Brooklyn Heights Brownstone

Growing up in Brooklyn Heights in the 1970s in this stately Landmarked brownstone meant a lot of whimsy wallpaper, fully saturated red paint everywhere and a flare for wall to wall carpet, all now aged and in need to be modernized. The spaces felt dark and much smaller than they actually were; the cacophony of personal effects over the years masked a lot of the original details and grandeur of the space. For example, a 9’ tall, large built-in furniture piece sat in the middle of the kitchen, obstructing the floor to ceiling glass doors, losing all sense of the expansive elegant plaster ceiling and its’ glorious details. The renovation sensitively assessed the original details that were need to be highlighted and restored, while providing for a much needed modernization of the space.

The grand parlour living room ceiling was restored, the lush colors returned to it’s original vibrant character. Additional historical lighting completes the grandeur of the room, while providing a soft ambient atmosphere. The kitchen was fully gutted, removing the bohemoth furniture piece and providing a large marble kitchen island with counter seating. New cherry custom cabinetry with reeded glass and a floating marble shelf simultaneously maintains the historical character yet updates it with a crisp, modern touch.

On the garden level, the floor plan was reconfigured to provide both walk-in closets (replete with built-in storage) and en-suite bathrooms for both bedrooms. New finishes, lighting, plumbing and cabinetry are provided to supplement the daily needs of living. In the rear of the brownstone, adhoc closets were removed to carve out a windowed home-office space/nursery. This renovation balances the grand historic character of the house with pragmatism and sensibilites of modern life.