This Greek Revival row house in Boerum Hill was previously owned by a local architect who renovated it several times, including the addition of a two-story steel and glass extension at the rear. The new owners came to us seeking to restore the house and its original formality, while adapting it to the modern needs of a family of five. The detailing of the 25 x 36 foot structure had been lost and required some sleuthing into the history of Greek Revival style in historic Brooklyn neighborhoods. In addition to completely re-framing the interior, the house also required a new south-facing brick façade due to significant deterioration. The modern extension was replaced with a more traditionally detailed wood and copper- clad bay, still open to natural light and the garden view without sacrificing comfort. The kitchen was relocated from the first floor to the garden level with an adjacent formal dining room. Both rooms were enlarged from their previous iterations to accommodate weekly dinners with extended family. The kitchen includes a home office and breakfast nook that doubles as a homework station. The cellar level was further excavated to accommodate finished storage space and a playroom where activity can be monitored from the kitchen workspaces. The parlor floor is now reserved for entertaining. New pocket doors can be closed to separate the formal front parlor from the more relaxed back portion, where the family plays games or watches TV together. At the end of the hall, a powder room with brass details, and a luxe bar with antique mirrored backsplash and stone tile flooring, leads to the deck and direct garden access. Because of the property width, the house is able to provide ample space for the interior program within a shorter footprint. This allows the garden to remain expansive, with a small lawn for play, an outdoor food preparation area with a cast-in-place concrete bench, and a place for entertaining towards the rear. The newly designed landscaping will continue to develop, further enhancing the yard’s feeling of escape, and filling-in the views from the kitchen and back parlor above. A less visible, but equally as conscious, addition is a rooftop PV solar array that provides nearly 100% of the daily electrical usage, with the exception of the AC system on hot summer days. The well-appointed interiors connect the traditional backdrop of the home to a youthful take on classic design and functionality. The materials are elegant without being precious, accommodating a young, growing family. Unique colors and patterns provide a feeling of luxury while inviting inhabitants and guests to relax and enjoy this classic Brooklyn brownstone. This project won runner-up in the architecture category for the 2017 NYC&G Innovation in Design Awards and was featured in The American House: 100 Contemporary Homes. Photography by Francis Dzikowski / OTTO

Custom Home Bar in New Jersey.

Twisted Tours

Photos by Mike Kaskel.

Jane Beiles

This beautiful Toll Brothers designed outdoor living space is accented with Coronado Stone Products Playa Vista Limestone / Cream. The gorgeous pool and indoor-outdoor living space is tied together with the unique stone veneer textures and colors. This is the perfect environment to enjoy summertime fun with family and friends!

The homeowners wanted to turn this rustic kitchen, which lacked functional cabinet storage space, into a brighter more fun kitchen with a dual tap Perlick keg refrigerator. For the keg, we removed existing cabinets and later retrofitted the doors on the Perlick keg refrigerator. We also added two Hubbardton Forge pendants over the bar and used light travertine and mulit colored Hirsch glass for the backsplash, which added texture and color to complement the various bottle colors they stored. We installed taller, light maple cabinets with glass panels to give the feeling of a larger space. To brighten it up, we added layers of LED lighting inside and under the cabinets as well as under the countertop with bar seating. For a little fun we even added a multi-color, multi-function LED toe kick, to lighten up the darker cabinets. Each small detail made a big impact.

The primary style of this new lounge space could be classified as an American-style pub, with the rustic quality of a prohibition-era speakeasy balanced by the masculine look of a Victorian-era men’s lounge. The wet bar was designed as three casual sections distributed along the two window walls. Custom counters were created by combining antiqued copper on the surface and riveted iron strapping on the edges. The ceiling was opened up, peaking at 12', and the framing was finished with reclaimed wood, converting the vaulted space into a pyramid for a four-walled cathedral ceiling. Neals Design Remodel Robin Victor Goetz

Well stoked bar cleverly hidden behind a panel sliding door. Lovely touch by the owner with quality modern art.