Inside This HGTV Host's Unbelievably Cool Loft
Living in an old telephone switching station might not be everyone's idea of a dream home, but for HGTV's Cousins Undercover star Anthony Carrino, the 1892-era building located in Jersey City, NJ, symbolized endless possibilities. When he discovered it was for sale, Anthony submitted a hefty 60-page proposal to the city on why he should renovate the space. "I've lived in Jersey City for almost a decade and really respect the area's history. I told them I didn't want to change the building but would make it an anchor for the neighborhood," said Anthony. Boy, did he ever. Aside from gutting the dilapidated interior and designing two restaurants for the ground floor, Anthony converted the top floors into 16 apartments — one of which serves as his current home. While all of the apartments showcase the original brick walls and steel beams, the one he chose for himself boasts 19-foot ceilings and incredible light — despite only being 1,200 square feet.
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Even though Anthony has renovated over 100 kitchens, there were certain features he loved that he hadn't been able to try in his client's homes, like mixing metal and wood. He used veneers sliced from old gondola posts to cover the cabinets and fridge door and paired them with stainless-steel appliances. The countertops are Dekton, a durable engineered quartz that Anthony often uses on his show. For a breakfast bar, he positioned a piece of burl wood onto one corner of the island. To finish the look, he added a backsplash of blue tiles by Heath Ceramics.
In the living room, Anthony softened the industrial impact of the tall ceilings and concrete floor by installing a hanging Fire Orb fireplace and piling on honey-toned woods and a mix of textures. He finished the look with a leather Timothy Oulton sofa, floor-to-ceiling curtains made from Sunbrella fabric, tweedy midcentury-modern armchairs from Dot & Bo, and an easel-shaped TV stand from Restoration Hardware. The real standout pieces, though, are the bright floor accents, like the overdyed rug from Wayfair. "Most people put color on their walls, but here I wanted the energy to come from the ground," said Anthony.
Deciding to put a shipping container on his rooftop was something Anthony always fantasized about doing. He turned it into a cozy hangout by bringing in a sofa and wall-mounted desk and finished it off with an oversize photo he took while traveling.
You can see him enjoying an al fresco meal on the teak patio set with his parents and sister. We can't imagine a better way to spend the Summer!
For more photos of Anthony's loft, check out HGTV magazine!