Before & After – The Complete Renovation Of A Small Loft Apartment

November 21, 2024
New York City-based design studio beda, has shared photos of a renovation project they completed of a small 500-square-foot (46 sqm) loft apartment.

New York City-based design studio beda (Brad Engelsman Design Architecture), has shared photos of a renovation project they completed of a small 500-square-foot (46 sqm) loft apartment.

Located within a historic building, originally designed by McKim, Mead, and White, on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, the project stemmed from the client’s desire to creatively rethink the space.

Here’s a look at the ‘before’ photos, that show dated closed-off and cramped rooms.

Before photo of a small loft apartment interior.
Before photo of a small loft apartment kitchen.
Before photo of a small loft apartment bathroom.

The renovated apartment features a kitchen that opens into the main living space, an updated bathroom, a usable sleeping loft, and ample storage.

This modern renovated apartment features a kitchen that opens into the main living space, an updated bathroom, an usable sleeping loft, and ample storage throughout.

The sophisticated material palette of the interior is designed to indicate and separate volumes by their use: stone and tile designate bathing, white oak is for sleeping, and the combination of lacquer and wood is used for cooking.

A modern kitchen with dark grey and wood cabinets.
A modern kitchen with dark grey and wood cabinets.

The view from the kitchen to the living room shows the built-in open cabinetry that the wall.

The view from the kitchen to the living room shows the built-in open cabinetry that the wall.

Some storage is visible in the apartment, like in the living room, while others are tucked behind the entryway’s white oak panels.

Some storage is visible in the apartment, like in the living room, while other storage is cleverly tucked behind the entryway’s white oak panels.

The client’s love of texture and pattern comes to life via the project’s thoughtful material choices, like the herringbone oak floor that plays against the repetition of a full-height slat wall in the same wood

The client’s love of texture and pattern comes to life via the project’s thoughtful material choices, like the herringbone oak floor that plays against the repetition of a full-height slat wall in the same wood

The slat wall continues in the bathroom, where it’s been paired with striated slate gray and glass.

The slat wall continues in the bathroom, where it's been paired with striated slate gray and glass.
The slat wall continues in the bathroom, where it's been paired with striated slate gray and glass.
The slat wall continues in the bathroom, where it's been paired with striated slate gray and glass.

Stairs lead from the main level up to the lofted bedroom. Hidden lighting in the wood slats makes it easy to see the stairs at night.

Stairs lead from the main level up to the lofted bedroom. Hidden lighting in the wood slats makes it easy to see the stairs at night.
Stairs lead from the main level up to the lofted bedroom. Hidden lighting in the wood slats makes it easy to see the stairs at night.

The lofted bedroom has slat walls, and the headboard reflects the flooring pattern throughout the apartment.

The lofted bedroom is lined with slat walls, while the headboard reflects the flooring pattern found throughout the apartment.

Here’s a look at the architectural drawings for the apartment.

Architectural drawings for a renovated small loft apartment.
Architectural drawings for a renovated small loft apartment.
Photography by Michael Grimm | Design: beda | General Contractor: Metropolitan Innovations