THIS BROOKLYN TOWNHOUSE WAS PURCHASED BY THE SON OF A LONGTIME MR CLIENT. SINCE BEING IN 1901, THE STRUCTURE HAd UNDERGONE SEVERAL SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATIONS, MOST NOTABLY ONE THAT SPLIT THE HOUSE INTO THREE SEPARATE APARTMENTS. MR WAS HIRED TO TURN IT BACK INTO A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME, OPEN UP ITS DARK SPACES, AND CREATE A STRONGER CONNECTION BETWEEN THE INDOORS AND THE OUTDOOR AREA AND GARDEN. ACHIEVING THESE GOALS WOULD REQUIRE A GUT RENOVATION.  

AN ADDITION THAT A PREVIOUS OWNER HAD BUILT ONTO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE THAT WAS DEEMED STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND HAD TO BE REBUILT. THIS PRESENTED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MR TO OPEN UP THE REAR FACADE ON THE LOWER FLOORS AND INSTALL WALL-TO-WALL GLASS CASEMENT WINDOWS AND DOORS. TO CREATE A LARGE, COMBINED LIVING/DINING/KITCHEN AREA ON THE FIRST FLOOR, A BEARING WALL THAT DIVIDED THE SPACE WAS ENGINEERED OUT. THE KITCHEN’S WINDOW WALL HAS AN EXTERIOR BAR-HEIGHT COUNTER, SO WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE THROWN OPEN, IT FUNCTIONS AS A PASS-THRU TO THE OUTSIDE.

NEARLY ALL OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS THAT ONCE EXISTED IN THE HOUSE HAD BEEN STRIPPED OVER TIME. MR ADDED PERIOD-APPROPRIATE MOLDING AND TRIM, EXPOSED ORIGINAL JOISTS IN THE DEN CEILING, EXPOSED SOME BRICK PARTY WALL IN THE STAIR, PARGED AND PAINTED ORIGINAL BRICK FIREPLACES IN THE BEDROOMS, AND REUSED THE ORIGINAL NEWEL POST FOR THE NEW STAIRCASE. A MORE CONTEMPORARY TAKE ON MATERIALS AND MILLWORK WAS THEN LAYERED OVER THIS CLASSIC ENVELOPE. THE REMODEL CREATED A FRESH AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE YOUNG FAMILY, AND A CANVAS TO WHICH THEY COULD ADD THEIR OWN DECOR AND PERSONAL TOUCHES.

PHOTOS: ZACH PONTZ