Soho showroom: designer duo transforms rental into creative hub

German designer Maximilian Eicke and stylist Irina Kro Eicke have turned a seemingly ordinary SoHo rental into a vibrant, highly personalized design laboratory, proving that a blank canvas—and a healthy dose of audacity—can yield extraordinary results.

A rental reimagined

What began as a desire to inject their distinct aesthetic into a New York City space quickly evolved into a full-blown creative endeavor. This 3,500-square-foot ground-floor apartment, complete with a basement and lofted sleeping areas, was initially scouted as a potential purchase. Instead, the couple opted for a rent-with-renovation agreement, a move that proved surprisingly liberating. “We wanted to upgrade the space so it fit what we wanted and why we moved to New York City,” Maximilian explained, dismissing any notion of modesty about their unconventional approach.

From bali to soho: a collaborative journey

Their design journey began eight years ago in Bali, where they collaborated on their first project. Irina’s keen eye for color and texture, honed through her work as a stylist, complemented Maximilian’s meticulous design process. Subsequent projects in Sag Harbor and Southampton further solidified their shared creative vision and refined their collaborative style. The SoHo apartment, with its sprawling open floor plan, was strategically chosen to mirror their working methods, allowing them to seamlessly blend the living and working spaces.

Design details: a personal touch

The apartment’s distinct features—from the custom-woven carpet crafted from 15 Etsy runners—to the imposing 3,000-pound marble dining table, each element reflects the couple’s individual passions and design sensibilities. Maximilian’s furniture, produced under his brand Max ID NY, anchors the space, while Irina’s influence is evident in the layered textures and carefully curated artwork. The spiral staircase leading to the loft provides a striking vertical element, juxtaposed by the sculptural Bali teak root balls.

Challenges and triumphs

The renovation process itself presented immediate logistical hurdles. “For about the first two weeks we were sleeping just on a mattress in the living room,” Maximilian recalled, highlighting the initial challenges of transforming the space. The arrival of furniture before finalized paint colors resulted in a period of significant maneuvering, requiring the couple to navigate around the massive marble table under 20-foot ceilings. “We should have just painted the whole space first and that would have solved weeks’ worth of trouble,” he conceded.

A constant evolution

What's remarkable is the apartment's ongoing transformation. “Every two or three weeks the space has a different change to it,” Maximilian stated, underscoring the dynamic nature of their creative process. The couple's commitment to continuous evolution ensures that the SoHo apartment remains a living, breathing testament to their shared vision—a far cry from a mere rental.