Family Funs Up Magnificent Bed Stuy Brownstone With a Speakeasy in Its Past
Jodie Patterson and Joe Ghartey moved into one of Bed Stuy’s most impressive brownstones with their four kids three years ago, injecting their style into the home’s historic interior. But the basement? They’ll never change it. The home came with a cornucopia of original detail — gorgeous dark wood moldings and paneling, stained glass windows,…

Jodie Patterson and Joe Ghartey moved into one of Bed Stuy’s most impressive brownstones with their four kids three years ago, injecting their style into the home’s historic interior. But the basement? They’ll never change it.
The home came with a cornucopia of original detail — gorgeous dark wood moldings and paneling, stained glass windows, chandeliers, and fireplaces. But the family’s personal style has a more playful, modern edge and was recently featured on Design Sponge.
The owners carefully preserved and polished every inch of the Renaissance Revival house, designed by architect Jeremiah McAuliffe in 1891 — but the lively interior is anything but gloomy.
Colorful upholstery and contemporary art enliven the space, offering a counterpoint to the more traditional elements. A number of small art groupings and wall collages are scattered throughout the home, catching the eye and providing a constant source of inspiration for Jodie, founder of beauty companies DooBop and Georgia.
But the coolest part? The basement holds the remains of a prohibition-era speakeasy that once operated out of the home. A bright pink buzzer box was used to give entry to the lower door.
The speakeasy buzzer box
It might look like a storage room, but the basement once housed raucous illicit parties
The living room boasts a pier mirror and a whimsical screen
Colorful fabrics add vibrancy to the space. The sofa is from Ikea; the kids helped enhance the upholstery with spray paint.
The home’s rear parlor still has the original painted ceiling
A kitchen was created on the parlor floor by introducing a marble counter with stove and sink in the center, leaving the room’s original built-ins and fireplace intact
The master bedroom
The tile, plasterwork, and stained glass are original, but the fixtures and layout are new
Jodie’s home office
The children’s room
[Source: Design Sponge | Photos: Sasha Israel]
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I am familiar with this project and thought it good to shout out the local design firm that assisted the couple: Big Prototype.
Also: there is an error in their names: it’s Jodie Patterson and Joe Ghartey (not Joe Patterson).
Thanks, 440, the name has been corrected.
Love this. Full of personality, the home looks loved and comfortable. Nice to see a family of color too. Nice post Brownstone.
A lot of love in this house.. Great details!
The house itself is freakin’ amazing, and what they did to it only makes it better. What talent and taste! Fantastic. That cabinet in the kitchen….oh my….
Cate thanks so much for giving us the right year and architect to this house. Jeremiah McAuliffe is very unknown but did many homes and schools. He did many of the homes on Polhemus Pl..