# 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. - **Source:** [Design MilkInterior Design Ideas for Your Modern Home | Design Milk](https://brifing.si/source/1484120b-1655-4db8-bcd5-582962f690ac) - **Published:** 2026-10-13 - **Topic:** [Design & UX](https://brifing.si/c/design) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/ed31766c-0af7-4995-aeb0-198f10e22bb6 ## Relocating 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. ## Surgical 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. ## A 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. ## Reinterpreting 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. ## Kitchen 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. ## Bifurcated 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. ## Primary 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. ## Top 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. ## Sources covering this story - https://design-milk.com/baao-brooklyn-brownstone-renovation/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._