An apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side had a small space, a small budget and simple ambitions. “The client specifically wanted a place that was monochromatic,” said designer Stefano Venier of Minimal USA. Venier and Bartolomeo Bellati, managers of the firm’s U.S. headquarters, worked in collaboration with designer John Beckmann of Axis Mundi on this 43-sq.-ft. kitchen and master bath.
White lacquer cabinets hide all of the amenities essential for a modern kitchen. Above, the upper cabinets complete the storage system and illuminate the space below with LED strips.
Keeping with the minimalistic feel, an almost translucent shelf blends in with the wall for glass storage. “We like how the kitchen is there when needed and allows for interaction with the dining room and living room but disappears when not in use,” said Bellati.
A bar counter opens up the space to keep interaction between the kitchen and the living area. “It’s an ideal solution for entertaining guests but also for the client’s children without having them in the kitchen,” added Venier.
In the master bath, a rectangular vanity uses a central horizontal groove and mitered, 45-degree edges for a sculpture-like look. “This vanity, in glossy white lacquer, not only enhances the elegance of the bathroom but is also a sleek solution for giving more storage space,” said Bellati.
The team also designed a hanging cabinet, which is made of 10 coats of white lacquer, the same material of the vanity, and has a mitered edge for a seamless close. “Minimalism is about the right gesture in the right place,” explained Bellati.