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When you think of New York City loft living, you probably imagine Tom Hanks in Big shooting hoops and skateboarding around a vast apartment. Now let us paint a more realistic, 2021 picture for you. Enter the Manhattan home of 30-something technologist-turned-investor Peter Elliot. His 2,800-square-foot, three-bedroom home, which is situated in an old cast-iron building, has the bones of a classic SoHo Loft—think: extra-high ceilings, tall windows that flood the space with light, and pressed-tin ceilings.
Cue the cool millwork. A white oak wood structure creates much-needed privacy within the wide-open public area, while also offering up storage and seating. On the side that faces the main living room, shelves house Elliot’s record player setup, and a large cabinet to the right houses a built-in bar—an entertainer’s dream. Walk through the hidden door near the window and you’ll enter the den, where Justin Charette, the interior designer on the project, incorporated a burgundy sofa to play off the nearby red brick building. Here there’s a built-in work desk and loads of hidden storage to the right for spare linens.
For ultimate flexibility (and a James Bond–worthy moment), architect Andrew Berman, best known for designing MoMA PS1, added glass panels on top of the millwork. With the press of a button, Elliot can switch the surface from transparent to frosted. “It’s honestly like Batman’s cave,” says Charette.
“I really love loft spaces,” continues Charette. One tip he swears by for decorating a wide-open room: Lean into clean lines. “We worked with a lot of items with linear elements to them,” notes the designer, hinting at the massive living room rug. “Everything is relatable but not too matchy.” This isn’t your typical bachelor pad.