PRACTICAL ELEGANCE

The life path of the Carroll Gardens brownstone wasn’t atypical. What began in the late 1800s 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 that were “modernized” in the 1920s, 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 plaster mouldings, wood floors, and doors are all new.

The living room, dining room, and kitchen mingle on the parlor floor, making the seamless integration of the kitchen into the surrounding architecture all the more important. It was an old-and-new remix made possible by the wide range of customization that Henrybuilt’s system allows.

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 feel. The other was engaged in the importance of performance and functionality.

The Henrybuilt system addressed both priorities with an attention to craft quality.

Materials were carefully chosen for warmth and softness. Flat fronts bring 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 1950s 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 a traditional line and a scale.

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 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 and out of the way beneath the counter.