PRACTICAL ELEGANCE

The life path of the Carroll Gardens brownstone wasn’t atypical. What began in the late 1800’s as one in a row of four houses built for an extended family, was cut up into three separate apartments. Most of the original detail had been eliminated, leaving the interior void of character.

Platt Dana Architects, with their signature mix of classic and modern design, were brought on board to reimagine what the home was in its glory years. “The challenge was the play between authentic restoration and modern living,” explained Architect Hope Dana. “The home was built in an era when people live very differently than they do now.”

Like many Brooklyn Brownstones ‘modernized’ in the 1920’s, the exterior of the 16’ 9” wide house had also been stripped of ornament. Platt Dana Architects meticulously restored the exterior to its original condition, informed by the houses on either side.

The wood stair balusters were the only original details intact. The finishes throughout including plaster mouldings, wood floors and doors are all new.

The living room, dining room and kitchen mingle together on the Parlor floor, elevating the importance of blending the kitchen into the architecture and the character of the space. An old and new remix made possible by the customization of Henrybuilt’s system.

Nowhere was the juxtaposition of historic preservation and modern living more acute than in the kitchen.

When it came to the kitchen, the clients’ priorities were different. One was focused on the aesthetics and how it felt to be in. The other was engaged in the importance of performance and how it felt to use.

The Henrybuilt system addressed both priorities with an attention to craft quality that created a sum greater than its parts.

Materials were carefully chosen for warmth and softness. Flat fronts brought quiet and elegance, avoiding the trap of “frame and panel” as the only choice for speaking traditional language. Visual dimension was added through the layering of wood, marble, and brass.

The design was informed by the clients’ modernist 1950’s brass and walnut etagere by Paul McCobb.

Composed of honest materials that bring warmth and presence, the piece is marked by purpose. It has a purity of form and line and a scale that is traditional. And, so the Henrybuilt kitchen.

The Island serves as a transition piece between kitchen and living. Functional performance on one side, crafted furniture piece on the other.

Open shelves offer easy access to frequently used ingredients and glassware, while creating visual and physical ease and breathing room.

The live finish of the solid brass pulls patinas over time, adding an old world feeling that fits the home’s character. Honest materials that are meant to age and do so gracefully.

The bottom drawers pair depth with movable divider rails to solve organizational woes.

Stools nest perfectly beneath the counter, out of the way and streamlined.