on pointlessly show-offy brands or fittings. But enough talk. You want the good stuff, right?

First, the layout. Coincidentally, the mirror-image unit on the floor below is also for sale, so I can actually show you the comparison of the original layout (right) against the renovated one.



Oh, little apartment, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

1. I love thy kitchen.


With its industrial range and hood (2), open shelving (3), bright window (4), black-finished drawers (5),


splashes of gleaming Arabescato (6), butcher-block work/bar dining surface (7),


recessed floating shelves (8)


stately retro faucet (9) and clever built-in bookcase (10).


11. I love thy pantry/utility closet for its (12) washer/dryer, yards of shelf storage (13) and open space to store vacuum/broom/etc without wedging them uncomfortably in with our clothes (14).


15. Thy bathroom is perfection of the highest order. A glass shower stall opens up the whole room visually (16) while banishing moldy shower curtains to the dark ages (17).


A potentially awkward ledge condition becomes a convenient bottle-rest (18) with the addition of a gorgeous tilt-mirror (19), and a blazing three-bulb sconce (20) ensures plenty of light.


Below thy classic pedestal sink (21) is the black mosaic floor (22)--in keeping with the tradition of hex tiles in buildings like this, yet a fresh, appealing update.


This is the only area where we have a potential problem. Why, little apartment, are you so little right here? In the living room department?


But, let me continue cataloging your virtues: ample recessed lighting (23), chocolate fudge floors (24), exposed brick (25).

What lies beyond thy twin portals?


Heaven (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31).


I love thy spacious, sunny bedroom (32)


Fireplace (33)


With its peculiar green and red marble (34) and cool Deco etching (35).


But soft, what light down yonder hallway breaks? It is the kitchen. (Actually it is the recessed lighting in the hallway (36) and the antler chandelier (37)).


I am smitten, friends. My baby has some reservations. It doesn't look like this will be our home.