For the renovation of a loft in a landmarked building in the Union Square neighborhood of Manhattan, the New York City design/build firm Studiodb devised a series of bookshelves and sliding doors that allowed for an expansive layout, with the flexibility to create private spaces when needed. The owner, a native New Yorker, bought the apartment as a primary residence but divides his time between his hometown and Washington, D.C.

The client wanted the kitchen to be open to the living space, with a larger than usual island where visitors could gather while he is entertaining. At his request, the designers inserted a large pantry and prep area next to the kitchen, which allows it to remain clean and uncluttered. A custom blackened-steel sliding door with a perforated mesh screen closes off the ancillary area from the main space. When open, the pantry is “almost like a grand piece of furniture,” says Studiodb partner Damian Zunino.