This Brooklyn Family Went Looking for Bedrooms-and Settled on a 1000-Square-Foot Studio

""We had him in a glorified walk-in closet," the architect laughs, describing the nursery, a setup that ultimately prompted the search for a larger family home with more light, space, and a sensible number of bedroom doors. McGuier recalls thinking: "We're adults now; we've got a kid. Everybody should have a bedroom door, and we need a two-bedroom." Serendipity stepped in on a walk through Brooklyn's Vinegar Hill neighborhood, where McGuier spotted an ad for a converted toy factory-one that met just a single qualification."

"McGuier cordoned off the primary bedroom from the living area by installing floor-to-ceiling Belgian linen curtains by RH on a track, along with a sculptural, custom armoire designed by his firm and built by New Collar Goods. He used oversized art pieces-including a mixed-media collage painting found at Dial M for Modern in Chicago that clocks in at nine feet-that hold their own against the room's proportions."

Joe and Kelly McGuier moved from a cramped Park Slope rental to a 1,000-square-foot converted toy-factory studio in Vinegar Hill seeking more light, space, and separate sleeping areas. The loft featured 10-foot ceilings, lofted windows, and concrete columns but lacked distinct bedrooms. The couple created separation with floor-to-ceiling Belgian linen curtains and a sculptural custom armoire. Oversized artwork and a concealed projector address the space’s scale while minimizing visual clutter. Closed cabinetry and ample hidden storage manage family detritus and make the home kid-friendly. The interventions prioritize light, proportion, and practical storage over conventional room division.

Read at Architectural Digest