Inspiring Wood Designs (Interior)

"The couple work opposite schedules yet both live fascinating lives so they wanted a house that they could co-exist in," the firm says. "They needed a divided space that still felt open and communal when they were sharing time together." The double-height living area is dotted with custom lights by Hannah Collins and Magnus Schevene.

A key request from the client was ample room for books. "Brian had us promise that we would give him room to grow his collection," the firm says. The solution was a large library with walnut shelves that was custom-built by woodworker Tom Clossey.

A cast-in-place concrete kitchen island features a cantilevered concrete dining table. The hearth’s plinth offers added seating at the table during crowded gatherings.

The team’s design philosophy was “not to have too many ideas,” and instead focus on a few key aesthetic moves that would be carried through the entire space. The lower living level features a full-wall storage system and statement hearth on a concrete platform. Sectional seating offers sweeping city views of Karakoy, including an old Armenian church and Galata Tower.

One entire wall of the space is dedicated to storage. A simple, clean iron rod shelving system was conceptualized to span the entire wall left to right, and both floors top to bottom. Depending on the location of the storage wall, the nondescript iron grid can be used to house items in the living room, kitchen, library, or bedroom areas.

Structural changes were immediately made to the original shell to bring in more natural light. The small windows on the front façade were dramatically replaced with a folding window assembly that stretches the entire width of the room. Skylights were cleverly added slightly beneath the peak pitch of the roof to funnel light towards the mezzanine, while still illuminating the main floor below. Warm, rich iroko wood spans the ceiling and wall, and also extends to the seating bench beneath the window.

The main bathroom is only partially separated from the sleeping area by a glass partition. The absence of opaque walls creates a feeling of openness and cohesion in the bright mezzanine space.

Uninterrupted cement flooring was chosen for the mezzanine. The cement extends to the bed and bathtub block, while the exposed ductwork and black beams above dramatically accentuate the ceilings.

Futuristic floating stairs lead to the loft’s mezzanine. Throughout the lower level, natural stone was chosen for the flooring, laid at an irregular angle to add visual interest.