Inside a Small Brooklyn Apartment with Big Minimalist Energy
Photography by Seth Caplan. Interior designer Claire Hung first met Mark and Kristina in a Park Slope Parents online group, where they started picking her brain on renovation advice. Built-ins are the best way to incorporate storage when space is limited, so Claire designed a midcentury-inspired bookcase that combines asymmetrical open shelving (for displaying beloved objects) and creamy white cupboards (for stowing away unsightly items). A projector is smartly nestled on a floating shelf above the camel leather sofa. 2. Use a projector instead of a TV. 3. Create a bar in an empty alcove. Behind the client’s 1950s Danish dining table, Claire created a chic bar in an awkward nook. 4. Bring the cabinets to the ceiling. Claire made the most of the compact galley kitchen by building the upper cabinets all the way to the ceiling. 5. Align the counter and the windowsill. Natural light makes a small area feel bigger than it is. She also included vegetable drawers there for storing potatoes and other root vegetables. There’s precious little countertop real estate in a small kitchen—but a slim, well-designed stainless steel espresso maker earns its place. 6. Go for good-looking countertop appliances. 7. Install a floating sink. In the guest bathroom, a concrete wall-mounted Nood Co. sink lends an airy feel to even a small space. For a more custom touch, Claire covered the radiators in millwork that’s vented at the top. The previous owners had their bed facing the windows, but Claire advised the homeowners to situate it parallel instead for a better course of movement in the room. 9. Situate the bed with flow in mind. To make up for the lack of counter space, the primary bathroom features a handy recessed niche lined in marble. Now the hand soap has a dedicated spot.