Inside a Red-Brick Home: A Study in Contemporary and Traditional Interior Design
Challenges of Renovating Historic Homes
Owning a red-brick house in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood turns any renovation project into a challenge in its own right. The task goes beyond mere updating, it also requires honoring the home’s historic character.
Balancing Heritage and Functionality
For this family, the main challenge lay in combining the preservation of the house’s traditional architectural elements with enhancing the daily functionality of its various spaces. This demands meticulous attention to detail and careful planning to ensure the home remains both practical and aesthetically appealing.
Expanding and Redesigning Spaces
The renovation began by focusing on key architectural updates, including the addition of a 10-foot extension and the redesign of the home’s rear facade. These changes not only improved the flow of the spaces but also allowed the introduction of new design elements that harmonize with the house’s historic character.
Interior Design Focused on Atmosphere
On the lounge floor, distinctive design touches stood out, where dark walls and custom woodwork contributed to creating a warm and richly detailed ambiance.
Artistic and Dramatic Elements
A dramatic bar was also introduced, clad in Waterworks marble and featuring intricate metal details, lending the space a sense of luxury and sophistication. Lighting was provided through sculptural sconces, adding an artistic dimension and highlighting the interior details in an appealing manner.
Seamless Integration of Interior and Exterior
In the dining area, a glass wall provides a clear view of the garden, enhancing the sense of openness and connection to nature. Yet, the eye does not remain focused on the exterior for long, as the interior details immediately capture attention.
Meticulous Design Details
Custom cabinetry, brass sconces, and a floral painting by artist Lizzie Gill serve as visual focal points, adding a personal and artistic touch to the space.
Artistic and Craftsmanship Touches
An Anna Karlin chandelier hangs above the walnut dining table, while the handmade Zia Tile Zellige flooring adds a sense of craftsmanship and uniqueness underfoot, reflecting a precise attention to detail.
A Kitchen That Balances Tradition and Modernity
Although the kitchen’s structure is traditionally designed, its execution is modern. It features stone countertops, expertly crafted fixtures, and a luxury oven that elevates both performance and comfort in cooking, reflecting a balance between functional and aesthetic beauty.
A Sense of Luxury and Tranquility in the Bedrooms
The bedrooms convey a feeling of serene luxury and visual comfort.
Master Bedroom
The master bedroom features a Swedish chandelier from the 1950s and ceramic lamps that add a soft artistic touch. Surrounding the elegant oak bed is a vintage painting by artist Kjell Lönnblad, while custom curtains from Carolina Irving Textiles provide a sense of privacy and warmth.
Guest Bedroom
The guest bedroom exudes warmth and nostalgia. The Woodbridge bed with a wooden frame and antique oak cabinetry stand out, accompanied by reflective chandeliers in ivory glass from the 1950s. Maine Cottage side tables and oil paintings by artists Georges Darel and R. Debray further evoke memories and sentimentality, enhancing the room’s personal and artistic character.
Basement: A Multi-Functional Space
The basement was redesigned into a versatile retreat with a distinctive industrial character. Bamboo-crafted iron bar stools add a retro touch, while Rejuvenation sconces highlight the dark tones and elegantly accentuate the area’s details.
Secondary Living Room
The secondary living room features a Rowe-designed sofa and McGuire armchairs, accompanied by a vintage chandelier in brass and ivory glass by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, creating a balance between comfort and classic elegance.
Library: A Blend of Art and Heritage
The library exudes an intellectual ambiance and celebrates antique collectibles, featuring a framed photograph by artist Elliott Erwitt, a leather floor lamp designed by Lisa Johansson-Pape, and a reissued Jacques Adnet coffee table, making it a space for reading and reflection that combines artistic beauty with functional practicality.
Bathrooms: Merging Functionality and Beauty
The home features two bathrooms, each reflecting attention to detail and serving different functions.
Primary Bathroom
The primary bathroom boasts a custom oak vanity, elegant Apparatus sconces, and Lind and Almond medicine cabinets, with ceiling lighting that highlights the beauty of the materials and finishes.
Children’s Bathroom
The children’s bathroom offers a playful and lively atmosphere, with yellow accents, bold Schumacher wallpaper, and a baby blue standalone tub, creating an enjoyable and inspiring space for children.
Every Room Tells a Story
Every room in this home tells a unique story, filled with textures, details, and carefully selected objects. The end result is a space that blends traditional character with contemporary elegance, avoiding excessive formality, and giving the home a warm and welcoming personality.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
This project reflects a high level of attention to detail and interior design, with traditional and contemporary elements clearly integrated, giving the home a distinctive artistic and aesthetic character. The spaces feature craftsmanship touches and unique furniture that enrich the user experience and highlight the personality of each room.
However, some may feel that the abundance of details and decorative elements can make certain areas visually busy and may require extra effort to maintain, especially with the selection of luxurious materials and precise craftsmanship. Nevertheless, the project succeeds in delivering a cohesive home that balances beauty and functionality, creating a renewed visual experience in every corner.
Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team
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