A Brooklyn Loft Renovation Eschews Walls to Keep Things Bright and Flexible

New Affiliates brings subtle definition to the Williamsburg home without taking away from the structure's cast-iron and brick bones.

A Brooklyn Loft Renovation Eschews Walls to Keep Things 
Bright and Flexible

New Affiliates brings subtle definition to the Williamsburg home without taking away from the structure's cast-iron and brick bones.

An open floor plan often begs for walls. But carving up an old, 1,200-square-foot loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was not an option for New York architecture practice New Affiliates.

To make their Brooklyn loft more livable, Craig Redman, left, and Thomas Chen worked with architecture firm New Affiliates to gently define

To make their Brooklyn loft more livable, Craig Redman, left, and Thomas Chen worked with architecture firm New Affiliates to gently define "rooms" within the open plan.

Photo: Matt Dutile

The firm’s clients, who’d been living in the largely open-plan apartment for two years, hoped to maintain its airy feel while also introducing defined rooms. Though the space has large windows, they are all on one side, and walls would have turned the interior into a cave.

Besides, "if you’re going to live in a loft, embrace an open lifestyle," says Craig Redman, an artist and illustrator who shares the space with his partner, fashion executive Thomas Chen, and their art and design collection.

A Cloud Softlight pendant by Molo helps demarcate the living area, bounded by a Le Bambole sofa by Mario Bellini beside of which sits a magazine rack by Chen Chen & Kai Williams.

A Cloud Softlight pendant by Molo helps demarcate the living area, bounded by a Le Bambole sofa by Mario Bellini beside of which sits a magazine rack by Chen Chen & Kai Williams.

Photo: Matt Dutile

Artworks made by Craig and Thomas’s friends complement a coffee table by Faye Toogood and a foam chair by Wentrcek Zebulon. The couple made the papier-mâché side table last year,

Artworks made by Craig and Thomas’s friends complement a coffee table by Faye Toogood and a foam chair by Wentrcek Zebulon. The couple made the papier-mâché side table last year, "at the height of pandemic boredom," says Craig.

Photo: Matt Dutile

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