Aubrey Ament and Will Glaser, the couple behind multidisciplinary design studio GLAM, moved from Portland, Oregon, into a sunny loft in Brooklyn with their two dogs, but the 920-square-foot space needed definite work. In addition to storage, the home needed separation between living and sleeping spaces but steer clear of extraneous interior partitions. Up for the challenge was architect Brandon Dean, founder of Brooklyn–based Dean Works.

Dean worked with Ament, who has a background in industrial and product design, and Glaser, whose background is in furniture making, to develop a concept that combined the need for storage and separation into one unit.

Inspiration for the “storage wall” came from the clients’ birch plywood dining table, which they’d designed and built previously, which has two large circles cut out of both ends. The same birch plywood makes up the custom kitchen cabinetry, creating continuity in the material and color palette.

The kitchen and island countertops—a white Breccia Capraia marble with bold veining and a dark soapstone, respectively—are a rich contrast to the understated elements in the rest of the kitchen area.

The same marble comprises the backsplash and shelves to create a sense of seamlessness, while the dark blue cabinets of the island closely match the island’s stone to give it a monolithic quality.

Ultimately, the creative collaboration between Dean Works and GLAM has resulted in a space that is minimalist and warm, elegant and comfortable.

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Brandon Dean, Dean Works / @dean_works

Builder/General Contractor: Orchester Management Company

Photography: Daniel Salemi

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A Crafty Storage Wall Helps Define a Designer Couple’s Brooklyn Loft