Architect Fareez Giga deploys a set of customized built-ins to improve a 715-square-foot flat for a bibliophile and a passionate prepare dinner.
Janey Tracey and Peter Efstratiades shortly fell in love with the neighborhood of Astoria in Queens, New York, after transferring right into a rental condominium there seven years in the past.
They take pleasure in native sights just like the Wellington Courtroom Mural Undertaking, Socrates Sculpture Park, and the Noguchi Museum—and Peter, whose buddies name him the “Mayor of Astoria,” based a dinner membership dedicated to attempting new native eating places. “It’s such a melting pot of various teams of individuals and completely different cuisines,” Peter says. “There are such a lot of completely different little communities all over the place.”
When Janey and Peter discovered an condominium on the market in a brand new constructing simply throughout Fundamental Avenue from Two Coves Neighborhood Backyard (the place they’d secured a plot after 5 years on a ready listing), they knew this was their likelihood to place down roots in Astoria. Or, reasonably, to erect some arches.

An arch motif may be discovered all through the condominium, including refined fashion to a easy materials palette.
Fareez Giga
The one-bedroom condominium they bought in July 2022 is ready in a redbrick constructing with giant, industrial-style multipaned home windows impressed by the candle manufacturing facility that used to face on-site. Although simply 715 sq. toes, “It didn’t really feel small, due to these large home windows and actually excessive ceilings,” Janey says. “We beloved how open it felt—prefer it was greater than it truly was.”
Regardless of the impression of area, Janey and Peter confronted a quintessential New York condominium problem: an absence of storage. Janey, a author and editor, treasures her e-book assortment, so she wished loads of cabinets. Peter is an enthusiastic prepare dinner who (channeling his Greek heritage) makes use of a number of various kinds of oregano; he dreamed of area for a well-stocked pantry.

The brand new built-in millwork (totaling $36,600) floats just a few inches off the bottom and under the ceiling, in order to not make the 715-square-foot condominium really feel confining.
Fareez Giga

Slatted wooden was used for the lounge leisure middle with a purpose to conceal an air-con unit whereas permitting airflow. The wooden sample continues in the remainder of the piece for consistency.
Fareez Giga
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