To complete the space and leave their mark, they stenciled capital Bs on each of the doors. Slocum describes that personable touch as “the cherry on top of the sundae.” After sticking the adhesives to the glass, they used a smoother to ensure they stuck fully.
“You should make any space personable. Even though it’s Jordan and Barry, we wanted it to be kind of an office setting. So because of that, we added the ‘BB’ stencils for Brownstone Boys,” says Slocum. “It just makes it one of a kind, as anybody designing a space for themselves should make their space their own.”
Step 6: Building the desk
While stripping the paint off a staircase on another job, the Brownstone Boys were inspired by the staircase’s balusters. It was then they realized they could make a desk from the cloffice out of balusters. They cut all the wood pieces to size using a miter saw and nail gun. A butcher block that was stained for a vintage feel served as the desk’s top part, supported below by wood brackets. The balusters were installed in between each bracket “just to give it a nice base,” says Slocum. Casters underneath allow the desk to be wheeled around the space for extra mobility. The last step was adding drawers underneath the butcher block for extra storage.
Slocum cites the construction of the desk as the most challenging aspect of the project since it needs to be able to support the weight of whatever’s on top of it.
Step 7: Personal touches
Once all the foundational aspects were in place, the Boys could furnish the cloffice with their personal touches. A small gallery wall includes fun pieces like a picture of their pug, Zuko. There’s a drawing of one of their first brownstone projects and a photo of Jordan and Barry on one of their earlier dates. Naturally, a sign on the desk reads “What Would Beyonce Do?”
With the space complete, the Brownstone Boys team uses it “all the time.” But it also encourages them to think more about how they use a multifunctional space. It’s all a part of the Boys’ mentality for heading in the new year.
“We just want to be very mindful with what we collect,” Slocum explained, noting that whether the office is being used to store winter coats or provide a peaceful spot to get work done during the day, it’s ultimately a major win. “We love it. It really is a multifunctional space.”
