All Together Now
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The bed, usually scattered with Legos and toy cars, “is a big playground for the kids,” says Krastev.Photo by: David Allee -
In the apartment’s new incarnation, the main living area is a family room that morphs—after the boys go to sleep in the back bedroom—into the parents’ lair. As Krastev puts it, “During the day it’s a one-bedroom apartment, at night, a studio.”Photo by: David Allee -
Since the main living space has to function as both a bedroom and a family room, Krastev and Nikolova make do without a couch. When the family watches TV or reads, they cozy up on the bed or sit on the built-in bench, which also serves as a dining and play area. “When in a limited space, you have to really think: What do we do in this room, what do we need?” says Krastev. “Do we really need a coffee table?” In their case, the answer was no.Photo by: David Allee -
On the opposite side of the hallway, the storage wall bumps out to accommodate the television and entertainment systems and gains some hidden extra space from the former lot-line window niches.Photo by: David Allee -
“Corian is often pooh-poohed because it’s used for ugly stuff, like bathroom vanities,” says Schoenenberger, “but we knew what we wanted to achieve would be difficult with plaster.” The eye-catching sculptural wall above the bed is crafted from the material.Photo by: David Allee -
The clients embraced the material because it is kidproof—any marks can be cleaned easily and the matte finish resists fingerprints. The structure was built off-site, brought into the apartment in pieces, installed on a wooden skeleton, and then sanded over a three-day period to achieve a seamless integration with the back wall and the skylight overhead. “It’s kind of a melting design that comes from above and goes down the shelves,” says Schoenenberger.Photo by: David Allee -
For now, Kimi, age six, and Darin, age two and a half, happily share a room and bunk bed. Kimi’s clothes are stored on low shelves in the built-in closet, so he can dress himself, and the children’s toys are stored within easy reach in open drawers.Photo by: David Allee -
Their parents’ seldom-needed stuff (luggage, winter clothes) is stashed in the higher cabinets. “Believe it or not, we have empty cabinets,” says Nikolova. “There’s space for everything.”Photo by: David Allee
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