SLADE ARCHITECTURE renovated this entire brownstone, completed in 2007 for NYC pillar and father of three daughters, Ricky Kenig, the owner and personality behind the Ricky’s NYC stores.  Ricky was interested in creating a modern haven for his family, in a beautiful Brooklyn brownstone: a place that offered private retreat spaces as well as open mixing spaces to spend time together. 

The program of spaces was organized by floor.  The basement was finished to become a casual family den-type room with a pool table and couches, etc.  The ground floor level was opened up to become a loft-like living room and kitchen with an exterior wood deck floating outside, over the backyard.  The second floor became the girls’ floor with bedrooms, a study, kid-lounge and bath.  Bachelor retreat was the idea of the third and top floor, with a home office, bedroom and bath.

In the kitchen, the color palette is focused on black and silver.  Countertops are Absolute Black granite with a laminate on upper cabinets and island that features an abstract aluminum pattern on a black background.  Mid level cabinets and security doors are aluminum sheet, with a custom pattern of circles and ovals that creates an optical illusion that the sheet is bowed out when in fact it is entirely flat.  The pattern was designed by SLADE ARCHITECTURE and water jet cut into the panel.

At the top floor, we designed a retreat for Ricky.  There is a home office and extensive closet/dressing area as well as bedroom and bathroom.  An extensive collection of rare shoes is featured prominently immediately adjacent to the stair entry on the floor, below the skylight.  SLADE ARCHITECTURE felt that it was such a committed interest that the collection should receive a preferential place in this private zone.  The “shoe wall” as they called it became an important personal expression as well as a unique decorative element.  LOCATION / NEW YORK, NY

COMPLETED / 2008

SIZE / 3,000 SF INTERIOR RENOVATION

PHOTOGRAPHER / JORDI MIRALLES

SOURCE / SLADE ARCHITECTURE