J219
Brooklyn, NY
Interior Design + Architectural Advisory
Contractor: Aerial Design & Build
Millwork: Bespoke 7
Awards: Residential Stone Design, Coverings
Confident pattern play, richly hued expanses, and rigorous architectural interventions reinvigorate this 1890s townhouse with audacious flair. While painstakingly restoring its original features and upgrading outdated systems, we brought the space firmly into the modern era. A reconceived primary suite boasts unconventional amenities including hand-painted gold kintsugi wallpaper, concealed storage for 120 pairs of shoes, and a bathtub finished in bronze automotive paint.
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PROJECT DETAILS
• Create a more hospitable entry experience
• Expand kitchen island to compliment exsiting finishes
• Update primary bedroom and bathroom
• Resolve storage for large shoe collection
For an international, design-savvy couple ready to pull out all the stops, we pushed a bold narrative both aesthetically and architecturally. New chevron flooring activates the main level, where we tripled the width of the existing passageway between the parlour and foyer and placed Pietro Russo's contemporary rhomboid shelving unit to allow natural light to flood the space and visually bridge the common areas. A monumental, jewelry-inspired glass chandelier drifts above the lounge area's vintage Milo Baughman barrel chairs and Federico Munari sofa.
An entirely remapped primary suite contains a private water closet and a pass-through dressing room connecting the primary bedroom with the library. Integrated architectural lighting imbues a sense of drama, emphasizes volume, and highlights hand-painted gouache and gold wall panels, marble mosaic flooring, and a custom Nero Marquina sink. On the rear of each of six bronze- mirrored wardrobe doors, custom-designed racks store 120 pairs of shoes. A limestone-and-plaster-wrapped wet room houses a rain shower and a cast iron claw foot soaking tub refashioned with walnut block feet and high-gloss, bronze automotive paint — no small feat to perform.
Built-in storage surrounds the fireplace of the primary bedroom, disguising a mini split, radiator, plumbing elements and A/V components. Matching shelving in the library incorporates Carrara countertops and bronze-capped cylindrical bookends.
In recognition of stone execution, original usage, and overall design and purpose in the primary bathroom, MHLI was awarded Best Residential Stone Design by Coverings, the largest and most significant ceramic tile and natural stone conference in North America.
We're accustomed to the unique hurdles consistently presented by older homes, and this 1890s townhouse was no exception.
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 then refinish smaller radiators comptabile 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
8 weeks
Implementation & Construction
16 months
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Marc is not afraid of a challenge and is incredibly resourceful. It was really his ability to synthesize budget, vision, and floor plan that pushed the project forward in a very interesting sophisticated way.
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Houston, TX