brooklyn babe's Profile

There was a telex machine outside the studio at my first job. It spent the day spitting out messages from who-knows where. That's a sound you don't hear anymore....

This looks like the work environment I dream about. Wonder why more companies don't make their design studios this chic and comfortable?? Sure would change attitudes about going to work!

We have a twenty pound bag of Mardi Gras beads. Great for dressing up, decorating and party favors!

Two cases of cheap champagne glasses from a restaurant supply store are also one of the best investments I made towards 24/7 party readiness. Glad to see the missing tiara was #1 on the comments. Mine gets a lot of use-have always been glad I splurged on the $22 rhinestone version instead of a cheap one.

Knotty pine is featured in my worst nightmares-the redo is so pretty and romantic!

@SelfridgeDesign, you are correct. Emerald green has been trending up since last year in Europe. Looks great for accessories, although I'm not sure I would use it for more than an accent color. Although I have a cashmere sweater that color that I absolutely love....

Photography can be misleading-the pix on the blog make the kitchen look wider than it does here. Based on the floor tiles, it looks like there is four feet of space between the counters, which is definitely enough room for more than one butt!
@cilla, you can't have too many cabinets. They are key for keeping your counters under control.

By NYC standards, this kitchen is massive!

Heart be still! It's a fantastic space, with beautiful light and architectural details.

Homes are living, breathing entities. They grow and change with time. It would be great to see what happens to this one in the next few years.

Retail sources please!! These are fabulous, any clue as to how those of us without designer credentials (or close friends in Sweden) can get them???

Love the way the rug and the books speak to each other and agree the kitty is divine.

Some of your comments inspired a little research into turn of the century kitchens.

Homeowners at that time valued cleanliness and efficiency over ornament. A kitchen’s beauty came from its practicality, and without being practical, no kitchen was beautiful. It was meant to be a workroom, and the more organized and sanitary it was, the better. If something wasn’t used every day, it got put away. Cabinets with closed doors and latches were considered essential, as they kept the dishes and utensils stored in them cleaner than open shelving. Cross ventilation was important. From this point of view the choices we made are completely in keeping with the spirit of the house.

The original owners would have chosen the best appliances and cabinetry they could afford. With deep respect for the craftsmanship of the period we did not embark on a low budget rehab that would have had to be redone as soon as the sclerotic lead pipes gave up or the kitchen ceiling caved in. I am confident the original owners would have been thrilled with a Meile dishwasher.

For you museum-style preservationists out there: the original claw foot tub from the second floor bathroom was moved to the third floor when the pink fixtures were installed in the forties. It is still there, along with one of those giant toilets that use way too much water.

My house is considered a small Queen Anne Victorian. It was built as part of a “development” designed for middle class buyers who were looking for “country living in the city” with the same materials as the larger, custom built houses in the neighborhood. The differences can be seen in the size and number of rooms, the number of stained glass windows, the height of the second and third floor ceilings and the quality of the parquet borders on the second floor.