PROJECT: NYC Crosby Street Apartment Renovation | Interior Design | Completed in 2023

DESCRIPTION: Ember Studio’s debut interiors project, featured on Elle Decor in February 2025!

This full gut renovation of a 2800 square foot existing loft apartment located in the heart of Soho offers a refuge of calm for the homeowners in contrast to the bustle of Soho just outside the front door. The design concept worked to achieve a tranquil respite through an encompassing interior that feels at once calm and cozy. A relatively minimal architectural expression achieves this serenity when paired with the lived-in and eclectic curation of furniture, lighting, and art. The warmth of white oak millwork, hand-finished limewash, and plaster wall treatments ensure the space feels approachable and unified. Contributing to this livability, the apartment’s layout was designed to maximize communal family space while retaining room for a spa-like primary suite and charming nursery. The main entrance is situated at the rear of the apartment, opening into a hallway elevated by the dramatic proportions of the arched, stained reclaimed wood doors that draw visitors past the primary bed and nursery and into the main living space. A complimentary arc resides above the recessed entry niche, featuring cove lighting and a built-in console. A built-in planter sits to the right of the niche, anchoring a set of steps leading out to the terrace. After a turn in the hallway, the openness of the communal living room offers a sense of arrival. An open kitchen, living and dining room face a wall of windows, maximizing both family time and views of the historic Soho neighborhood. An office turned guest bedroom sits off the dining area, separated by a series of custom, solid slatted wood sliding doors. Designed to offer both flexibility and privacy, these doors separate the space while creating visual interest through texture. When the office is not in use, a white oak shelving unit folds down to transform into a murphy bed for guests visiting from out of town. The attention to detail can be seen throughout the project across elements ranging from recessed U-Channels for shower glass panels and mitered tile corners to a trimless reveal detail along the floating drywall base. A similar reveal at the ceiling allows Stephanie to consider lighting each space individually, at times dropping the ceiling for intimacy and at others revealing existing beams. In the primary bathroom, an entirely custom, white oak vanity is constructed with a Moon Grey Limestone Top featuring a rough split face outer edge. While there is a primordial element to the sink, the bathroom retains a feeling of intimacy through hand-troweled plaster walls and a white oak clad dropped ceiling above the shower and tub. Outside the bathroom, the primary bedroom is painted in a taupe limewash, creating an unexpectedly dark and moody palette. The powder room off the kitchen functions similarly, finished with charcoal limewash and a vintage Turkish stone sink that was transported to NYC and cut to fit the niche perfectly. Vintage pieces were collected on trips to antique fairs, like Brimfield and Round Top and are paired with contemporary furniture and art, primarily from independent makers.