Neighbors are nice, but the true real estate dream of any New Yorker is taking over the place next door. For a director and actor living in Brooklyn's Vinegar Hill neighborhood, the fantasy of connecting their home with the empty adjoining address came true — and was especially sweet given that the pair has three dogs. Designer Sarah Zames, founder and principal of the firm General Assembly, came on board to blend the two side-by-side apartments together seamlessly, while also keeping the owners' love of entertaining in mind. To start, Zames outlined a large chef's kitchen that's open to the living and dining areas, creating a party-ready space suited for dinners or a screening. She then stuck to a rich palette of materials like concrete, blackened steel, and walnut to bring in texture, and opted for graphic wallpaper in the entryway and bedroom add personality. "We wanted to use materials that felt like they had some kind of history to them," Zames noted. "It was an important piece of the design that helped make a new building feel more like a comfortable home." The finishing touches were tailored to the three canine residents. "We renovated one of the roof decks to create a special place for the dogs, and also incorporated some dog specific items, like food bowls, into the millwork," she said. The finished property is bold and personal, and it's now roomy enough for anyone who enters, whether they have two legs or four.
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