On a Bustling Brooklyn Street, Above a Busy Restaurant, Quiet Tranquility Inside an Industrial Loft

Atlantic Avenue travels from the Brooklyn waterfront all the way to Jamaica, Queens. It’s a well-used thoroughfare, no matter where you find yourself on the 10-mile stretch. But its western-most section, the length that serves as the border between Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill, is relatively greener and more peaceful than the rest, even if it is buzzy with chic restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques.

Above one of these eateries is a particularly tranquil space, a quiet oasis that belies the street life happening just below it. It’s the work of Adam Robinson, of Montreal-based Bureau Tempo. Though sizable by New York City standards, the 1,600-square-foot loft, housed in a former industrial building that dates back to the early 20th century, had only one bedroom and little storage when Adam was brought on by the the client, a single professional. “The space lacked a few of the amenities that the owner desired: There was no guest bedroom, it had inadequate storage, and no entry closet. The key to the project was creating these additional functional spaces while maintaining the light-filled openness of the loft,” says Adam.

Here’s how he designed a serene home that has ample storage, an additional flexible study/guest room, and an open floor plan for easy entertaining.

Photography by Alex Lesage, courtesy of Bureau Tempo.

Above: The loft is rectangular in shape, with the kitchen and den in the back and the sleeping quarters in the front. Large windows overlook a terrace off the kitchen, flooding the space with natural light. The original rough-sawn timber beams hint at the loft’s industrial roots. Instead of ripping out the cabinets, which were in good condition, Adam had them repainted. “The uppers are painted in Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin (as are other millwork elements in the home), and the lower cabinets in Cromarty, also by Farrow & Ball.” Above: Directly opposite the kitchen is this cozy den, anchored by Space Copenhagen’s Fly Sofa from &Tradition. The Pallo Flatweave Linen Rug is from DWR. Above: The mural by artist Melody Lockerman is painted in colors that complement the palette in the home; it depicts nearby Prospect Park where the client walks her dog. The Margas Swivel Chairs are from &Tradition. The Filigrana Pendant Light is from DWR. Above: Textured tiles from Arta Ceramic line the floor in the kitchen and den. A couple steps down (and a built-in console-cum-partition) delineates that space from a formal dining room. Above: The minimalist but warm dining area. Two Mori Nut Pendant Lights by RBW are suspended over the Arc Dining Table by Sun at Six.  The Utility Chairs are by L’Ercolani. The walls are treated with Bauwerk’s lime wash paint in Mykonos (a warm greige). Above: Adjacent to the dining area is this formal living room. The color palette of the interior design was inspired by the client’s wardrobe. “I feel our closets can reveal a lot about a person, and the client’s wardrobe is really magnificent,” says Adam. “Her vibrant collection of colours, bold patterns, and quality textiles had a casual and confident sophistication that we were able to carry into our selections for finishes and furniture throughout the space.” Above: The client occasionally works from home, so Adam carved out space for a study that can be open to the living room or, with the help of foldable glass doors, closed off. The Trefoil Table is from Form & Refine; the Braid Rug is from Armadillo. Above: “When I first proposed the use of an operable partition to establish a flexible work/guest space, the client was concerned that it would diminish the feel of the loft and make the entire space feel smaller, but it has had the opposite effect: The fluted glass lets the light in from the south-facing windows and ambiguously extends the length of the room.” Above: Looking from the living room toward the client’s bedroom. Above: The bedroom has an extra calm and cozy vibe; unlike the walls in the rest of the home, the walls here are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Dead Salmon. The Colette Lamp is by &Tradition. Above: Adam’s floor plan for the remodel retains the openness of the original space but adds clear delineations between the different spaces and their functions.

For more Brooklyn design, see:

• Adding Energy Efficiency and Revived Style to 1860s Quarters in Brooklyn
• Steal This Look: A Communal Family Kitchen in a Brooklyn Townhouse
• Every Inch Efficient: 10 Ideas to Steal from a 1,000-Square-Foot Brooklyn Apartment

N.B.: This story originally ran on September 13, 2024 and has been updated.