A Townhouse in Perfect Scale
Brooklyn Brownstone
This Brooklyn Heights gut renovation was designed around two concepts: time and scale.
LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY
OVERVIEW: Full Gut Renovation of an Existing Townhouse
COMPLETION DATE: 2021
SERVICES: Architecture, Interior Design
CONSULTANTS: Hatfield Group, ME Engineers
With a passion for cooking and entertaining, our client wanted a state-of-the-art kitchen. With the need for privacy, we designed dividers and a hidden bookcase door to keep the primary bedroom concealed.
Envisioned as a commercial kitchen, the space features stainless steel countertops and a deep basin sink with a pull-down faucet. A glossy white zellige tile backsplash keeps the space bright and clean.
We listened to our clients request for lots of storage and responded with a design full of features that slide out of sight. This includes room-saving features like chopping blocks that slide out from the workstation/counter, to a hidden bench in the dining room table that deploys as needed. The custom built millwork is an elegantly dark wood achieved using the shou sugi ban technique.
The inset cubes in the walls were custom designed to the specifications of client’s cat and dog, allowing them to occupy and explore the wall. Warmly lit from above, the cut outs are like nap cubbies where they can be found there on any given day. The cube module repeats itself through custom millwork, which was designed to the homeowners’ proportions with minimalist materials.
Dedicated to bringing light into the space, the first order of business was to demolish the back wall and to allow views through the terrace, past the stairs, and down to garden.
Creating the Right Balance between Public Entertaining and Private Living.
When designing the stair with the structural engineer, she recommended that we extend the support beam into a truss and use the top chord of the truss for the stair’s guard rail. In this way the guardrail was an extension literally supporting the stairs.
The architectural team approached the building questioning individual parts. The engineer used the creative habit of looking at things from a different perspective and now the handrail is structure and the structure is the handrail.
Visual reminders of the steel structure that supports the large openings throughout the house are visible throughout the space, adding a comforting rhythm that feels like home.
Collaborating means listening. When the structural engineer made a recommendation, we leaned in, we looked again, and our favorite feature was born.
We created a large skylight and center atrium to allow light in, cascading down a series of resin cubes, illuminating the space as it descends, and terminating in rectangles of light on the ground floor.
While each room contributes to the overall ambiance, the bathroom stands out as a particularly potent space to elevate the home’s luxury quotient.
It's more than just a functional area; it's a personal sanctuary where relaxation, rejuvenation, and a touch of indulgence converge. In the tapestry of a brownstone's design, a luxurious bathroom is not merely an addition, but a cornerstone that significantly enhances the property's overall appeal and value.
The bathroom is a wet room with an integrated steam shower and luxurious soaking tub. We created a custom pattern using a gradient of tiles that emulate a wave. Indirect lighting and softened edge details creates a calming ambiance and an inviting home spa feel.
When we say that we pride ourselves in designing spaces that will create the most meaningful experiences for our clients, we mean it. In this case that also meant for their pets.
