BAAO Transforms Historic Clinton Hill Brownstone with Expressive Materiality and Color
A four-story Brooklyn townhouse balances midcentury furnishings and contemporary art through architectural precision.
1Relocating from Manhattan to Brooklyn
An empty-nester couple relocated from a Tribeca townhouse to a landmarked 19th-century brownstone in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. Seeking more space and character, they hired Barker Architecture Office (BAAO) to reconfigure the four-story property to showcase an extensive collection of midcentury furniture and contemporary art across all domestic levels.
2Surgical Restoration After Rental Use
The building had previously operated as fragmented short-term rentals, which stripped away most original interior ornamentation. BAAO applied a surgical intervention strategy, meticulously preserving surviving historic details while introducing clean modern elements. This approach established a calibrated light environment and seamless flow tailored specifically to the owners' daily lifestyle.
3A Saturated Chromatic Entryway
The interior narrative begins at the entrance threshold. Deep olive front doors open into a terracotta-lined vestibule that frames the central circulation spine. The primary staircase features a sunny yellow finish accented by a bold red runner, immediately establishing the residence's confident and expressive color palette upon arrival.
4Reinterpreting Historic Parlor Detailing
On the parlor level, white oak floorboards laid diagonally subtly reinterpret traditional Victorian parquet patterns. In the living room, restored original plaster crown moldings and a decorative ceiling rosette frame a Richard Tuttle chandelier, while textured porcelain tiles reclad the operational fireplace alongside works by Alfred Stieglitz and Amy Sillman.
5Kitchen Design Rejects Sterile Modernism
The kitchen abandons standard minimalist island layouts in favor of perimeter cabinetry and better movement. Custom white oak millwork, honed soapstone counters, and a dramatic veined lilac marble backsplash define the space. A central dining table lit by vintage French aluminum pendants replaces the conventional prep island.
6Bifurcated Garden Level Programs
A sculptural stair lit by hand-blown Jeff Zimmerman pendants leads to the garden floor. The rear houses a sunlit family room connected directly to the landscaped yard. In contrast, the front features an intimate, dark-paneled library with custom walnut shelving and Hans Wegner Papa Bear lounge seating.
7Primary Suite Material Palette
Occupying the second floor, the primary suite utilizes an autumnal scheme of russet, ochre, and moss green. A hand-painted scenic landscape mural covers the bedroom walls, leading to an oak reading nook and private terrace. The en-suite bathroom combines soft limewash surfaces with blue-green zellige shower tiles.
8Top Floor Communal Organization
The uppermost level provides three bedrooms for the owners' adult children, arranged symmetrically around a central skylit lounge. Bold graphic color blocks animate this shared zone. BAAO successfully avoided nostalgic mimicry, uniting historic envelopes, precise craft, and personal art collections into a coherent architectural intervention.