Filed under: Your Home, Projects, House Tours, Architecture
.When I first moved to New York City (by way of Seattle), I scoffed at the idea of living in Brooklyn. Why live in the boroughs when you have Manhattan at your fingertips? But then I toured through interior designer Julia Mack's Cobble Hill townhouse -- and I was a converted Brooklyn wannabe. Take a quick tour and you may become one too.
Photos: Brett Beyer Photography
In classic townhouse fashion, the entry leads into a narrow-but-grand stairway. Mack maintained the original carved-wood banisters -- updated with a fresh coat of glossy white paint. Decor in the entry stays neutral (with the exception of an eye-catching chandelier) to let the architecture take center stage.
Sleek, modern furniture in the living room blends seamlessly with the ornate fireplace and moldings. To maintain the architectural integrity of the townhouse, Mack's architect husband crafted molds to duplicate the original molding, which had crumbled throughout certain areas of the home.
Knock Down Those Walls
One common design problem townhouse owners face is creating a functioning floor plan for the notoriously long, rectangular spaces. Mack floated her sofa toward the middle of the room to create a fireside seating arrangement, and the furniture is primarily in a warm palette to help the space with towering ceilings feel more cozy.
Photos: Brett Beyer Photography
Opposite of the sofa, Mack (shown at right) also floated a lounge chair, side table and reading lamp for a comfy reading nook that feels far from disparate from the rest of the room (as it easily could were it tucked back in the corner).
A Dated Kitchen We Love
The kitchen, at the end of the main floor opposite the living, is a truly modernized space with floor to ceiling wood cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. The dining area is a tribute to mid-century design, providing ample seating for city entertaining. And, of course, it wouldn't be Brooklyn without access to outdoor space. Just beyond the kitchen a door leads to a deck, overlooking their enclosed yard, that Mack and her husband built to take full advantage of the sunny months.
Photo: Brett Beyer Photography
Just because a space lacks ample square footage, doesn't mean it can't be comfortable and multi-functional. In her master bedroom, Mack utilized the typical city-dweller floor space to its fullest, without making the room feel crowded or cramped. A king-sized bed feels airy in a modern canopy frame. Because of a wall of windows the room lacked the ideal wall to place a bed against. Mack solved that by building a "wall" of curtains, which also serves as a headboard when drawn to the width of the bed frame.
Photos: Brett Beyer Photography
Guest bathrooms are a good place to have some fun, design speaking. Every city dweller craves a little more of the outdoors -- so Mack brought that vibe into one of her bathrooms. Everything is crisp and white, then a leafy window dressing serves as the art piece in the room.
Mack utilized an empty corner in the back of her family room for a home office. Because she didn't have an entire room to spare for the space (few do in urban living), she built up, adding shelves for storage. A bright wall enlivens the room that could otherwise feel boring and uninspiring (read: ordinary office). But, as these photos prove, this Brooklyn townhome is anything but ordinary.