This is the story of a beautiful home but also a special beginning.
We finished our Little Forest Hills spec home back in 2019. We were working 24/7 until the clock marked 2:59 on the day of our open house. That last minute Josh, Hampton and I ran to the car packed with the last boxes, brooms, and lots of excitement. The night before we were dreaming about all the people who would stop by and connect with the design.
As we were loading up (frantically) during those last minutes, hoping nobody would show up early, Karen and Steve were in their car outside waiting to be the first to see the house. They loved the house, they told our realtor Amy Sack that they had a Tudor home where they had lived for 30 years. Amy said, “Well wait, you need to talk to these guys, they can make it happen in your home too” and that is how everything began for Create Atelier. COVID had just begun, and we met with them for the first time all masked up to talk about design. We felt an overwhelming joy we hadn’t felt in a while. The bliss of working with the end user, and feeling the energy transpire.
Every meeting was filled with laughter, joy, cocktails, and good design. COVID did its thing and obstacles arose when project costs blasted; meeting with potential contractors felt just like blind dating; after some time everything fell into place and construction began.
Karen and Steve are people you want to spend time with, they are layered individuals. Karen, a diamond jeweler at the time, and a very talented artist with loving energy. Steve, a smart, artistic musician, and funny guy who dreams of a secret room in his home.
You might see him on a Saturday night at Reveler's Hall playing the guitar. They always welcomed us with the biggest hug. This is important, because who they are directly translated into the design.
The design is so respectful of its Tudor beginnings, but it enhances their future life. Every area was designed to showcase their art as an experience through the rooms.
After demoing the ceilings we found shiplap, and of course, we recommended refinishing and exposing the raw material, creating such warmth in the room. We created an entry art wall where the canvases are hung with a tension table. Steve had fun creating the art that, when the lights come on, all you want to do is look… the dining room bright and airy showcases their beautiful art collage and restored fireplace.
The kitchen just gives you that "ahhh" moment. One wall is lined with tall walnut cabinets. The brightness and warmth of the wood are so welcoming. The other side has urban bronze cabinets with the countertop folding up to become a shelf to display art. The skylight above makes sure to change the mood in this space at all times.
The lounge makes sure to show you a peek of their lush outdoor space and a glimpse of the Morvay family photos.
The primary bath was a space where we envisioned them both relaxing. I would like to think that one day Karen is soaking in the tub after a long day, while Steve sits in the leather stool next to the window… I would imagine that they are sitting there reminiscing on a specific photo that was printed on our permit set, where the structural engineer is wearing a hazmat suit and making her way into the crawl space.
