A complete renovation of the Owner’s triplex in a Brownstone in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. The clients, a professional couple with young children, wanted an open, modern home, that would be a comfortable place to raise their family.
The rear half of the Parlor floor was opened full width to accommodate a new kitchen with large island and accompanying dining area. A wet bar, coat closet, and other storage create a transition zone to the Living Room at the front of the house.
The second floor is comprised of the Primary Bedroom suite, complete with bedroom, 5 fixture bathroom, walk-in-closet, laundry, and a home office. A full guest bathroom at the top of the stairs also functions as the powder room for the Parlor floor.
Surrounding a skylit family room, the third floor also contains the children's bedrooms, a full bathroom, and small guest bedroom.
In addition to new windows, leveled floors, rebuilt stairs, and all new interior doors and finishes, new plumbing and mechanical systems round out the renovation.
Interior Design: Lewis Birks
Structural Engineer: KPFF
Technology: Fiks Consulting
General Contractor: Elephants D&D
Photography: Alan Tansey
A complete interior renovation of a townhouse in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. The clients, an international couple with frequent visitors, wanted an open, flexible layout that would be a retreat from the outside world and a place to raise their family and host extended guests.
Openings on the Parlor floor were expanded to enhance provide a more open feel and improve flow. The kitchen was gut renovated and a large island serves as a central gathering place.
The second floor is comprised of the Primary Bedroom suite, complete with bedroom, sitting area, 5 fixture bathroom, walk-in-closet, as well as a small guest bedroom.
The third floor contains the children's bedrooms, a full bathroom, a small guest bedroom, as well as a central skylit den.
Existing floors were restructured and leveled, all new flooring, interior doors and finishes, as well as new plumbing and mechanical systems complete the renovation.
MEP Engineer: Engineering Solutions
General Contractor: Cotiy Bldg Mngmnt
Photography: Kate Glicksberg
Interior renovation of an 1,800 SF three-bedroom apartment in a historic building in Brooklyn Heights. The new plan aimed to improve and clarify the layout of what had been a previous combination of two smaller apartments.
A new gallery connects a formal great room at the street to a large eat-in kitchen at the rear. A Primary Bedroom suite, two bedrooms and a shared full bathroom are accessed by a secondary hall.
In addition to new kitchen and bathrooms finishes, new flooring, ceilings, lighting and trim were installed.
General Contractor: Marek K Contracting
Photography: Kate Glicksberg
A partial interior renovation of a 2,350 sf Co-op apartment in the Yorkville neighborhood of Manhattan. The goal of the renovation was to convert the enclosed kitchen and staff quarters, typical of classic uptown apartments, to a more modern layout suitable for this young couple and their three children.
The new custom kitchen was opened and connected to the living and dining rooms, while carefully integrating fixed building services where needed. The former staff room was converted to an enclosed pantry, accessed via the kitchen, which also doubles as a private office with custom millwork storage and work surface. Additional custom cabinetry was added to the living and dining room, and continues the black and tan wood palette utilized in the kitchen.
With the kitchen now opened to the apartment, a wood screen was added to the adjacent entry foyer to mask direct views into the kitchen upon entry, while still admitting natural light. The screen seamlessly merges into an adjacent wood cabinet which provides the dining room with valuable storage.
In addition to reorganizing the living spaces, the primary bedroom suite was altered to enlarge its ensuite bathroom, while consolidating storage into a single generous walk-in closet. The two additional bathrooms and powder room were also renovated with new finishes.
Interior Design: CE Interiors
General Contractor: Charles McGrath Construction, Inc.
Photography: Kate Glicksberg
A weekend house for a young couple in upstate New York takes its formal cues from the local agricultural vernacular. Built on property with deed restrictions that mandate a certain size, the massing is split into various pavilions to reduce its bulk and visual impact on the land. The pavilions shift off axis from one another to better define a series of outdoor spaces and maximize views of the surrounding landscape. A mix of vertical and horizontal wood cladding and a metal roof complete the exterior.
This Brooklyn triplex apartment for a young family was renovated in phases to allow occupation during the work. The garden floor, which contains the bedrooms, was first renovated with new bathrooms and (leveled) wide plank flooring throughout.
The parlor floor was the focus of the second phase, which included a new kitchen and dining area. New doors in the kitchen open onto a new steel deck, connecting the living spaces to the garden beyond. The living room was connected to the kitchen and stair hall through new interior wall openings. The same wide plank flooring was installed throughout the parlor, and new casework added to complement the original moulding and plaster work.
The final phase was the full renovation of the lower level to include a new wood stair, bathroom, office, and media room. A warm palette of oak, cork, and brass was used to offset the lack of natural light, and create a soothing environment for the whole family. The existing brick arches were preserved, and new millwork designed to work with their rhythm.
General Contractor: Cotiy Bldg Mngmnt
Photography: Kate Glicksberg
An existing single-story house in a secluded neighborhood just north of New York City is demolished, rebuilt, and expanded to create a 15,000+ SF compound for a large family and their extended-stay guests.
To reduce the overall bulk of the house, the massing is broken into a variety of wings that define a series of exterior courts, and work to preserve some existing sacred fruit vines. Large openings in the facades allow the interior to spill out into these courts, which then serve as additional outdoor rooms.
The forms and materials – pitched roofs, cedar shingles, and stone walls – take their cues from the local vernacular, and further embed the house in it’s surroundings.
A guest/pool house, pool, play area, gardens and extensive landscaping round out the development of the site.
Interior Design: Gathe + Gram, Oslo
This project renovated the garden level of a three-story townhouse in Carroll Gardens. The client, a young couple with two children, wanted a multi-function garden floor which could act as a family gathering space, a place to exercise, a playroom, and also house a guest bedroom suite that could be made private.
To accommodate the clients’ request for flexibility, the guest room contains a fold-out bed which allows for the room to also function as a play space or exercise room. Large sliding glass panels form one side of the guest room which allow it to be connected to, or separated from the rest of the floor.
To offset the low ceilings typical of a garden floor, the existing ceiling joists were exposed and painted and the room opened by replacing structural walls with steel beams and columns. In addition, openings in the rear wall were expanded to allow access to more daylight and improve the connection to the garden beyond.
Custom cabinetry in the media room frames a new gas fireplace, while concealing extensive AV equipment for a surround sound system. To reinforce the connection to the living spaces above, a new wood stair was installed and the assist wall replaced with an open steel screen.
Structural: Blue Sky Design
General Contractor: Cotiy Bldg Mngmnt
Photography: Alexa Hoyer
An existing shingle style cottage and detached garage are re-imagined as a new home for an expanding young family.
The main house receives an extensive renovation and is reconfigured to accommodate the modern lifestyle, as well as updates to finishes & systems. A new link & entrance connects the main house to a former detached garage, now home to a fitness center at the first floor, with a primary suite above.
A working mother wanted to transform her railroad-style Brooklyn garden apartment into a two bedroom home that could comfortably accommodate her and her young daughter, yet provide each with their own space. By relocating the Kitchen and Bathroom, and staggering the private spaces on either side of the assist wall, a new open living area was created.
A large format sliding door installed in an expanded opening in the rear facade connects the living area to the newly renovated garden beyond. Leveled floors, all new interior finishes and lighting, and new electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems complete the renovation.
Structural Engineer: Blue Sky Design
General Contractor: Nelson Cotiy
Garden Design & Construction: The Artist Garden
Photography: Alexa Hoyer
This 1,900 SF penthouse apartment, with a south-facing wrap-around terrace, was gut-renovated to create a new home for a growing family. Located on the edge of Greenwich Village, the renovation strikes a balance between accentuating its post-war roots, and today’s modern open-loft living.
Previously separated, the kitchen, living, and dining rooms were all combined into one Great Room, with views to the east over the East Village to the River, and south to Soho and lower Manhattan. New wide-plank white oak floors throughout lend a loft-like feel, while custom 8’ doors accentuate the high ceilings – which were raised by nearly two feet during the renovation.
A 12’ long kitchen island is the social centerpiece of the new open kitchen. Bathrooms received custom millwork vanities, as well as new fixtures, & finishes. Custom closet interiors, and HVAC, Electrical, and AV systems upgrades round out scope of the renovation.
Contractor: Pawley Interior Contracting Cost: Withheld at Owner’s Request
Full renovation of a 650sf one bedroom apartment in Carroll Gardens.
Full interior renovation of a 500sf Brooklyn Heights studio with harbor views.
