Hello from NYC! (Or more specifically, the LES, where it’s more like ¡Hola! or Ni hao!)
It’s our pleasure to introduce our firm, Dufner Heighes, to all of you design-savvy Hometta-groupies. We’re a small practice, established in 1999 on the Lower East Side in New York City. We have focused primarily on residential spaces in the past, about half renovations of urban New York interiors and half freestanding homes in various locations across the country. Our current portfolio is more varied, as we’ve found that these economic times promote diversity. (That’s the nice way of phrasing it.)
In addition to our continuing work with Hometta, there is a lot going on in the office right now:
Last summer, we finished a guesthouse for a previous project on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. It was shot beautifully (Thank you Simon Watson) for Martha Stewart Living, and will be published in MSL's August issue with text by writer Fred Bernstein. “The layout looks great,” is all our editors will tease us with, so we’re waiting on pins and needles for the issue's July release. In the meantime, I’ve attached a little drawing to whet your appetite.
Photo courtesy of Dufner HeighesWe're also happy to be designing a gallery in NYC's West Chelsea gallery district. Zieher Smith is moving from their space on 25th Street to an expansive new street-level gallery at 516 West 20th. With over 3,000 sq. ft. and 17’ ceilings, the new space will be a significant presence in Chelsea and a great new space for their artists to present work. Summer construction and a grand re-opening in September are planned.
There are also 3 smaller projects that are ongoing: the restoration of a historic brownstone and brick façade on West 22nd Street, interior design for a bachelor pad overlooking Gramercy Park, and furniture for a young family in a temporary TriBeCa rental. Along with these projects, we’re preparing to shoot two other projects that were recently finished, and look forward to a couple more that might be getting off the ground shortly (knocking on wood here).
Now, we better get back to those design documents for our Hometta project, House 176, or you all might never be able to start construction. We look forward to the launch!