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15 years designing iconic homes coast to coast for successful entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and power brokers •

MHLI

Radical individuality is the ultimate luxury.

MHLI © 2026. All rights reserved.

J219

BEDFORD STUYVESANT

BROOKLYN, NY

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Like a bespoke

garment that

accentuates

every curve

Channeling the punctuated palette and lush textures of a 1910 Henri Rousseau painting

hanging in MoMA just a short walk away, a 47th-story Manhattan pied-à-terre flaunts its own collection of captivating art in an eclectic setting with enviable views.

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For an international, design savvy couple

ready to pull out all the stops, we reinvigorated

an 1890s townhouse through rigorous architectural,

restoration and audacious material applications,

chief among them a cast-iron bathtub finished in

custom bronze metallic automotive paint.

EXTERIOR FACADE.jpg

For an international, design-savvy couple

ready to pull out all the stops, we reinvigorated

an 1890s townhouse through rigorous architectural

restoration and audacious material applications, chief

among them a cast-iron bathtub finished in custom bronze

metallic automotive paint.

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We tripled the width of the existing passage between the foyer and parlour to visually join the public spaces. 

The expanded doorway and crisp white surfaces increase natural light and foster an immediate and encompassing sense of welcome, ushering guests to the chic sitting area beyond. High contrasts, statement lighting and iconic Italian furnishings raise the drama decibels to undeniable levels. 

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,

MARC IS NOT AFRAID OF A CHALLENGE AND IS INCREDIBLY RESOURCEFUL. IF IT WAS UP TO ME I WOULD HAVE HAD A HOUSE FULL OF CHAIRS. HIS ABILITY TO REIGN ME IN AND CREATE A UNIFIED LOOK FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS WAS THE STARTING POINT AND THE FINAL ACT. 

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An entirely remapped primary suite contains a pass-through dressing area with head-to-toe customization.

To suit the client's tastes and lifestyle, we undertook extensive relocation of walls and plumbing; employed exuberant color, pattern, and materiality; and layered architectural lighting to create depth and intrigue. Suspended medicine cabinets hang above a Nero Marquina double-tap trough sink set within panoramic handpainted gold and gouache wall panels and geometric marble moasic flooring. On the reverse of each of six bronze-mirrored wardrobe doors, custom designed shoe racks store 120 pairs of shoes. 

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The former bathroom was reimagined as a spa and sanctuary. 

Just off the dressing area, a monochromatic limestone and plaster wet room tempers the vigor of the adjacent space. We refashioned the cast iron claw foot tub with walnut block feet and high-gloss, bronze automotive paint to elevate it from homely to haute couture.

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Her wishlist had a dressing table worthy of Jackie O. What's on yours?

Our brand of luxury blends utility with your ultimate fantasy... like 5-star hotel amenities in the comfort of your own bedroom. And you'll never have to check out. 

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MHLI is a full-service, Black-owned boutique specialized in luxury residential renovations, new builds and comprehensive furnishing projects. Read more

PROJECT DETAILS

  • • Create a more hospitable entry experience

    • Expand kitchen island to compliment existing finishes

    • Update primary bedroom and bathroom

    • Resolve storage for large shoe collection 

  • For this grand townhouse built in the late 1800s and subject to a series of underwhelming renovations by previous owners, our clients were eager to imprint their own fashionably cosmopolitan and forward-thinking tastes. It was also important to modernize outdated heating, plumbing and electrical systems while preserving the historic charm of its original architectural details. Ultimately, our proposal centered on optimizing utility and comfort on the parlour level and in the primary bedroom. For the latter, we devised a new layout to transform the space into a self-contained suite with private dressing quarters, a wet room and a library. Finishes and furnishings speak to a confident, haute couture sensibility inspired by the client's ebullient, supremely stylish personal aesthetic and love for iconic Italian and vintage design. 

  • We're accustomed to the unique hurdles presented by older homes. Upon demolition, severely outdated plumbing and electrical systems were discovered, requiring immediate remedy and extension of the timeline. In tandem, we scoured local salvage lots for weeks to locate and refinish smaller radiators compatible with the existing steam heat system to fit inside of new millwork.

     

    The home's decorative ceiling mouldings suffered from years of deterioration but it was important to maintain the remaining traces of historic character while enacting comprehensive upgrades. We engaged a specialist to hand-trowel and re-sculpt them to their original glory. 

     

    And in an unpredictable twist, half of the last remaining lot of limestone tile specified for the wet room walls arrived covered in red mold, forcing a late stage design pivot. Our solution: waterproof Moroccan plaster in a tonal hue to augment the usable material while maintaining the original aesthetic intent.

  • Design: 10  weeks

    Implementation & Construction: 16 months

  • Contractor: Aerial Design & Build

    Millwork: Bespoke 7

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