Collection by Marni Elyse Katz

Antonio Monserrat's Williamsburg Loft

Antonio named this chair/shelf/side table prototype Volada, which means "cantilevered" in Spanish. Here, he experimented with different paint treatments. "I sprayed paint from different distances and used different brushes," he says. "It illustrates the play of light and shadow on surfaces."
Antonio named this chair/shelf/side table prototype Volada, which means "cantilevered" in Spanish. Here, he experimented with different paint treatments. "I sprayed paint from different distances and used different brushes," he says. "It illustrates the play of light and shadow on surfaces."
Arca is a study for the dining table and also reflects how color transitions on the floor. "I was experimenting with color combinations," says Antonio.
Arca is a study for the dining table and also reflects how color transitions on the floor. "I was experimenting with color combinations," says Antonio.
Antonio transformed a sliver of space off the living area between the bedroom and bath into a walk-in closet with floor-to-ceiling cabinets. He bought the bust from a sculptor in Palma de Mallorca and built the display shelf.
Antonio transformed a sliver of space off the living area between the bedroom and bath into a walk-in closet with floor-to-ceiling cabinets. He bought the bust from a sculptor in Palma de Mallorca and built the display shelf.
A piece by contemporary Japanese artist Hisashi Otsuka hangs above the Ligne Roset sofa. The black Lucite Optique floor lamp hails from the 1980s.
A piece by contemporary Japanese artist Hisashi Otsuka hangs above the Ligne Roset sofa. The black Lucite Optique floor lamp hails from the 1980s.
A view from the sleeping space into the living area, where Ligne Roset sofas sit on an IKEA carpet under a vintage Lightolier chandelier. A custom curtain rod bends onto the adjacent wall so that the drapery does not obscure any of the window. "There is strong light and shadows in the apartment," Antonio says.
A view from the sleeping space into the living area, where Ligne Roset sofas sit on an IKEA carpet under a vintage Lightolier chandelier. A custom curtain rod bends onto the adjacent wall so that the drapery does not obscure any of the window. "There is strong light and shadows in the apartment," Antonio says.
Antonio took down the wall between the living area and bedroom, then added an arch above the opening. The change in floor color from gray to pale blue also delineates the transition between spaces. He designed the built-in, arched mirror, too.
Antonio took down the wall between the living area and bedroom, then added an arch above the opening. The change in floor color from gray to pale blue also delineates the transition between spaces. He designed the built-in, arched mirror, too.
Architect Antonio Monserrat, who is from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, stands in the entry of his Williamsburg loft. The Italian Colnago Columbus steel frame bike was a pandemic project. "I procured all vintage parts and from Sun + Air in Brooklyn assembled it," he says.
Architect Antonio Monserrat, who is from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, stands in the entry of his Williamsburg loft. The Italian Colnago Columbus steel frame bike was a pandemic project. "I procured all vintage parts and from Sun + Air in Brooklyn assembled it," he says.
LC7 chairs, originally designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1928 and later co-created with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret for Cassina, surround the dining table. Antonio purchased these 1970s specimens when living in London.
LC7 chairs, originally designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1928 and later co-created with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret for Cassina, surround the dining table. Antonio purchased these 1970s specimens when living in London.
When architect Antonio Monserrat transformed an old 800-square-foot Brooklyn loft into his new home, he imbued his love of colorful, multifunctional design into an eye-catching renovation. Once used as a bakery in the early 20th century, the postindustrial space came with great bones—original exposed timber beams, 12-foot ceilings and large windows—that Monserrat used as a backdrop for his playful color choices, small-scale studio prototypes, and contemporary furnishings. From the emerald-green entryway with a hot-pink ceiling to the sunshine-yellow Kartell storage pieces, the Spanish architect’s loft beautifully blends creative inspiration with functionality.
When architect Antonio Monserrat transformed an old 800-square-foot Brooklyn loft into his new home, he imbued his love of colorful, multifunctional design into an eye-catching renovation. Once used as a bakery in the early 20th century, the postindustrial space came with great bones—original exposed timber beams, 12-foot ceilings and large windows—that Monserrat used as a backdrop for his playful color choices, small-scale studio prototypes, and contemporary furnishings. From the emerald-green entryway with a hot-pink ceiling to the sunshine-yellow Kartell storage pieces, the Spanish architect’s loft beautifully blends creative inspiration with functionality.
A prototype of the dining table became a miniature lookalike for Oslo, Antonio’s Abyssinian cat.
A prototype of the dining table became a miniature lookalike for Oslo, Antonio’s Abyssinian cat.
Antonio designed thin shelves with hinged storage boxes that do double duty as structural elements. "It's a play between solid and void," he says about the open and closed design.
Antonio designed thin shelves with hinged storage boxes that do double duty as structural elements. "It's a play between solid and void," he says about the open and closed design.
Oslo looks down from one of the shelves made by his owner. Like Antonio's other prototypes, the shelves are multifunctional. "They can be used for books too, though he pretty much lives on the top one," says Antonio.
Oslo looks down from one of the shelves made by his owner. Like Antonio's other prototypes, the shelves are multifunctional. "They can be used for books too, though he pretty much lives on the top one," says Antonio.
Wood panel shutters in the style of Dutch doors allow for simultaneous privacy and sunlight in the bedroom. Antonio purchased the yellow Kartell storage pieces at Bi-Rite Studio in Brooklyn.
Wood panel shutters in the style of Dutch doors allow for simultaneous privacy and sunlight in the bedroom. Antonio purchased the yellow Kartell storage pieces at Bi-Rite Studio in Brooklyn.
An iconic First chair by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis sits under Antonio’s Rorschach paintings in the bedroom. "They're twins, made from an inkblot process," he says. When it came to buying the furniture he didn’t make, the architect thought about an adage from fashion designer Vivienne Westwood: "Buy less, choose well, and make it last."
An iconic First chair by Michele de Lucchi for Memphis sits under Antonio’s Rorschach paintings in the bedroom. "They're twins, made from an inkblot process," he says. When it came to buying the furniture he didn’t make, the architect thought about an adage from fashion designer Vivienne Westwood: "Buy less, choose well, and make it last."
Antonio inherited one of the 1960s chrome Orbit sconces by Robert Sonneman and bought the other at Home Union in Brooklyn.
Antonio inherited one of the 1960s chrome Orbit sconces by Robert Sonneman and bought the other at Home Union in Brooklyn.
Antonio refers to this painting, named Cadires (which means "chairs" in Catalan), as accidental art. The serendipitous markings resulted from the board being under a chair he was painting. "It’s almost like a memory for me; a memory of the process of making the chairs," he says.
Antonio refers to this painting, named Cadires (which means "chairs" in Catalan), as accidental art. The serendipitous markings resulted from the board being under a chair he was painting. "It’s almost like a memory for me; a memory of the process of making the chairs," he says.
Stacked tiles from Spanish company Porcelanosa line the wall behind the sink and in the shower. Antonio bought the Peill & Putzler Wave pendants when he lived in Germany.
Stacked tiles from Spanish company Porcelanosa line the wall behind the sink and in the shower. Antonio bought the Peill & Putzler Wave pendants when he lived in Germany.
Antonio designed and made the Perspex towel rack in the bathroom when he couldn't find one that suited the space. The Polo stool by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell is from Bi-Rite Studio in Brooklyn.
Antonio designed and made the Perspex towel rack in the bathroom when he couldn't find one that suited the space. The Polo stool by Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell is from Bi-Rite Studio in Brooklyn.