Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Rich Color and Mod Furniture Update a Brownstone
A Brooklyn designer brings a moody, contemporary vibe to an 1850s-era home
When Julia and John Mack purchased an 1850s brownstone in Brooklyn in 2011, they became the house’s third owners in 160 years, a legacy not lost on them. “Our general concept from the beginning was to incorporate as many original details as we could and then redo architectural details that were missing,” says Julia, an interior designer.
Their contractor duplicated original plaster ceiling moldings in wood, and the couple retained the wooden pocket shutters on the front windows, the mahogany handrail on the stairs, the skylight over the staircase and other original elements. Then they tweaked the design to breathe new life into the historic building with a sliding wall of glass at the back of the house, a streamlined modern kitchen, a muted color palette and an eclectic mix of contemporary and vintage furnishings.
Their contractor duplicated original plaster ceiling moldings in wood, and the couple retained the wooden pocket shutters on the front windows, the mahogany handrail on the stairs, the skylight over the staircase and other original elements. Then they tweaked the design to breathe new life into the historic building with a sliding wall of glass at the back of the house, a streamlined modern kitchen, a muted color palette and an eclectic mix of contemporary and vintage furnishings.
Dark charcoal gray paint on the floors anchors the space, and a thick shag rug in the living room provides texture and contrast. A modern drop light fixture, floating glass shelves and a vintage red lacquer table provide contemporary touches.
The brown velvet sofa and dark tones in the artwork help to ground the room.
Paint: Black Panther, Benjamin Moore
The brown velvet sofa and dark tones in the artwork help to ground the room.
Paint: Black Panther, Benjamin Moore
An Oriental rug anchors the “floating” dining room, which fills the space between the living room and kitchen. The vintage table has three leaves to extend for large parties and holiday dinners. The light fixture “adds a curvy touch to what is typically a boxy space,” Julia says.
Chairs: Phillippe Starck for Kartell
Chairs: Phillippe Starck for Kartell
Photo by Elizabeth Lippman
A self-described “very dedicated home cook,” Julia wanted highly durable materials and appliances for her kitchen. She chose laminate for the cabinets, porcelain for the floor tile and metal free-standing cabinets for additional storage.
The tight palette of dark neutrals, white accents and textures creates a space that’s “warm and inviting during the day when the light comes,” Julia says, and “warm and comfortable at night” with black linen curtains pulled over the window wall. The cabinets are laminate with wood-tone texture, covered in Harbor Gray paint by Benjamin Moore.
A self-described “very dedicated home cook,” Julia wanted highly durable materials and appliances for her kitchen. She chose laminate for the cabinets, porcelain for the floor tile and metal free-standing cabinets for additional storage.
The tight palette of dark neutrals, white accents and textures creates a space that’s “warm and inviting during the day when the light comes,” Julia says, and “warm and comfortable at night” with black linen curtains pulled over the window wall. The cabinets are laminate with wood-tone texture, covered in Harbor Gray paint by Benjamin Moore.
Casual seating at the kitchen counter ensures the cook isn’t too isolated during dinner prep. The free-standing metal cabinets house spices, dry goods and pots and pans. The metal wall sculpture of welded bedsprings is by local artist Susan Woods.
Photo by Michael Arnaud
Three months out of the year, the deck is “a whole additional room,” Julia says. Sliding doors pocket back to one panel, and a set of screens slides in front. Stairs lead to the backyard and swimming pool. The door under the deck leads to a ground-floor rental apartment.
Three months out of the year, the deck is “a whole additional room,” Julia says. Sliding doors pocket back to one panel, and a set of screens slides in front. Stairs lead to the backyard and swimming pool. The door under the deck leads to a ground-floor rental apartment.
Photo by Elizabeth Lippman
Planters run the length of the deck on both sides and are filled with flowers and herbs for cooking. Thyme, rosemary and chives were still going strong in early December. The vintage deck furniture is from Brown Jordan.
Planters run the length of the deck on both sides and are filled with flowers and herbs for cooking. Thyme, rosemary and chives were still going strong in early December. The vintage deck furniture is from Brown Jordan.
Photo by Michael Arnaud
One of the major changes the Macks made was to move the plumbing from the back corner of the house to the center. The bathrooms and laundry facilities are stacked vertically in the center of the house to maximize the 17-foot width of the rooms. On the second floor, fiberboard doors conceal the washer and dryer and a linen closet. The two large guest bedrooms are connected by a full bath.
One of the major changes the Macks made was to move the plumbing from the back corner of the house to the center. The bathrooms and laundry facilities are stacked vertically in the center of the house to maximize the 17-foot width of the rooms. On the second floor, fiberboard doors conceal the washer and dryer and a linen closet. The two large guest bedrooms are connected by a full bath.
Photo by Elizabeth Lippman
The top floor includes the master bedroom and bath and a sunny family room and home office. The Macks raised the top floor ceiling up to the roofline to give the family room a casual, loft-like feel. They bleached out and whitewashed the existing wood flooring and used a similar palette of dark neutrals and whites to accentuate textures and patterns, such as the natural bamboo hanging-basket light and the geometric flat-weave rug. The front windows include the original painted wooden pocket shutters.
The top floor includes the master bedroom and bath and a sunny family room and home office. The Macks raised the top floor ceiling up to the roofline to give the family room a casual, loft-like feel. They bleached out and whitewashed the existing wood flooring and used a similar palette of dark neutrals and whites to accentuate textures and patterns, such as the natural bamboo hanging-basket light and the geometric flat-weave rug. The front windows include the original painted wooden pocket shutters.
Photo by Michel Arnaud
Pivot doors separate the bathroom from the master bedroom (at the back of the house) and the family room (at the front). The original whitewashed brick wall extends beyond the bathroom into the family room. An Eames walnut wavy-screen headboard adds more texture.
Pivot doors separate the bathroom from the master bedroom (at the back of the house) and the family room (at the front). The original whitewashed brick wall extends beyond the bathroom into the family room. An Eames walnut wavy-screen headboard adds more texture.
Photo by Elizabeth Lippman
In the master bathroom, large-format Italian tiles on the floor and walls echo the twin sinks and large mirror; the toilet room and shower stall are hidden. The undersink cabinets are from Ikea.
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In the master bathroom, large-format Italian tiles on the floor and walls echo the twin sinks and large mirror; the toilet room and shower stall are hidden. The undersink cabinets are from Ikea.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Who lives here: Interior designer Julia Mack and her husband, architect John Mack
Size: 2,400 square feet (223 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Designer: Julia Mack Design
The first floor of the three-story townhouse includes a living room at the front, near this staircase, a dining room in the middle and a kitchen at the back. This open floor was intentionally kept a bit “dark and tonal and moody,” Julia says, to set the modern tone that characterizes the rest of the interior. “As you go upstairs, it gets lighter and brighter and more casual.”
The Macks added a tiny powder room under the staircase and hidden behind a paneled door. A shiny fabric by Knoll covers the Saarinen Executive armchairs for more texture. The 1970s black lacquer mushroom table is part of a set that includes the red one in the living room.