All articles by Patty Lee

Patty is a native Brooklynite who got her start as a features reporter at NYC's hometown paper, the New York Daily News. She then followed her sweet tooth to Time Out New York, where she covered restaurant openings and dining trends for the food and drink section. When she's not contributing to 6sqft, she's writing — and eating — for Zagat and Cooking Channel. Follow her on Twitter @leepatty.
April 19, 2015

Brooklyn Designer Katy Skelton Crafts Storage-Friendly and Stylish Furniture for City Dwellers

It's a dilemma that almost everyone has faced — where do we find a media console that's storage-friendly, but isn't a complete eyesore? Enter Brooklyn-based designer Katy Skelton, whose Desi cabinet brings us the best of both worlds. Made from solid walnut, the beautiful console features two drawers and two cabinets, each with removable shelves that owners can move and adjust according to their needs. Doors are equipped with soft-close hardware and cabinets boasts cord management cutouts to help organize all the different video and stereo systems.
See more of Skelton's timeless designs here
April 5, 2015

This Lofty East Village Penthouse by Manifold Architecture Studio Used to Be a Synagogue

New York City is teeming with breathtaking penthouses–from multi-floored apartments atop soaring skyscrapers to picturesque flats inside landmarked townhouses–but few have the spiritual history of this East Village abode: The 1,600-square-foot triplex was once a local house of worship. Originally built in 1908, the the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Anshe Ungarn synagogue was converted into a five-apartment condo in the 1980s. By the time current owners Dominique Camacho and Gary Hirschkron bought the penthouse in 2007, its design was terribly outdated, so they enlisted the team at DUMBO's Manifold Architecture Studio (MAS) to help bring it into the 21st century.
Click to see the entire space
October 5, 2014

Luderowski Architect’s Pagoda-Shaped Stunner is Not Your Average Treehouse

This ain't your average treehouse. While the ones of our childhood dreams are usually simple little structures patched together with pieces from dad's leftover lumber piles, this eye-catching structure is more of a floating adult oasis. Shaped like a piercing pagoda, the honey-yellow treehouse seems like it was taken from the forests of Kyoto and carefully unloaded in Long Lake, NY, a picturesque town nestled in the Adirondack Mountains.
See more pictures straight ahead
September 1, 2014

Robert Young Architecture’s Peaceful Montauk Lake House is Not Your Average Vacation Home

There is no shortage of colossal poolside palaces in the Hamptons — it is, after all, where many of New York's rich and famous go to party and play during the dog days of summer. But for those who live in the area full-time — like the growing family of this Montauk lake house — they need homes that are as functional as they are pretty.
Take a quick escape to the lakefront property
July 28, 2014

Brooklyn Family Expands Fort Greene Townhouse with Airy Garden Pavilion by O’Neill McVoy Architects

Few things look more out of place than a clunky new addition to a beautiful historic house, especially in a neighborhood as quaint and peaceful as tree-lined Fort Greene. So when the owners of this 19th-century townhouse wanted to expand and make room for two growing teenage daughters, they sought out a team who could do it seamlessly: Beth O'Neill and Chris McVoy of O'Neill McVoy Architects.
Check out the lovely new addition straight ahead
July 14, 2014

Wooden Accents and Pops of Color Add a Dash of Coziness to This Industrial Loft by Design42

Space-efficient living is a must in New York City, where savvy residents build shelves into every nook and cranny of their tiny apartments. While the ad-lib additions often get the job done, they don't always work with a home's aesthetic. With some help from Design42 Architecture, the owners of this industrial loft were able to sidestep that problem and make the most of their space without sacrificing style.
Check out more shots of the space straight this way
July 13, 2014

Architect Andrew Franz Restored This West Village Townhouse to its Historic Glory

In recent years, the West Village has become one of the hippest areas in New York City, thanks to a slew of celebrity residents and its reputation as the epicenter of the cupcake boom. But at its heart, the neighborhood is still one of the most picturesque and charming in town, dotted with historic townhouses that have been around for decades. Tasked with restoring one of those iconic brick buildings, architect Andrew Franz sought to maintain its original character, while giving the owners a home that's both spacious and functional.
There's a gorgeous rooftop garden you just have to see...
July 12, 2014

The Cartier Mansion Shines Again with the Help of Andre Tchelistcheff Architects

Restoring historic landmarks is never an easy task, but a careful, attention-driven job can help a former gem shine again. That's the case behind the renewal of this Upper East Side townhouse, also known as the Cartier Mansion. Together, Andre Tchelistcheff Architects and interior designer David Anthony Easton worked to restore the gorgeous Beaux-Arts building to its former glory.
More pictures of the grand townhouse straight ahead
July 3, 2014

Rent This Oceanfront Long Island Retreat Designed by Resolution: 4 Architecture

East Quogue, a town located on the far end of Long Island, is littered with beach houses thanks to its picturesque oceanfront location. It's the perfect escape for New York City families to leave behind the hustle and bustle of Big Apple living and swap their tiny apartments for sprawling vacation homes. Because of its location on a barrier island, that doesn't hold true for this dune retreat, which meant the team at Resolution: 4 Architecture has to be as efficient with space as possible.
See how the architects overcome their dilemma
June 28, 2014

LTL Architects Unites This Upper East Side House with Two Dazzling Modern Staircases

Connecting the two floors of this Upper East Side townhouse was no easy task for the team at LTL Architects. That's because six — that's right, six — distinct floor elevators stood in their way. Not only that, but the levels in the back and front don't align, making the conversion of separate units into a single-family home even more difficult. So how did the architects maneuver their way around the multiple obstacles? By installing two stunning staircases that not only tied together the four levels of the 19th-century townhouse, but also double as stand-alone centerpieces.
See how the architects overcome their dilemma
June 27, 2014

INTERVIEW: Resolution: 4 Architecture’s Joseph Tanney Talks Prefab Homes and Designing NYC Apartments

Since it was founded in 1994, Resolution: 4 Architecture (RE4A) has been a game-changing force in the world of building and design. Founders Joseph Tanney and Robert Luntz were some of the first architects to embrace the idea of modular prefabricated homes, a concept that continues to grow in popularity for its cost0-efficiency, eco-friendly nature and versatility in design. The RE4A team has worked on numerous projects, ranging from envy-inducing vacation retreats to space-efficient lofts to the headquarters for Equinox gym. While they have helped design and build spaces across the nation, the firm calls New York City — specifically, Chelsea — home and plenty of Big Apple sensibilities show up in their work, which is bold, yet functional. We recently spoke with Tanney about RE4A's mission and upcoming work, plus his tips for creating a storage-friendly apartment.
Check out our full interview here
June 22, 2014

Why Is This Fort Greene Residence All Lit Up?

As New Yorkers, we have long come to terms with living in small spaces — we cram into tiny studios, fashion herb gardens on fire escapes and even wrap our apartments with shelves for storage space. But we're also a stylish bunch, always looking for ways to make our homes stand out. So when the owners of this Brooklyn residence wanted to tie in their many rooms without losing any space, the partners at Taylor and Miller Architecture and Design came up with a creative plan.
Click to see the interiors...
June 20, 2014

Vacation in the Woods in Style with Archi-Tectonics’ Pre-Fab Upstate Guest House

It’s not often a guest house gets as much attention as the main one, but this mini-me of an upstate New York home designed by Archi-Tectonics is hard to miss. Built as an alter-ego to a larger structure, the 1,500-square-feet building stands out without upstaging the estate’s true star.
Check out more photos straight ahead
June 19, 2014

François Azambourg’s Sputnik Lamp is Truly Out of This World

When a tiny satellite named Sputnik was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, it quickly triggered a "Space Race" between the Russian republic and the United States. While François Azambourg's nifty lamp — named after the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth — may not start any international rivalries, it certainly is eye-catching.
Learn more about the French designer's unique style
June 17, 2014

This Upstate Beauty Designed by Victoria Meyers Blends Right in with Mother Nature

Upstate New York has no shortage of interesting homes — just take a look at this enchanting stone beauty — and we've found another picturesque stunner located to our north. Tucked away in picturesque Garrison, NY is a modernist home that blends right in with its natural surroundings, thanks to the work of Victoria Meyers and hanrahanMeyers Architects.
See more pictures straight ahead