This week’s “Meet the Designer” feature is about John Daskalakis and I challenge you to read these apartment renovation stories without drooling – go now.
1) How did you become a designer?
I studied Interior-Exterior Architecture and Civil Engineering, which is a very useful knowledge base to have in this role of project manager / interior designer. Also, I am certified by NARI as a Universal Design Certified Professional / UDCP.
Based on my education and experience, I can design something aesthetically with the correct balance and proportions and implement those plans in reality. I have been in the field for close to 18 years with 5 of those here at Knockout Renovation.
2) What were some of the projects you led here at Knockout that you are proud of and can you describe them?
There are 3 that pop up immediately.
–East 53street – Manhattan
There was very limited space, which as you know is not unusual in NYC or parts of Brooklyn. For instance, kitchen niche was only 8 feet long and that was it. Size, however, does not scare us nor stop us from creating a dream high end kitchen with amazing appliances.
We took a small studio apartment and used shades of grey and black to create the contemporary design our clients wanted. There was very limited space, which as you know is not unusual in NYC or parts of Brooklyn. For instance,one wall was 8 feet long and that was it. Size, however, does not scare us nor stop us from creating a dream high end kitchen with amazing appliances.We also added a Murphy bed in the room in an existing nook which was a custom design with a TV mounted on bottom of bed.
–14th street – Manhattan – right off Union Square
In the process, we also opened up the view to the north at new second level facing the Empire State Building and roof patio.
Gut apartment renovation implemented a contemporary design for clients. This home was a large loft studio with 1 bathroom, enclosed kitchen at front of the apt and long hallways that led to the main room. We turned it into a 1 bedroom, 2 bathroom with an open space concept on the first level, including a multipurpose nook and we added a floor above with a Master Bedroom & Master Bathroom. In the process, we also opened up the view to the north at new second level facing the Empire State Building and roof patio. New contemporary staircase replaced original spiral one.
-Jane street – Manhattan
We reconfigured the layout to give a bonus room (which is created by sliding doors combination) and a bigger totally rearranged bathroom.
Nice one bedroom, one bathroom approximately 670 square feet apartment redone with a transitional look in soothing white tones. We reconfigured the layout to give a bonus room (which is created by sliding doors combination) and a bigger totally rearranged bathroom. We took the originally enclosed kitchen and made it an open concept. Added ceiling lighting in living room,kitchen & bathroom where there was none (original 8’-2”high ceilings, slab construction) without channeling through slab and without giving up more than 2” of height in some areas of the apartment only.
3) Your feelings of using project management with the interior design skills?
This means having complete control on a project. Knowledge of what is needed in order to make drawings a reality better than anyone else who can take over a project after the designer.
I am the one who knows the design inside out. My eye can pick up anything that is interfering with achieving our goals from the aesthetic, functional, or construction aspect of things and in coordination with our lead carpenters and trades in general we solve any issues that may arise in the best way possible to achieve the best for our customers and according to our plans.