Francis and his wife Jane rent a formerly raw loft in an overlooked but very well located neighborhood in Manhattan. Despite the bare bones of the space, they've managed to make it their own. Francis (an architect) built a full bathroom, a number of bedrooms for the couple's growing family, and a whole new kitchen, which is bright and welcoming and one of the first things one encounters after the long hallway entrance to their apartment.
The kitchen sits on the original manufacturing loft's floorboards, which Francis painted white. It offers plenty of room for quick meals along the counter as well as grand dinners at the stunning dining room table. It's also iconic IKEA, serving both the family's needs financially and functionally. As an indefinite but knowingly temporary solution, Francis built something that would work with his primarily minimalist aesthetic but provide the means for cooking and preparing meals for a family of five!
As mentioned, Francis, an architect, did much of the building in the kitchen, while Jane, a children's clothing designer, does most of the cooking. One neat feature to note: the dining table is covered in canvas that is meant to be replaced over time. The whole space is a welcome bout of color in an otherwise limited color palette home.
10 Questions for Jane (and her Kitchen)
What is your favorite kitchen tool or element?
My knives. It's very important for me to have very sharp knives.
What's the most memorable meal you've ever cooked in this kitchen?
My daughter, Anais' 1st birthday party.
Biggest challenge in your kitchen?
Laminate counter top.
Biggest indulgence or splurge in the kitchen?
Espresso machine.
Is there anything you hope to add or improve in your kitchen?
Stone counter top and better stove top.
How would you describe your cooking style?
Healthy, modern, simple.
Best cooking advice or tip you ever received:
Don't mix too many different ingredients.
What is your favorite cookbook?
French Laundry.
What are you cooking this week?
Quinoa with all my favorite vegetables. Tofu stir fry with vegetables. Salmon with mango.
→ Check Out the Full House Tour: Francis and Jane Adapt a Loft to a Growing Family
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(Images: Jill Slater)
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I am fascinated with the wrapped dining chairs... Very interesting and textural.
Ha, I wondered where my original comment went, but apparently they cropped out the shoe-counter photo. Carry on.
Now I can live with this kitchen, yes there is an island, but the overall space isn't grand or overly spacious and is simply laid out.
I love how they went with a bold gloss red cabinet front, it adds a dramatic statement, without breaking the budget, and who says kitchens have to be dull, even if it's little more than the basics?
As long as it has a good layout, decent storage, or room to add storage, then it's a well designed kitchen and I'd be happy to cook in it.
I enjoy seeing the kitchens of people who don't seem to be wealthy, yet enjoy fine food. They give me great, affordable ideas. In this tour, those chairs. Wonderful! That looks like a kitchen that has welcomed a lot of happy guests.
One caution — I once had a wine rack on top of my refrigerator and it caused some bottles to turn. Too much heat expended from the back of the refrigerator. These folks also have a dishwasher nearby, another thing that produces heat.