The Architect Is In: The Twice-Designed New York Loft - Remodelista
This week, Jeff Murphy and Mary Burnham of New York firm Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects talk about upgrading a New York loft they converted for the same clients 11 years ago. The result was an expansive 4,200-square-foot space that acted as a backdrop for the clients’ extensive art collection while offering unfettered views of the midtown skyline to the north and Wall Street to the south from the top (10th) floor of what had been a printing warehouse. The second time around, the architects kept the general layout, but upgraded finishes and renovated the kitchen as well as all the bathrooms. The glassware cabinet over the sink is clad in 5/16th inch sandblasted tempered glass. The stainless steel sink was welded to the counter and backsplash. While pleasing to the eye, brushed stainless steel with welded corners requires regular maintenance; the owners regularly apply an aerosol stainless-steel cleaner with a cotton cloth to keep the design clean and polished. “The orange Poltrona Frau sofas and custom Tibetan silk rug in the living room were selected in response to the client’s love of color,” says Murphy. A view from the living area toward the master bedroom suite tucked behind translucent glazed doors. Beyond the internal stair that takes the family up to an outdoor space on the roof terrace is a dressing room. Instead of a railing that is required to highlight the level change, the architects designed a bench, which provides useful additional seating when the family entertain. The translucent wall of the dressing room is made of channel glass, an extruded structural glass product, and is lit from below with discrete LED lights installed flush in the floor and ceiling. The walls of the powder room are a combination of custom back-painted glass, mirror and stainless steel panels. In the loft’s original layout, there was a closer connection between the adult and children’s spaces. A plan of the loft shows the office space next to the twins’ bedrooms, which has become their new hangout room where they can watch television and socialize with friends.