Italianate Townhouse — an unfolding of distinctive, expressive spaces

Brooklyn, NY
6,000 square feet
Type: Interiors / Townhouses

Located in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District, this landmarked townhouse had been subdivided into apartments and stripped of much of its architectural character. We restored the exterior and transformed the interior of the house into a gracious residence for contemporary family living. Using historic photographs, we meticulously rebuilt the Italianate facade with rich details that add depth and shadow and contribute to the character of the street. New plantings and window boxes add lushness to this classic Brooklyn block.

Visitors enter on the parlor level into an open living, kitchen, and dining area. While the spaces flow from one to the next, each is distinctive. The living room is light and airy with a cloud-like pendant fixture, serene modern furnishings, and plaster work that reinterprets historic details in a pared back modern language. Extensive custom millwork and cabinetry define the open kitchen in the center of the space.

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The re-organization of the house supports a less formal and more family-centered way of life, but what remained of the original Italianate house evoked a spirit of bold romanticism. It felt authentic that the interiors should capture that original spirit.

Kiki Dennis, Principal

Key People

Maitland Jones

Kiki Dennis
Interiors Lead

Catherine Bird
Landscape Lead

Brendan M. Lee
Project Lead

David Sobol
Project Manager

Collaborators

TenBerke
Architect, Interior Designer, Landscape Designer

Old Structures Engineering
Structural Engineer

Kohler Ronan
Mechanical Engineer