This brownstone, located in Harlem, consists of five stories which had been duplexed to create a two story rental unit and a 3 story home for the owners. The owner hired us to do a modern renovation of their home and rear garden. The garden was under utilized, barely visible from the interior and could only be accessed via a small steel stair at the rear of the second floor. We enlarged the owner’s home to include the rear third of the floor below which had walk out access to the garden. The additional square footage became a new family room connected to the living room and kitchen on the floor above via a double height space and a new sculptural stair. The rear facade was completely restructured to allow us to install a wall to wall two story window and door system within the new double height space creating a connection not only between the two floors but with the outside. The garden itself was terraced into two levels, the bottom level of which is directly accessed from the new family room space, the upper level accessed via a few stone clad steps. The upper level of the garden features a playful interplay of stone pavers with wood decking adjacent to a large seating area and a new planting bed. Wet bar cabinetry at the family room level is mirrored by an outside cabinetry/grill configuration as another way to visually tie inside to out. The second floor features the dining room, kitchen and living room in a large open space. Wall to wall builtins from the front to the rear transition from storage to dining display to kitchen; ending at an open shelf display with a fireplace feature in the base. The third floor serves as the children’s floor with two bedrooms and two ensuite baths. The fourth floor is a master suite with a large bedroom and a large bathroom bridged by a walnut clad hall that conceals a closet system and features a built in desk. The master bath consists of a tiled partition wall dividing the space to create a large walkthrough shower for two on one side and showcasing a free standing tub on the other. The house is full of custom modern details such as the recessed, lit handrail at the house’s main stair, floor to ceiling glass partitions separating the halls from the stairs and a whimsical builtin bench in the entry.
What building methods were used?
Entire rear facade was removed for two stories, the area was framed in steel and a large glass curtain wall installed to create a more open feel and connection to the outside.
What were the key challenges?
The space had an explosion years earlier resulting in the roof being blown off. the space remained open to the elements for a very long period of time. this resulted in much of the structure being rotted out and in need of replacement
Who are the clients and what's interesting about them?
Clients are a young French family who have relocated to the u.s. and chose to make their home in Harlem.
What was the brief?
Renovation of a brownstone that had been flipped by a developer. the previous renovation was very basic and unremarkable. the owners wanted more of a showcase home- but with an extremely minimal aesthetic. the owners space was gutted and reconfigured as per the project description
Team:
Architects: Kimberly Peck Architect
GC: Interior Finishes LLC
Photographer: ddreps
Materials Used:
Porcelain slab at the kitchen counters, outside cabinetry counter, wet bar, master bath. the use of porcelain slab gives large interrupted services that help contribute to the minimalist aesthetic.
kitchen is by boffi
builtins throughout are walnut
