The Insider: Boerum Hill Townhouse Gains Old-World Charm, Modern Luxury

The impeccably renovated and furnished townhouse may look pretty now. But “it was not pretty when it started,” said designer Keren Richter. “It needed pretty much everything.”

Richter and her husband, Thomas Richter, who formed New York City-based architectural design firm White Arrow a decade ago and have since completed a score of projects from Brooklyn to Berlin, took over Phase II of this gut renovation after the young couple who’d bought the house a year prior had already done some major work and reached a point of overwhelm.

When White Arrow came into the picture, an architecture firm had drawn plans and obtained permits, the cellar was being excavated, and the back of the house had been demolished on the two lower levels and extended out 10 feet. There was a new bulkhead on the roof and new rooftop decking. New mechanicals and HVAC were under way. “But it was still almost a blank slate,” decoratively speaking, Richter said. “They were jackhammering in the cellar and doing brickwork when we arrived. The windows weren’t there. The walls were down to studs, and they needed to redo the stairs.”

White Arrow’s team ended up managing the project, Richter said, masterminding all new details, finishes, custom millwork, and a comprehensive decorating plan. “Everything that looks historic — crown molding, baseboard, doors, flooring, arches, stair rails, niches, borders — that’s all us.” Marble mantels and some vintage shutters were among the few salvageable original details.

When it came to furnishings, “we wanted it to be chic and elevated, a mix of different eras, with a harmonious materials palette of walnut, black, and navy,” Richter said. “It’s not casual per se, but not overly glam either.” Artwork throughout the house was curated by White Arrow, with emphasis on 20th century vintage paintings.

The building’s windows were replaced throughout with new ones sourced from Historical Windows of New York. White Arrow based the new stair railing and newel post on 19th century designs.

The front parlor/living room (top photo) is anchored by a blue velvet sofa of White Arrow’s own design, inspired by the work of Jean-Michel Frank. The armchairs are vintage finds. The walnut coffee and side table were sourced from Pinch, a British brand. The Pierre Chapo daybed is a contemporary piece, the chandelier a 1917 Weiner Werkstatte design by Josef Hoffmann.

From the entry, there’s a straight visual shot to the back of the house through new flat arched openings. “All the colors weaving through the parlor level relate to each other,” Richter said.

Handmade ceramic tiles from Pratt + Larson, a Lacanche stove, and custom cabinetry painted Newburg Green by Benjamin Moore give the central kitchen timeless appeal.

The stove hood is custom; distinctive pendant lights were sourced from Apparatus. White Arrow chose Breccia Capraia marble with dramatic purple veining for the backsplash and countertops. Chamfered edges on the wide island “keep it from feeling too monolithic,” Richter said.

The dining room is in a new extension at the rear of the parlor floor, with a glass wall overlooking the garden. A green leather credenza and rich walnut tones in the furnishings “continue the jewel tone color story,” as Richter put it.

White Arrow’s custom-designed walnut dining table is encircled by 1970s Italian leather chairs by Tobia Scarpa. A Sketch Light pendant by NYC-based designer Anna Karlin supplies modern drama as well as warm light.

The second floor library/sitting room, with custom built-ins designed by White Arrow, opens to a deck on the roof of the new rear extension. Aside from the Pinch sofa, furnishings are vintage. The coffee table is a re-issue of an Jacques Adnet design.

A bedroom occupied part-time by twin boys is furnished with vintage cherry wood beds by Ole Wanscher.

A custom oak and marble vanity by White Arrow and gold-tone details give a luxurious cast to the primary bath.

A playful striped wall tile treatment, a yellow pendant light from Coleen & Company, and vintage-style fixtures enliven the bathroom adjacent to a nursery.

Hardscaping in the backyard, designed by White Arrow, makes use of vernacular materials like bluestone and cobblestones. Plantings were orchestrated by Brooklyn-based Verru Design.

[Photos by Thomas Richter]

The Insider is Brownstoner’s weekly in-depth look at a notable interior design/renovation project, by design journalist Cara Greenberg. Find it here every Thursday morning.

Got a project to propose for The Insider? Contact Cara at caramia447 [at] gmail [dot] com

Related Stories

• The Insider: Bold Color and ’70s Furnishings Enliven a Family Home in a New Greenpoint Tower
• The Insider: Storied Brooklyn Heights Townhouse Gets a Decorative Makeover With an English Feel
• The Insider: Design Tweaks, Art, All-New Furnishings Warm Up a Williamsburg Townhouse

Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on X and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.