Loft for a Perfumer in Brooklyn

Being a co-founder of Abbott, a company that releases a line of men's fragrances inspired by campfires and faux leather bomber jackets, Jose Alvarez adheres to a bold masculine style. Therefore, when he moved with his girlfriend into a large 139 square meter loft in Brooklyn, USA, located in the building of an old shoe factory, he wanted to keep the raw concrete and brick that match his brutal taste.

The project was designed by interior designer Je Du, found through the Homepolish platform. Her task was to preserve the original industrial character of the loft while transforming it into a cozy, livable home. The designer maintained the open layout and chose a neutral color palette. A custom-made large shelving unit was installed in the living room, where vintage items and souvenirs from travels were placed. On the opposite side, a gallery wall was created, featuring artworks from the owner's collection.

Before Alvarez, a painter lived in this loft. "You can still see traces of his paint on the cement floor" — Alvarez says. It is exactly this sense of a lingering history that makes the space appealing, setting it apart from identical and smooth modern buildings, which are so common in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Photos: Julia Robbs