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Before & After: Thoughtful Changes for a 25-Foot-Wide Townhouse

Design

This unique project posed many interesting challenges and details structurally, programmatically, and aesthetically. Upon purchasing the 25-foot-wide brownstone, the owners came to us. They were charmed by the house’s existing historic details, but knew updates and repairs were necessary to fit the needs of their growing family.

After
Before Rear façade and yard of a Brooklyn Heights townhouse before our renovation
The renovation included a two-story rear addition that enlarged the existing kitchen, making room for a formal dining room.
After Traditional kitchen and dining area at the rear of a Brooklyn Heights townhouse. A skylight allows light into the rear extension.
Before
To keep the space as expansive as possible, and to take advantage of the wide house, the structural bearing line was removed at the rear, creating one 25-foot-wide space.

This allowed us to maximize the ceiling height and increase natural light with floor-to-ceiling doors and large, double hung windows.

After Garden level play room and entertainment space with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors leading to the rear yard.
Before
Maximizing space and natural light was also a priority at the rear garden floor.

This open space is used as a large family room for casual hangouts, entertaining, and the children’s playroom. Expansive glazing created both a visual and physical connection from the garden and parlor levels to the rear yard.

Paneled passageway leading from a dining room to a large den in a Brooklyn Heights House

While the rear of the house was updated for modern living, we preserved scale and detail at the front of the parlor floor. Connecting these two spaces is a hand-painted hallway, expertly mirroring stained wood grain.

To combine the house’s past with the current needs of the owners, the historic details at the front of the house were restored.