Patrick Janelle Transforms a Rundown Rental Into a Chic New York City Loft
Patrick Janelle always dreamed of living in a downtown Manhattan loft. The lifestyle influencer, who also runs the talent agency Untitled Secret, fantasized about an airy and industrial home as he spent the past decade climbing the rungs of the New York City housing ladder. So when he grew out of his most recent abode, a compact yet curated SoHo apartment, he knew it was time to actualize his goal.
“I’m very romantic in my ideals about how I envision things for myself and my life in New York,” Patrick shares. “I’ve always made a point that I wanted to be in Manhattan—as cool as I think Brooklyn is—and I never have had this quintessential loft moment.”
Since Patrick couldn’t afford to buy the type of spacious loft he’d been lusting after, he focused his hunt on rentals that would allow him to renovate. After a handful of viewings, he found exactly what he was looking for: a generous three-bedroom in an early 20th-century factory building with a very lenient landlord. He adored the prime Flatiron location too.
In another stroke of good luck, the broker agreed to demolish a dividing wall, giving Patrick a head start on the remodel. By the time he moved in, the place boasted a palatial living-dining-kitchen space, a single cozy bedroom, and an office for the Untitled Secret team—a main requirement in his search. Patrick was also charmed by architectural details: 10-foot-tall tin ceilings, elaborate moldings, and massive windows, one of which has French doors that open up to the patio-like fire escape. “Even though the middle of the apartment gets kind of dark, there is nice natural light on both sides, [which] is a wonderful feature,” he reflects.
Though the existing hardwood floors weren’t historic, they were still worth preserving. Patrick sanded off the dated dark varnish and sealed the newly-exposed natural timber with a Bona Traffic HD matte finish. He replaced the old tile in the kitchen and bathroom with fresh oak planks to match.
