Photography by Devon Banks, courtesy of Denise Lee Architect.
Come with us on a tour of a cleverly updated Gramercy Park Apartment, remodeled by architect Denise Lee. Let's take a look at Lee's best storage solutions.
1. Put high ceilings to work.
Lee made immediate use of the apartment’s 12-foot-high ceilings by placing all nonessential storage overhead.
2. Make all storage areas easily accessible.
Lee designed a ladder-and-rail system for accessing the apartment’s overhead storage compartments.
3. Keep furnishings spare.
Unless you entertain frequently or have a large family, a compact table and two chairs might be all that’s required for everyday.
4. Design storage solutions for the little things too.
The architect installed a single open shelf to run the length of the kitchen, just beneath the overhead cabinetry.
5. No room for a bedroom? Install one overhead.
Lee managed to fit a third sleeping space for visiting family and overnight guests by adding a sleeping loft.
6. Find storage potential in every unused space.
Lee designed a shallow staircase to the loft with room for closet space inside.
7. Spend (money) to save (space).
Without a doubt, it’s costly to have a custom built-in storage staircase designed and fabricated--but it does buy functionality.