In Just 450 Square Feet, A New York Architect Crafts a Multifunctional Apartment of His Own
New York architect Christopher Kitterman is no stranger to small spaces. As the principal of STADT Architecture, he recently reworked a narrow triplex that was featured in our November 2016 issue. But a recent project proved more personal: the renovation of his 450-square-foot apartment in Manhattan's Gramercy neighborhood.
The living room features a 12-foot-high ceiling, which drops to 8.5 feet in other areas of the apartment—an design feature architect and resident Christopher Kitterman used to organize the space. Behind the curtain, sliding glass doors open to a small terrace. The artwork includes a pair of Cindy Sherman prints, a framed Hermès scarf, and two of Kitterman's own photographs.
The tight quarters proved challenging when trying to create a logical layout. A bathroom at the center of the space cut off the living area, which had previously been dominated by a bed.
To make sense of the space, Kitterman used the existing architecture as a guide. The back of the apartment, where a 12-foot-high ceiling leads to a small terrace, would become the main living room, while shorter 8.5-feet-tall ceilings would cover the kitchen and dining area and convertible bedroom. To pull it all together, Kitterman opted for a bright neutral color palette and walnut herringbone floors from LV Wood.
The living room furniture sticks to a soothing palette. The sectional is by Gus, the brown leather Spring chair is by Erwan Bouroullec for Cappellini, the silver side table is from Design Within Reach, the Glo Ball floor lamp is by Jasper Morrison for Flos, and the Bob tables are by Jean-Marie Massaud for Poltrona Frau. A photograph by the architect rests on a credenza from ABC Home, the same source for the rug.
Creating a new space for sleeping was equally important. Rather than giving over valuable square footage to a bed, Kitterman chose a queen-size Murphy bed system from Häfele that can be hidden behind a curtain during the day. When it's time to drop the bed at night, the curtain slides aside to cover the home's entrance, creating a cozy sense of privacy.
By placing the bed near the entrance of the apartment, Kitterman was able to leave an open space for a dining table—with room for eight—off of the new galley kitchen, which now gets plenty of natural light thanks to the reconfigured layout.
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