Kitchen of the Week: High/Low in a Downtown NY Remodel by Loose Parts

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Earlier this year, Margot wrote about the Upstate New York kitchen of Jennifer June, founder of Loose Parts and the Workshop Kitchen, a modular system that treats cabinets like freestanding furniture. (You can read the story here.) Today, we’re sharing the every-inch-considered Lower East Side kitchen that Jennifer designed for clients Darrel and Jeff, a psychiatrist and an adventure travel director who split their time between New York City and Upstate.

“The apartment is located in the Seward Park Cooperative, built in 1950 for union housing,” says Jennifer. “The previous owners had worked with Bench Architecture to transform it into a loft-like space by adding new white oak floors and exposing the concrete. Darrel and Jeff were drawn to the light, views, and vision of David Bench. They decided to extend the original vision with a second phase of renovation that included the kitchen (as well as remodeling the bath, adding a second bath and building closets.”

That’s where Jennifer and her waste-conscious design ethos came in. Instead of ripping everything out and installing a whole new kitchen, she incorporated existing kitchen pieces (including some hardwearing Ikea products) into the redesign. “We shared an appreciation for reusing what was already there,” she says.

Below, she gives us a tour of the couple’s semi-new, completely reimagined space.

Photography by Black & Steil, courtesy of Loose Parts.

workshop kitchen cabinets are built entirely from responsibly sourced hardwoods 17 — Above: Workshop Kitchen cabinets are built entirely from responsibly sourced hardwoods, including the drawer boxes, and have dovetailed joinery (no MDF, laminates, and heavily glued composites). For these units, Jennifer used red oak with a matte natural finish.

darrel with one of their two dogs, nico. &#8\2\20;before starting a design, 18 — Above: Darrel with one of their two dogs, Nico. “Before starting a design, I talk with clients about their habits and needs: how often they cook and shop, what they own, and how much storage they need,” says Jennifer, “Of course, there are always surprises. I had no idea about the little snail pull toy would end up fitting so perfectly in the opening above the fridge.”

loose parts nyc kitchen black stiel 3 — Above: The couple also share the home with Rio, their pet parrot. “The kitchen is a mix of what was already in the apartment, pieces the clients had collected, and custom additions,” says Jennifer. “The Ikea Kungsfors rail, hooks, and hanging bins were from the previous kitchen, and we were able to reinstall them after the walls were tiled and the new kitchen was in place.”

&#8\2\20;the ikea idasen locker was already in the apartment and happened t 20 — Above: “The Ikea Idasen locker was already in the apartment and happened to fit perfectly in that corner. The magnetic shelves, also from IKEA, were in the previous kitchen and found a new home here.”

&#8\2\20;the steel topped windowsills are throughout the apartment. the win 21 — Above: “The steel-topped windowsills are throughout the apartment. The window sills along with radiator covers and front door, were stripped of many layers of paint with metal underneath. We all appreciated the character of the exposed metal and how it worked alongside the other materials in the apartment. I think the result is beautiful.”

&#8\2\20;i designed the sand cast bronze drawer pulls and rosettes for the 22 — Above: “I designed the sand-cast bronze drawer pulls and rosettes for the kitchen. The rosettes cover the bolts and introduce another material into the construction. I love the warmth of bronze against the red oak, and the weight and feel of the cast drawer pulls in your hand. All the hardware was made in Cairo, NY, by Versatile Fabrication.” The sink is original to the home; the Ikea Taksjon faucet was already in the kitchen.

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