West Village Gut Renovation

Gut Renovation, Furniture & Decor

West Village, Manhattan

Residential, CO-OP

450 sq. ft.

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A Palm Beach couple was frustrated that their 336-square-foot West Village, pre-war building, studio apartment did not fit their lifestyle. They wanted their pied-à-terre to feel like a permanent hotel, where they could sleep and eat without anything they didn't need. Mammoth — a design-build firm — worked on the interior design for a gut renovation; we designed and built custom pieces tailored to the couple's specific needs. A refined and cohesive design was implemented throughout the apartment, utilizing white oak to introduce texture and warmth while maximizing the limited space.

We kept the layout changes and demolition to a minimum to avoid an extensive permitting process. We kept the bathroom location and fixtures fully in place, and worked with much of the existing footprint in place. Given the couple's preference for dining out in New York, in lue of a kitchen renovation, we relocated the plumbing to a smaller wall in the unit, repurposing the original kitchen footprint for a sleeping area.

The custom white oak kitchenette seamlessly integrates into the apartment. Concealed behind custom cabinetry are scant appliances: mini refrigerator, pantry, drying rack, dish storage, and a washer and dryer. A custom Blue de Savoie marble integrated sink, countertop, and backsplash along with two pendant task lights, completes the kitchenette. To enhance the warmth of the main living area, we created a custom oak wall covering that complements the grain of the kitchenette millwork.

To maximize on the usability of this tiny footprint, we used custom millwork throughout the apartment to maximize storage, and did the best we could to make each element multi-functional.
On the other side of the kitchenette is a custom queen-sized Murphy bed with storage using the same slatted oak millwork as the kitchenette. The bed features two custom leather task lights, allowing the couple to read in bed after a night on the town. When not in use, the bed folds up, providing more space for the couple and their two dogs. 

Beyond the bed, Mammoth designed and built a versatile custom desk/table with storage. This piece can serve as a workspace or a dining area, and the two stools can be tucked away to give the piece a console-like appearance. The negative spaces between the slats on the far left mirror the proportions and act as the inverse of the pulls on the storage within this piece and the custom bench that resides under the window. The custom bench, featuring custom upholstery, was designed for both seating and shoe storage. A pop-out dog bowl is integrated into the bottom drawer, allowing it to be hidden when not needed.

Throughout the studio, we lay new flooring that we coordinated with millwork wood. We selected a medium width oak plank. And chose engineered wood as the home is located at grade: we knew that an engineered wood will do better with thermal impact of the adjacent ground, and would keep from expanding and contracting through climate changes.

The bathroom is clad in oversized porcelain slabs to create a seamless look. Mammoth created a custom vanity out of white oak, using the same design language as the kitchenette, including the marble slab. For the shower, we placed the controls on the opposite side of the showerhead to allow owners to enter without being sprayed with water. The bathroom renovation costs were kept to a minimum because we chose to retain the existing layout, but we did demolish all existing finishes, replace the waterproofing and add heating flooring to the project. We also selected budget-friendly oversized porcelain tile which added to a serene feel in the home.

Additional details include strategically placed outlets throughout the apartment for charging devices. Throughout the home renovation, we sought out opportunities to add detail and character to the limited space we were working with. We created a custom tray that fits perfectly on the custom ottoman, allowing the couple to eat takeout comfortably on the couch. Exterior improvements included the installation of a new door and windows.

In pre-war buildings, owners are often only able to take on projects that are closer to a cosmetic renovation in nature than a more extensive gut renovation. In older buildings, central HVAC is often not-possible without extensive structural changes that a typical alteration agreement and board approval process will not permit. Additionally, being located on West Village block littered with picturesque brownstones and townhouses, coordinating exterior units on Landmarked facades is equally a non-starter.

Non-gut renovations typically include cosmetic upgrades, and avoid more extensive like massive layout changes, full electrical rewiring, or structural changes.

Working as both the client’s interior design team as well as their general contractor, we were able to manage the scope of work in such a way as to manage the overall project budget, and avoid change orders. Overall, our residential design-build team created an integrated design that plays with texture by repeating positive and negative spaces within the same proportions across the apartment, but in different orientations. The apartment is now flexible to accommodate all of their needs within a compact footprint.