Jay Street Loft

For Eleanora Kupencow, the purchase of her lofty duplex on the 32nd floor of J Condo—the tallest building in DUMBO—marked a new beginning. She traded a Fifth Avenue apartment shared with her late husband for jaw-dropping views of the Manhattan skyline, framed by two of America’s most famous bridges in the neighborhood recently designated as a historic district.

Tickets: Purchase Now
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2009
Partner: BKLYN DESIGNS

The space, with walls of windows and flooded with natural light, has served as an open canvas for Ms. Kupencow’s new life. At her request, the developer left off one of the bedroom walls, offering her studio optimal light for painting and allowing the same views found all through the home.

To further lighten and brighten the space, Ms. Kupencow had the dark floors sanded and treated to a double bleaching process. The walls were coated in metallic grays and golds—creating a minimalist backdrop for her paintings and sculpture. The electrical trappings of the home have been neatly hidden behind paintings or custom-made doors, so as not to detract from the artwork or views.

Each of her three bathrooms serves as a unique gallery: one for artistic photography, another for family photos and the third as a poster gallery and storage space for her art supplies.

The new space has proven creative inspiration for Eleanora, who spends her time creating art, sourcing custom, locally made furniture, and bicycling through Brooklyn making friends with the neighborhood and its people.