A Spatial Designer's Ingenious Privacy Solution for an Open-Plan Loft

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Until March 2021, Christine Espinal resided in her own apartment in Yonkers, New York—meaning the spatial designer for home décor shop Lichen commuted over an hour each way to its East Williamsburg storefront. Unsurprisingly, "the second I saw on Instagram that someone had availability in Brooklyn, I drove down," says Espinal. A New York City bedroom with both a window and a closet is a rare find, and this one was merely a 10-minute walk from the shop. Espinal signed the lease on the spot. Initially occupying one of the duplex's lower rooms—shared with two fellow creatives—she eventually paid her roommate dues and ascended to the coveted, sun-drenched loft over the summer.

While low ceilings rarely rank among desirable features, Espinal appreciates how the loft's 6-foot-2-inch height elegantly frames the abbreviated windows. "It's a perfect place to meditate and read," she says—a perspective aided by her own just-over-5-foot stature. She primarily works on-site at Lichen, assisting customers and designing the shop's sought-after plywood mirrors, but the sectional carried from her previous residence remains her preferred after-hours perch for tackling emails. (Its L-shape also conveniently delineates the living zone from the sleeping area.) Her desk at the room's opposite end, ideal for displaying prototype trays and morning makeup rituals, sees little use during conventional working hours.

When friends gather below, Espinal needs only a few steps to join—the bedroom overlooks the full expanse of the lower living area. At bedtime, a lightweight, flexible room divider unfurls and positions flush against the railing, providing a layer of privacy. "On the weekends I keep it rolled up so the rest of the apartment can get as much sunlight as possible," she explains.

The generous daylight filtering through is one reason the ceilings never feel confining. Maintaining white walls maximizes light reflection, as does forgoing curtains entirely. A low platform-style bed frame preserves the room's proportional harmony—anything taller would evoke the claustrophobic upper bunk of a loft bed.

A devoted proponent of ambient illumination, Espinal bypassed overhead fixtures entirely in both her quarters and the shared living area. Instead, a chrome arched floor lamp serves dual roles—casting dining ambiance and spotlighting TV sessions. Upstairs, her favorite acquisition "maybe ever" is a square Flos wall sconce rendered in fabric, mounted above her bed in lieu of a traditional headboard. "The soft glow is perfect for unwinding, but even when it's turned off, it's a sculptural centerpiece," she explains. Across the room, above her desk, a rounded Noguchi paper lantern completes the lighting composition.

Rather than scouring vintage marketplaces or commuting to IKEA, Espinal designs precisely what she envisions—then fabricates it in Lichen's workshop. Consider her plywood creations: a curvaceous bedside table and a cutout wine rack for the kitchen (both forthcoming at Lichen for wider availability). The former transforms into a magazine rack when flipped on its side—Espinal prioritizes multi-functionality at every turn—while the latter addressed a specific aesthetic gap (elegant bottle storage proves remarkably elusive). "I like exercising that design muscle whenever I can," she says. Working with a vintage retailer carries another advantage: first access to new inventory, such as an orange storage system repurposed for clothing and an equally citrine Nmbello Studios floor lamp in the living room.

Since Lichen closed its retail doors in February to scale production capacity, Espinal has transitioned from the cash register to the power saw. "We're taking time to focus on bigger projects, which means a lot more self-made pieces," she says. The designer's current focus: perfecting her signature slatted storage—stay tuned.

Kate McGregor covers everything related to the home, from design inspiration to IKEA hacks. She has been the market assistant at ELLE Decor where she focused on curating product for the print magazine's market pages.

Naomi deMañana is a freelance stylist and editor who has worked in the publishing industry for the past 15 years.

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