We are enamored of this Storefront Loft, a project for an achingly hip art collecting couple in the Lower East Side of Manhattan by Messana O'Rorke.

Below: In the kitchen, the architects used Hans de Pelsmacker's Tablebench in European oak; go to e15.com for information.

Below: In the living room, Netherlands designer Maarten Baas's Where There's Smoke Barok chaise longue holds court; go to mossonline.com or see the whole line of intentionally charred furniture at maartenbaas.com:

Below: LA-based designer Richard Shapiro has come out with a glamorous line of Minima upholstered furniture; his pieces are not unlike the crisp-lined furniture in the living room; go to rshapiroantiques.com for information: