PRACTICAL MINIMALISM: SIMPLE AND FUNCTIONAL. MADE IN BROOKLYN.

In storage deprived New York apartments there are never enough drawers or shelves. At three feet from the ground, this bed has the equivalent of a dresser, a bookcase and a small closet under it.

Oscar checks out his drawers and the steps going up

The leather handles provide a warm, rustic touch.

The end of the bed has open bookshelves.

The bed is made of bamboo and MDF

The elevated platform beds can come apart and be lowered closer to the ground. The middle components can be used separately extending the useful life of this bed. Made to order in Brooklyn.

I recently completed a project that involved splitting a room for two sisters who both needed a space to claim as their own.

I created a two sided cabinet that divides the room in two halves. The room has two windows, one on each side so both areas have natural light.

The floor plan and the initial sketches

The partition is 7 feet high and has drawers on one side and bookshelves on both. Each girl has also her own mirror.

The cabinets are secured to the wall but they are easily removable and the components can be used independently and in a different configuration.

In this recently completed video I talk about my work and designing for children. Documentary filmmakers Bret Sigler and Liam Dalzell capture some typical moments at the shop, from the initial sketching to the fabrication process. The final part of the video shows a very nice custom room I did in New York City last Spring.

Preserving wood’s natural character and a little history too. In a Meat Packing District loft I built and installed a floor to ceiling cabinet wrapped in reclaimed lumber. The upper shelves were supported by bolted steel angles. The old lumber belonged to the walls of a dismantled farm house in upstate New York.

The boards were carefully selected for structural integrity, color and texture. One by one we cleaned, hand brushed and applied a clear, dull protective coat for durability to each board.  No stain or additional coloring was used in the process.

The overall roughness was smoothed over so as to make the cabinet more pleasant to the touch. Some imperfections were kept and some others were corrected in the interest of preserving the character of the piece but without being a “purist”.

Using reclaimed wood appeals to me for at least three reasons: the beauty of the patina, that only the exposure to the elements can create, preserving a bit of history, by bringing to the present something clearly made in the past and most importantly, the environmental benefits of giving a second life to these battered wood planks that otherwise would have gone to waste.

When that special visitor is in town. A twin bunk bed over a full sized bed has several benefits when compared with a regular, twin-over-twin bunk bed. You can lie down and read a book with your child or you can pull out the trundle below it for your son or daughter and let your mother-in-law sleep in the larger, more comfortable full bed.

But most days your child will enjoy a larger bed that becomes the focal point of the room as it also functions as a daybed. A large bed is more conducive to sharing moments with parents or siblings and read or watch a movie together. The trundle bed also gives children more flexibility for sleep overs.

The stairs can also be used as storage space when drawers are added to them. But more importantly they are well designed steps that are very safe and very easy to climb up and down. The round port holes are strategically placed so that kids can use them as hand rails.

In this similar design, all in natural birch, the bookshelves flank the stairs on the left end of the bed. The custom bookshelves have round poles that also act as handrails. The steps have drawers that are 22 inches deep. The whole bed is 9 feet long by 5 feet and 8 inches.

These types of beds take up more space and are more expensive than regular bunk beds but they offer added features that solve spatial challenges with a pleasing design. For best use of this unit I recommend a minimum room size of 120 square feet. For more information or to obtain a quote please email me at rg@casakids.com

Twin girls get twin desks. In a Greenwich Village home I designed and constructed two identical desks for 5 year old twin sisters. Their bedroom doors face each other and are connected by a hallway. The girls can see each other from their desks but still have the privacy of their own rooms. Twins are said to enjoy a special connection so maintaining this symmetry was a quality I aimed to preserve.

The desk top includes three long pencil drawers. In addition, three magnetic boards are attached to the back wall of each desk, just above the counter top

The desks are made with birch plywood and assembled with screws that are visible on the sides of the bookshelves. This project is designed like a Meccano toy or an Erector Set, whereby the assembly is executed by screwing together already-finished components. No glue was used in this project, all the joinery is mechanical.

We’ve also created taller shelves for books and shorter shelves which are perfect for collections of small objects. Hanging the desk from the wall is a way of streamlining the cabinet’s profile and creating both a smaller footprint and a lighter feel.

In a bright loft apartment in DUMBO (Brooklyn) I built two cabinets in a combination of walnut veneer and white painted plywood. For the living room I designed a media cabinet that holds books, a flat TV screen and a variety of stereo components, including large speakers.

The cabinet, almost 9 feet tall and over 7 feet wide, frames a large flat TV screen, mounted on a removable back panel. Selecting the wood and choosing how to lay the veneers is part of the attractiveness of using walnut in this unit.

The upper doors have extension arms that hold them open at 90 degrees. The lower cabinets accommodate  the audio equipment in pull out trays. The speakers are hidden behind doors lined with speaker fabric. All the equipment can be connected and disconnected easily. Additionally we have created gaps and cut outs for the wires to efficiently run through the cabinet.

For the master bedroom I designed a large dresser, bookended on the right side by a tall, mirrored shoe and bag closet.  The most visible and appreciated portion of a cabinet is its face (doors, drawer fronts) so we make them in the nice, expensive wood. The cabinets (boxes behind the faces) are built in regular plywood painted white.

I recently converted a walk-in closet into a tiny bedroom for a soon to arrive baby girl. The small space had only one sliding door opening to her brother’s bedroom. We created a second sliding door, opening into the hallway right across from the Master bedroom (see floor plans) making it easy for the parents to watch their baby.

The custom crib was designed to fit tight in this space and is only two inches smaller than the standard crib size. Under the crib we fitted two large drawers. The crib easily converts into a toddler bed (not shown) that can carry the child until she is six or seven years old. On the other side of the room, in an existing niche, we created a built in dresser just about the right size for a changing tray and a hanging cabinet above.

BEFORE AND AFTER

The roughly 5′ x 6′ room opens up on two sides and further integrates with the adjacent spaces.

As you enter the boy’s room you see the side of the new Armoire which has shallow shelves for collections of small toys and picture frames. The Armoire has hanging bars behind the doors, adjustable shelves and large drawers below. The boy’s room already had a toddler bed and a dresser. We added a window seat with drawers and two bookshelves above.

Bruno patiently awaits the arrival of his baby sister.

This was a relatively inexpensive solution compared with the cost of moving to a larger apartment. With a customized solution like this one, a small storage space can become a beautiful and functional baby’s room.

Not long ago I restored and re designed an old cabinet that had belonged to my client’s grandmother. It is a typical china cabinet, a dinning room piece with drawers on the bottom and glass doors above. To make it more functional and improve its proportiones we created a middle section with a marble top.

Before, during and after renovation

The original piece was too short and had too much ornament, including an ondulating crown molding that we replaced by a straight one. We reinforced the legs, did new backs and removed a lot of the decorative molding. The cabinet wasn’t of particularly great craftmanship but the strong memories made it worth keeping. The job was to make it more functional and refresh its look.

Finally we finished the cabinet with a warm, earthy patina. We sanded down the old cherry finish and did a three step glazed process: a beige colored base with a darker glaze on top  and clear satin lacquer as a final protective coat.

The brass handles and knobs were stripped down, re oxidized bringing the dark brown patina back to life. In the right side of the lower cabinet we created a wine rack.

When working on an old piece, if it is very valuable for its design and craftmanship I would restore it as it was originally. But if it’s not of such high standards, it’s OK to keep some things, delete others and add some new ones that hopefully will enhance the original design.

I recently completed a room for two brothers, 9 and 13 years old in a Tribeca loft. The room is small so we had no choice than to partially block the window with the bunk beds. Still, the “L” shaped configuration of the bed opens up the space and creates a more airy feeling.

The dresser hides the air conditioner but is on wheels so it can be moved out when the building services the system. The lower bed has two large drawers. The upper bed is extra long and has a headboard with a small bookshelf for a book, a glass of water and a lamp.

As you enter the room, on the left side wall there is a hanging bookcase with a flip down desk.

The boys are very athletic and in such a small room a ladder would have sufficed. But stairs were a requirement because Chino, the loyal family dog needs to go up to the top bunk bed at his own will. And he deserves it.

Inspired by Donald Judd and Jean Prouve…

I recently completed several bookcases that were designed as stacked plywood boxes. The boxes in themselves are all finished in natural birch plywood, while the rest of the pieces are mostly painted in colors.

The lower cabinets are deeper, heavier and have recessed feet. The upper cabinets are thinner and have angled supports that provide extra stability to the transition. Designing boxes is all about the details.

These long boxes are connected to each other by vertical pieces that are recessed from the edges of the cabinet. This design detail  provides a certain “floating” quality as it accentuates the lightness and the horizontal character of the piece. It also makes it easier for fabrication, transport and final assembly.

These projects were inspired by the sculpture of Donald Judd and the industrially produced furniture of Jean Prouve. Judd created beautiful, minimal boxes. Prouve did colorful bookshelves with staggered vertical partitions and overhanging shelves. My love for Mondrian is also present in these designs.

We design and build these pieces to order and it takes about 10 weeks to produce. Sizes and colors are customizable. Prices start at $2500 for a 60″ long cabinet. For more info please email rg@robertogil.com.

I recently completed a child’s room in a brand new apartment in Brooklyn. The room is quite small so we decided to raise the bed and create a play area under it. The loft bed sits on the window sill to gain a few precious inches in the length of the room.

The steps have drawers under them and a small closet right at the base provides hanging and shelf space for the child’s clothes.

BEFORE ...

... AFTER

We created the fourth wall of the bedroom with cabinetry and a set of bi fold doors with translucent acrylic panels above.

FLOOR PLAN: BEFORE AND AFTER

We didn’t use sheetrock and it was a very clean and expeditious installation. Most pieces were pre assembled in the shop and it took just over a day to complete the installation. In the future, if the client decides to move, the cabinetry can be easily disassembled and re used in a different space.

The detachable night table hangs from the side of the bed and keeps a glass of water close to the hand. Penelope really likes her room and she enjoys going up and down the steps safely. The loft beds we do are not only are space saving solutions but also transform the space in a way that children relate to. Children enjoy spaces and furniture that has been designed for them and for their size. By the way, her mother can perfectly and safely snug with her daughter in this sturdy bed. I always make sure that our beds will hold kids and parents alike.

For other loft beds visit my web site www.casakids.com.

I had to cover my back yard for a big party and rather than renting a boring tent I built an enclosure out of marine fir plywood and translucent plastic. Then I brought all the furniture outside so I could clear my living room and have space to dance.

The challenge was to cover a span of 14 feet with plywood that is only 8 feet long. So I cut strips of plywood 4″ wide  and joined them with a small piece of plywood and screws. Then I bent them in an arch shape using a very thin steel cable. The bow shaped arches are very light and yet very strong because they are holding the internal tension produced by the chord.

It took only two days to assemble since all the parts were prefabricated in my wood shop. Six columns support the arches and between the columns I created shelves and a counter top.

The marine plywood is good for outdoors so we didn’t do any finishing. For the stool legs we used cedar which is also good for out doors.

Finally, the furniture that normally resides indoors was brought outside for the weekend. The party was a success and this temporary construction could hold about 50 people under it. Bringing the inside to the outside started as a necessity but turned out to be in my view an amusing scene of deliberate artifice.

Check out how it was featured in Apartment Therapy.

www.apartmenttherapy.com

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I recently completed a girl’s room in a beautiful loft in the heart of DUMBO, Brooklyn. Mila, my 4 year old “client”, needed furniture that would carry her through high school with minor changes. The project was done mostly in natural birch. The pink pulls and accent panels of the dresser and night table can be replaced in the future when and if she grows out of it.

Mila is too young still to sit at a desk so she prefers using the rolling table that we fit under her desk. In a few years she will be ready for it. Next to the desk there is a long bench with drawers full of toys and above them, bookshelves.

Under the long window we built a cabinet that covers the radiator, adds some more storage to the room and and provide a ledge for a small TV. This room has a beautiful light and the natural color of the birch combined with the white and pink of the painted surfaces create a playful, warm and peaceful atmosphere.

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This was one of the most asked questions at the BKLYN DESIGNS show. We exhibited at the St. Anne’s warehouse the weekend of the 10th and the scaled models we displayed attracted a lot of attention both from adults and kids as well.

The short answer is no, this is not doll furniture but the truth is so many requests sparked my curiosity and we may end up doing some modern doll furniture. The scaled models are 1/3 of the size and they are built almost exactly like the real furniture, using the same materials and finishes.

It turned out to be an excellent way of showing many designs in a small booth. We had in display only one real size loft bed and it was surprising to see how easily people would switch from scaled model to real thing when comparing the virtues of one design over another.

By using scaled models we were able to save not only display space but also in plywood and labor costs. Can this be considered “green exhibiting”? Every designer nowadays wants to be “green” and all sorts of claims are made to that respect. I have of course my own claims to be green, starting by designing durable furniture that will not need recycling any time soon.

For more information on our loft beds please email me at rg@casakids.com

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I recently helped my friend Crista Giuliani to design her daughter’s nursery. She wanted Sofia’s room to be all white so we did a custom version of the Ola Crib and painted white the wood rails. The budget was tight so the Ola crib was complemented with classic Ikea dressers lined up under the window.

A curvaceous mid century  armchair upholstered in black leather creates an interesting dialogue with the roundness of the crib. A white, furry, circular rug brings together the contrasting pieces.

The bedding’s polka dots (more circles!) provide a refreshing accent of color to the otherwise neutral environment. I like very much the calmness of this room. It seems very suitable for a baby to grow in. For more information on the Ola crib please visit casakids.com

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Making it work in a small space… I recently completed the room of a nine year old girl who needed a bigger bed with a lot of storage under it and a new desk. Eva, who lives with her parents and her brother Ethan has a small room but all for herself.

“This room has to last until she goes to college… “The idea was that Eva could grow in this room and still like it as a teenager. Perhaps in the future the pink pulls may be replaced with something less “girlie” but the rest of the furniture should very well survive the passage of time.

Green materials. We chose a combination of bamboo and formaldehyde free mdf (medium density fiberboard) finished with a non toxic water based paint. Bamboo plywood is a very “green” material, it is hard and it is durable.

Storage and more storage… The platform bed has six drawers, a pull out tray that acts as a night table and a shoe cabinet behind sliding doors at the foot of the bed. Raising the bed from the floor 30” creates the equivalent storage capacity of a large dresser plus some extra shelf space.

Floating cabinet… The desk has a hanging cabinet above it. This split creates a more open and lighter feel for the room. Under the desk top there is a pencil drawer and below it and between the two bottom cabinets there is a 6″ wide shelf where all the wires get plugged.

Second time around… As an anecdote, I had designed and built the furniture for this room six or seven years ago when Ethan and Eva used to share it. www.casakids.com. Back then I had done a loft bed with a desk and a small bed for her. Eva, at such young age is now a repeat client. That feels nice!

Last but not least… Special thanks to the multi talented Fili Perez who collaborated with me in this project and many others.

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I have been working in Red Hook since July 2000. I have a full wood shop where we make cabinets and furniture. I have also my design studio and a showroom with samples of my designs. We make scaled models of other pieces to show different configurations.

My shop/studio/showroom is located in a brick warehouse right on the water front, surrounded by a beautiful little park on two sides of the building. My office window faces the park and I never get tired of the changing landscape. The water, the sky and the green are constantly changing colors with the changing of seasons and the time of the day. It’s hard to believe this is also New York.

Red Hook is a great place to work. There are many other shops around: people that do metal work, stone work, glass work or other wood shops that specialize in doors and panels for example. Having all these resources around makes it easy to collaborate with other trades.

Red Hook was much more quiet when I moved my shop here. Now we have Fairway, Ikea, nice restaurants, cool little stores on Van Brunt Street and a growing community of artists and creative people in general that hang out in Baked during the day and in Sunny’s at night.

The Valentino park (my back yard…) has a kayak launch and there is a growing number of enthusiasts that come on a regular basis to get into the water.

But perhaps the most inspiring thing is to see the Statue of Liberty from my window. It’s a really pretty monument and has a powerful meaning.

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