A Rustic, Industrial Rental Unit

With years of experience in real estate, Tom Bencivengo was after this multi-family apartment to transform. The first unit to get a gut remodel was this one-bedroom apartment on the first floor of the building.

Tom removed the two non-load-bearing dividers in the rental unit that originally boxed in the kitchen, living room and bedroom. "Everything stayed in its same spot, just without those silly divider walls," says Tom. He didn't find much that was worth saving when they started the remodel.

The bathroom was the biggest space-planning challenge for Tom. "The original bathroom was simply a toilet in a 3' x3' shower with a drain on the floor," says Tom.

Tom custom-ordered the glass door that divides the living room from the bedroom. He had it installed so there was enough room for a reasonable-sized bedroom. "The glass door was simply a way to maintain the one-bedroom status of the apartment while introducing as much light and openness into the apartment as possible," says Tom. "It's a very utilitarian apartment given its tight size, so every inch counts!"