The Insider: Prospect Lefferts Gardens Townhouse Gains New Layout, Baths, Storage in Major Reno

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The early 20th century brick townhouse came with obvious advantages, including a garage, a driveway and an existing extension on its main level. Its 1,800 square feet of living space on two floors, plus a full basement, were plenty for the small family that hired Brooklyn-based Ben Herzog Architect (BHA) to design and carry out the house’s first renovation in “sixty or seventy years, or maybe ever,” as Ilva Skaraine, the project manager, put it.

In the course of a full-on gut reno, BHA created a new three-bedroom, 2.5-bath layout, added a roof deck and transformed the garage into a sculpture studio for one of the homeowners. The rear addition was completely rebuilt and is now a light-flooded dining room with windows on two sides.

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The homeowners, a young couple with a baby son, were clear on what they wanted their home to look like: “Slightly industrial, modern and sleek, but also a lot of warm, natural texture, like brick –- not completely white and sterile-looking,” recalled Skaraine of an early meeting. They opted for modern architectural detail, leading to the choice of clean-lined reveals, favored by museums and galleries, as bases, crowns and casings rather than traditional wood moldings.

Storage was a priority for the clients. BHA complied with an abundance of custom built-ins on the second floor, which contains three bedrooms, as well as in the open kitchen.

Existing floor joists were repurposed as treads for the new staircase, which has steel stringers and metal mesh panels in lieu of more traditional stair rail treatments.

The homeowners selected the modern furniture and lighting, keeping it simple and uncluttered.

BHA rebuilt the house’s deteriorating stoop, vestibule and bay window.

A bit of cheery color in the front entry comes from a mosaic tile floor and an original stained glass window, cleaned and restored. The new door is walnut.

BHA proposed “a million different options” for stair railings, Skaraine said. “The mesh appealed to the clients most, and we rolled with it.” It serves a secondary function, too. “The clients use it for hanging art and plants, even coats and keys.”

New white oak flooring is from Madeira’s Stockholm collection, with wide planks on the main level, narrower, more economical ones on the floor above.

The kitchen had been located in the extension at the rear of the house; BHA moved it to the center.

The sleek cabinetry is veneer or paint-on Europly Core, a plywood product, with Caesarstone quartz countertops. The kitchen was designed by BHA and constructed by New York City-based Henrybuilt.

Two walls of the rebuilt rear extension were fitted with custom-sized, energy-efficient windows and doors from the Polish company Icon.

The bust on the table is the work of the homeowner, whose newly renovated sculpture studio is visible in the backyard.

The second floor stair rail is the same material as on the lower level but much shorter, with additional support posts to stabilize it.

A deep, wood-lined window surround in the primary bedroom opens up the space. Slotted openings in the cabinetry underneath the window deliver heat from radiators behind.

The primary bath has a freestanding tub and custom vanity, with a linear light wrapping around the mirror and recessed into the wall.

Standard 2-inch tiles clad the walls, with large-format cement hex tiles on the floor.

The rear bedroom on the upper floor opens up to a terrace on the roof of the extension below.

Another new bath on the basement level has a striking all-over tile treatment, with a wall-hung toilet and shower tucked behind the wall.

An existing magnolia tree shades the rear deck.

[Photos by Brett Beyer]

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

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