When tasked with a renovation project, most architects are used to working with a challenging canvas. But when the owners of a historic Jersey City residence came to principal Jeff Jordan and his namesake firm asking for an update, their property was outside the norm.
The artistic couple, one runs a painting company and one teaches art a local high school, live in a 19th century building that was once used to house the Wells Fargo stagecoaches. And even though it had already been converted into a residential space, the previous designers opted for a style Jordan described as "utilitarian" with basic sheetrock partitions for walls and minimal access to light. Plus, the entire site encompassed 2,300 square feet. "The space is quite large, but it only has windows on one side," Jordan said. "The biggest challenge was to design all of the spaces in a manner that allowed as much daylight in as possible."
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Jordan and the team installed painted drywall on the ceiling and gave the many steel beams a light gray color that better reflects light. They also used plywood strategically throughout for texture and cohesion, and made seamless transitions from dedicated work and living areas. The result is a home that is Jordan now calls "a comfortable house and an efficient studio."