All That Glitters

A tiny Leather District loft offers a lesson in smart design.

Thirteen years after buying his 994-square-foot loft, Michael Wong decided it was time for a change, in the form of a reimagined kitchen and a more-luxurious look throughout. Here, interior designer Michael Ferzoco of Eleven Interiors details how he works with petite spaces like Wong’s to make them look positively grand.

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Photographs by Michael J. Lee

LET IT SHINE

Ferzoco likes to brighten up dark spaces with reflective surfaces. In Wong’s dining room, he positioned two mirrored pieces across from each other: a Horchow console and an 1800s Scandinavian armoire with mirrored doors that Wong had purchased from old friends many years ago. Chrome and stainless steel finds, including a marble-topped Minotti cocktail table, LEM “Piston” stools from Design Within Reach, and a Marcel Breuer “Wassily” chair that Wong found on the street, provide additional shine.

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EDIT THOUGHTFULLY

Clutter and poorly scaled furnishings can make a small space feel even smaller. Ferzoco helped his client pare down his collection to get the right look, keeping a treasured pair of midcentury-modern leather-and-wood armchairs that Wong had picked up at a tag sale in Texas, but replacing a Noguchi sofa knockoff with two new Minotti “Hamilton” sofas from the Morson Collection.

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LAYER THE LIGHT

Various light sources work together to create a compelling ambiance. In Wong’s living room, the mobilelike “Crescendo” chandelier by Tech Lighting provides overall illumination. It’s complemented by Bruch suspended track lighting, which Ferzoco positioned to highlight Wong’s artwork. Strategically placed Lucite table lamps (an eBay score), paired with one-of-a-kind metal lamps from a Provincetown gallery, are used for reading.

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GO GLAM EVERYWHERE

It pays to be daring in tight quarters, Ferzoco says. A prime example is the midcentury J. T. Kalmar chandelier—found in a consignment shop in Germany—that serves as the centerpiece of Wong’s custom kitchen. Its two tiers of textured crystal panels reflect the glossy cabinetry, Caesarstone-topped island, and emerald-green-and-gold Bisazza mosaic-tile backsplash.

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LIMIT THE PALETTE

It’s important to create a uniform color scheme when working in smaller spaces, Ferzoco says. With the exception of the entryway—which is done in Venetian plaster and painted with Benjamin Moore “Wenge”—all of the walls were painted with Benjamin Moore “White Heron,” and all of the floors were finished with a deep walnut stain. “When you walk down the dark hall, the room ahead just opens right up,” says Ferzoco.

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