In today's Architect Visit: Elizabeth Roberts in Brooklyn, we admired Roberts' light-handed touch with the interiors, in particular, her way with fixtures and fittings. Here's a roundup of ideas we gleaned from the project.
LIGHTING
Roberts took a leap of faith and ordered most of her light fixtures and door knobs from Thomas Hoof Produckt in Germany (in fact, she told us she discovered Hoof on Remodelista), a company founded in 1998 with a mission of bringing back classic, out-of-production fixtures for the home. "I had a great contractor who was able to rewire all the lights and work with the European door knobs," she says.
Above: The Bolich Metal Pendant Light features a black enamel exterior, a porcelain pulley, and a cylindrical glass lens; €149 from Thomas Hoof.
Above L: The Angle-Mounting Porcelain Light was designed in the 1930s; €27 at Thomas Hoof. Above R: Ceiling-Mounting Porcelain Light; €25 at Thomas Hoof.
Above: In her bedroom, Roberts used a Ceramic Ceiling Light from Undine, Italy; €139 at Thomas Hoof.
PAINT
Above L: "Benjamin Moore Cloud White OC-130 is a nice white for an older house with modern details," Roberts says. Above R: "Benjamin Moore Decorators White I-04 is good for baths because it compliments the bright white tiles and fixtures."
DOOR & CABINET HARDWARE
Above: In the kitchen, Roberts used white epoxy/polyester Kosing Knobs from Ikea that are just under an inch in diameter and cost $1.99 for a six pack.
Above: Porcelain White Door Knob with plain brass ring; €25 at Thomas Hoof (also available with a nickel-plated brass ring).
PLUMBING FIXTURES & TILE
Above: "Speakman faucets are designed for institutional use, which means they can stand up to a lot of abuse," Roberts says. The Speakman SC-3001 LD Commander Faucet with ceramic cartridges and cross handles is $122.85 from CSN Stores.
Above: "I prefer to use matte white subway tile (as opposed to glossy) paired with a stone tiled floor," Roberts says. Yukon White Matte tile by Northeastern Tile is $2.30 a square foot at Tile.com.
Above: Daltile Keystones Arctic White 1 x 1 Porcelain Penny Round Tile is $16.64 per square foot at Every Floor.
Above: The workhouse Speakman SC-1131-AF Commander Two-Valve Shower with Four-Arm Handles is $182.79 at Every Faucet.
Above: Roberts replaced the existing cast iron radiators with affordable Gov-Free Freestanding Cast Iron Radiators from Governale, a Brooklyn manufacturer of heating elements that's been in business since 1917. "The original cast iron radiators were huge and leaky," she says. "The Gov-Free line of radiators is super slim (2.5 inches deep) and can be slipped in almost anywhere. Plus, they cost about $100 each."