Before and After: Little Ms Dynamite and the Urban Gem

My nearest and dearest know my insatiable love for the Big Apple, and I still regret not having gone to live there for a bit with my love, pre kids. I love the energy, the grit and grime, the amazing art, Dean and Deluca, SOOOOOHOOOOO and of course the people. So when little Ms Dynamite called me up, I was intrigued to start working with this bubbly New Yorker (my third in the last 4 months).

She had just bought an inner city apartment and needed help renovating and designing it, and with her flying back to London the next day, the meeting could not have been timed better.  Our first meeting was essentially our last, as all our correspondence was done thereafter either over skype, email, or whatsapp (and yes, many many voice notes), whilst Little Ms Dynamite flew all over the world.

 

She is a remarkable client and I appreciate her love of beautiful things, whilst still being so focused on living a minimalist life. She is as tough as nails and as sharp as nails, and her resilience and patience throughout a very tricky renovation was one to be admired ( I found out later her secret, meditation).

The apartment was in a dire state and needed a little more than TLC to bring it up to speed with  design trends, and to make it both a home and desired rental space. This project just went to show that with the right vision and synergy any transformation is possible.

The Brief

Transform a studio apartment into a 1 bedroom, that would work as a home for her or her business partner for +/- 3 or so months of the year, and then rented for Airbnb the remaining 9 months. The look needed to be inspired by Morocco, but with a strong focus on minimalism and function. Extra points were given for reclaiming, reusing and refurbing!

BEFORE

 

The Transformation

• Complete overhaul of the apartment from the bottom up, including stripping existing cupboards and bathroom, knocking down kitchen wall and rebuilding, rework and overhaul of kitchen joinery, all tiling, sanding and resealing floor, electrics, plumbing and paintwork
• new light fittings throughout
• new tiles throughout
• new paint colours throughout
• new taps and bathroom fittings
• new appliances
• new bathroom design
• new kitchen design
• new bedroom design
• new furniture and decor throughout

The Biggest challenge

Keeping track of her travel movements, and not always getting the time difference right, thus resulting in me insistently asking her approval on some magnificent copper and brass fittings at 5am!

Jokes aside, the biggest challenge was keeping this project on track time wise. In a small space like this it was difficult having too many people on site at once, and thus Little Ms Dynamite (admirably or crazily) lived amidst a building site for over 2 weeks.

Best Feature

Too many…the pressed ceiling panel artworks in the dining area and the brass and copper bathroom fittings (that 5am whatsapp was definitely worthwhile!).

Photography credit to the awesome Alex of Alex Du Toit Photography.

AFTER