Our clients came to us after purchasing this Brooklyn Heights townhouse wanting to maximize useable space while making the home more functional for their young family’s lifestyle. The solution involved a two-story rear addition that allowed the kitchen to be relocated from the garden level to the parlor to make the parlor level less of a formal space and more central to the family’s routine.
The main dining and living rooms were also placed on the parlor level to facilitate this goal. To make the dining room both formal and inviting, we selected sophisticated pieces that also worked for a family with small children. The dining chairs are large and fully upholstered for extra comfort in a durable scratch resistant leather, which is easier to clean than fabric – great for a family with kids! The already large dining table extends to create an even bigger space, perfect for entertaining large parties. Centralizing the kitchen, dining room, and living rooms to the parlor floor allowed us to turn the garden level into an informal TV and game room.
To solve the busy family's storage and organizational needs, we installed a custom-built mudroom. This space was built near an entry and was customized to focus on organization and comfort for a speedy exit. Coats are stored in a separate closet just before this area to make sure there is a clear path in and out of the house.
The cellar was transformed into a more liveable space with a home theater. The existing cellar was excavated to create stadium seating, which required a structural foundation shelf, cleverly repurposed as a viewing platform for the kids. BIA Interiors incorporated a custom walnut ladder to the carpeted platform along with a walnut-wrapped wet bar with a full-size dishwasher and plenty of snack storage for entertaining. Subtly patterned carpet, mohair wall panels, and large lounge pillows enhance acoustics and create an inviting space for all family members.
Because Landmarks requested that the existing, smaller extension on the upper floors remain intact, it became a major challenge to support the upper floors while we built the new, larger extension underneath. This, coupled with digging out the cellar for a taller ceiling height meant that substantial support had to be engineered for the upper floor extension while a new foundation and extension was built underneath it.
The lower floors now accommodate all the family’s needs, and the center of the home now radiates from the parlor floor, whereas before, kitchen, dining, and living were compartmentalized across two floors. Although it required some structural acrobatics, the new extension made it all possible. And the smaller extension that we kept on the upper floors became the perfect place for a home office, a laundry room, and a secluded roof terrace.
