Affordable Storage Solutions Solve This 105-Year-Old Rental Apartment’s No-Closet Problem
The Novogratz family and their design skills are no strangers to Apartment Therapy. We’ve had the pleasure of touring a West Village apartment designed by Cortney and Robert Novogratz. In 2022 the husband and wife duo designed a room for Small/Cool. They’re also designers of furniture, rugs, and home accessories, and we’ve even covered collaborations they’ve had with brands like lighting company, Pooky.
And now, Apartment Therapy is getting to usher in the next generation of Novogratz design style with this peek into Cortney and Robert’s son, the actor and musician Breaker Novogratz, and his first apartment in New York City.
“Finding an apartment in New York can feel like the Wild West. I had looked at so many places, and even lost a few. Walking into my apartment for the first time, I immediately felt its spirit,” Breaker begins. Though he’s not sure of the unit’s exact square footage, the one-bedroom is clearly on the smaller side.
I’ll admit, before I saw the photos of Breaker’s apartment, I expected it to be filled top to bottom with all-new modern furniture from the Novogratz line. But while there are a few pieces you’ll recognize, Breaker’s first home’s style is uniquely his own. It’s got a sort of old-school, classic vibe thanks to a mix of personal art and vintage gems.
But perhaps one of the biggest influences on the space’s style — which leans toward an eclectic, uncluttered minimalism — is simply the fact that the small rental apartment, in a building that’s over 105 years old, has no closets. Zero.
Breaker says because of the lack of closets, he had to learn to use the space wisely. “I can’t shove anything into my closet anymore, so I have to maintain my cleanliness or else the apartment feels small,” he writes. “Ultimately this is probably a good thing for me.”
Resources
- Entryway floor lamp — Holleder cordless standing lamp from Pooky, in collaboration with the Novogratz
- Dining area floor lamp — Maclaine Floor Lamp from the Novogratz
- Navy blue storage cabinet — Novogratz Channing metal locker
- Shelf and rod bracket for DIY closet — Similar item found at Amazon
- Wall-mounted drop-leaf work surface — Similar item found at Amazon
- Oscar cordless table lamp in sand by the Novogratz — Pooky
- ’50s Style Retro Manual Espresso Machine — SMEG
Thanks, Breaker!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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