#MyBLANCOUNIT – How to Maximize Space & Style in a Small Kitchen
Explore NYC Lifestyle Influencer Patrick Janelle’s Compact Kitchen Renovation and his Custom BLANCO UNIT
Making a Manhattan loft my own
During the height of the pandemic, I moved into a large, floor-through Manhattan loft with great bones. The space is open format, with large windows in the front that open onto a fire escape that I use as a balcony in the summer. The ceiling, at 11-feet tall, is hung with a long sheet of pressed tin that runs the length of the apartment, and the solid white oak floors–even if not exactly level—make for a sturdy foundation that brightens the entire space.
When I first moved in though, it was the kitchen that was in dire need of a redo. At one point during the apartment’s history, a tenant had erected a DIY island and set of cabinets out of black-painted plywood—a sort of oversized all-in-one kitchen—that was much too large for the narrow space they inhabit. The sink, flecked with old paint, was utilitarian, and the kitchen floor was covered in oversized, rust-colored tiles. I was excited to roll up my sleeves, ditch everything—including the kitchen sink—and get started making my dream kitchen come true.
Designing a beautiful, yet functional kitchen
During my daily Instagram browsing, where I do most of my inspo searching (well, that and Pinterest), I would often stop mid-scroll for kitchens that featured dramatic marble counters and backsplashes. I had recently learned about BAS Stone, a female-owned and operated stoneyard in New York’s Long Island City. After a trip to the BAS warehouse, where I roamed dozens of aisles looking at exotic stone in all striations and colors, I settled on a slab of Arabescato Violet that featured a dramatic, dark streak that cut through one corner. That piece eventually became the focal point of my kitchen.
Then it was time to find a kitchen sink, faucet and accessories that would complement the drama of the stone, while also bringing about more function for this critical living space. When it came to looking for a kitchen sink that was up to the job, I had three criteria in mind: maximizing my space, increasing functionality and making a classic but beautiful statement, which is how I arrived at selecting a BLANCO UNIT for my water space. With hundreds of combinations of sinks, faucets and accessories to customize, creating a BLANCO UNIT would allow me to maintain the style of my kitchen while also selecting a full water space system that felt harmonious.
#MyBLANCOUNIT selects
