Houzz Tour: A Stunning 19th Century Townhouse Before and After
A designer strips a dark, dingy house back to its bare bones to bring out its natural beauty and flood it with light
Armed with vision and strong nerves, designer Alison Jennison saw past the faded green paint, wood panelling and fibre ceiling panels to realise the full potential of this three-storey townhouse in Brooklyn, New York. Her efforts peeled back the decades-old features to reveal hidden charm, to which she applied hip modern furnishings.
After Alison gutted the space and removed interior walls to open up the floorplan and make the 17ft-wide home feel more spacious. She removed the ceiling tiles and the plaster ceiling above them to expose the original structural beams, which needed only a light sanding and cleaning.
She also replaced all of the electrical and plumbing systems, lighting and flooring and added air conditioning.
Not to be outdone in this room is the power of paint. Calm, by Benjamin Moore, on the walls and skirting boards brightens the space like never before. Contrasting black paint on the interior side of the front door adds a touch of traditional style.
Side tables, custom-made in white oak with a leather top by Pernt. Lamp and shade, custom-made by Victoria Morris. Roman blinds, The Shade Store.
She also replaced all of the electrical and plumbing systems, lighting and flooring and added air conditioning.
Not to be outdone in this room is the power of paint. Calm, by Benjamin Moore, on the walls and skirting boards brightens the space like never before. Contrasting black paint on the interior side of the front door adds a touch of traditional style.
Side tables, custom-made in white oak with a leather top by Pernt. Lamp and shade, custom-made by Victoria Morris. Roman blinds, The Shade Store.
The brick was a welcome surprise. “We pulled down the existing wall and held our breath, hoping for a brick wall that was in good enough condition to keep,” Alison says. “We really lucked out.”
Removing the wall also revealed an old brick firebox. The marble fireplace mantel was originally on the third floor and covered in eight layers of paint. Alison stripped, cleaned and reinstalled it on this floor. “It’s one of my favourite things in the house,” she says. Though the fireplace is inoperable, she plans to add a wood-burning, cast-iron insert later this year.
Finn ladder shelves in teak, From The Source. Library sconce in bronze, Restoration Hardware.
Removing the wall also revealed an old brick firebox. The marble fireplace mantel was originally on the third floor and covered in eight layers of paint. Alison stripped, cleaned and reinstalled it on this floor. “It’s one of my favourite things in the house,” she says. Though the fireplace is inoperable, she plans to add a wood-burning, cast-iron insert later this year.
Finn ladder shelves in teak, From The Source. Library sconce in bronze, Restoration Hardware.
After Alison removed the staircase enclosure and took down the wall to open up the living area, which flows into the dining and kitchen spaces.
She was unable to salvage the existing wood floors, which had been covered in linoleum. Instead, she added new, 20cm-wide spalted maple wood.
For the dining area, she paired a midcentury table with modernised Windsor chairs.
Staircase painted in Eagle Rock 1469, Benjamin Moore. Spalted maple floorboards, LV Wood. Salt dining chairs, Design Within Reach. Slip-covered sofa in sand linen, Restoration Hardware. Postage in Ink cushion with windowpane design, Zak+Fox. Black ticking cushions, custom-made. Bennett leather ottoman in distressed ebony, Restoration Hardware. Vintage rug, Togar Rugs. Rattan chair, Roost Lars.
She was unable to salvage the existing wood floors, which had been covered in linoleum. Instead, she added new, 20cm-wide spalted maple wood.
For the dining area, she paired a midcentury table with modernised Windsor chairs.
Staircase painted in Eagle Rock 1469, Benjamin Moore. Spalted maple floorboards, LV Wood. Salt dining chairs, Design Within Reach. Slip-covered sofa in sand linen, Restoration Hardware. Postage in Ink cushion with windowpane design, Zak+Fox. Black ticking cushions, custom-made. Bennett leather ottoman in distressed ebony, Restoration Hardware. Vintage rug, Togar Rugs. Rattan chair, Roost Lars.
Alison reconfigured the kitchen, moving the range cooker to the centre of the room in a walnut-topped island and aligning the sink and fridge along one wall. She splurged on some of the kitchen fixtures, but saved by choosing Ikea cabinets with Shaker-style wood doors that she hand-painted bluish-black.
She punched through the rear kitchen wall and added a sliding door to bring in natural light and connect the space to a new deck.
Cabinet painted in Black Knight 2136-10, Benjamin Moore. Cabinet doors, Semihandmade. Jack stool, M Crow. Fridge, Sub-Zero.
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She punched through the rear kitchen wall and added a sliding door to bring in natural light and connect the space to a new deck.
Cabinet painted in Black Knight 2136-10, Benjamin Moore. Cabinet doors, Semihandmade. Jack stool, M Crow. Fridge, Sub-Zero.
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While the open shelving lends a contemporary feel, other components in the kitchen are more traditional, such as the soapstone worktops, unlacquered brass hardware and generously sized farmhouse sink. White glazed brick tiles on the splashback add more texture than conventional metro tiles.
Glazed thin brick splashback tiles, Clé. Arched shelf brackets in unlacquered brass and Mission drawer pulls, Rejuvenation. Clayburn sink and Henry tap in unlacquered brass, Waterworks. 20th century library single sconce, Restoration Hardware.
Glazed thin brick splashback tiles, Clé. Arched shelf brackets in unlacquered brass and Mission drawer pulls, Rejuvenation. Clayburn sink and Henry tap in unlacquered brass, Waterworks. 20th century library single sconce, Restoration Hardware.
A piano from Alison’s husband’s childhood sits behind the island stools. “While not the most practical location, in a 17ft-wide house you need to get creative,” Alison says. “We kept the wonky exposed wall with paint layers behind it, as we loved the story it told.”
Alison also gutted a cloakroom that’s tucked behind the kitchen. A new cement tile floor, chunky traditional-style fixtures and a striking blue palette make for a simple yet elegant space.
Walls painted in Phillipsburg Blue HC-15, Benjamin Moore. Four Leaf Clover floor tiles, Clé. Sanitaryware, Tresham collection, Kohle. Tap, Highgate collection, Waterworks. Vintage English oval double sconce in bronze, Restoration Hardware.
Walls painted in Phillipsburg Blue HC-15, Benjamin Moore. Four Leaf Clover floor tiles, Clé. Sanitaryware, Tresham collection, Kohle. Tap, Highgate collection, Waterworks. Vintage English oval double sconce in bronze, Restoration Hardware.
After Grey paint helped to give the staircase some life and highlight the details, such as those on the newel post.
This staircase leads to the second floor, which, after a future renovation, will include two additional bedrooms, a bathroom, and a playroom for the kids.
Staircase painted in Eagle Rock 1469, Benjamin Moore.
This staircase leads to the second floor, which, after a future renovation, will include two additional bedrooms, a bathroom, and a playroom for the kids.
Staircase painted in Eagle Rock 1469, Benjamin Moore.
After Fresh paint and wood flooring has brightened the room. It currently serves as a shared bedroom for the kids until the second floor is renovated and this room becomes an office and library.
“I wanted the kids’ space to feel like an extension of the rest of the house while still being specific to them,” Alison says. “I like to create spaces that feel as if they came together over time.”
A vintage Gladys goose nightlight, colourful Pendleton blanket and French-style armchair bring charm to the room. A woven dream-catcher with all the family members’ birthstones hangs above the cot. Once Alison’s daughter was able to pull herself up and reach for it, though, Alison moved the dream catcher to the other side of the room. Also, the goldfish has since been moved into a permanent tank, “where he happily lives to this day,” she says.
A print by artist Faile above the fireplace was an artistic collaboration with the New York City Ballet. “I love the image of the strong woman, especially in a room shared by my son,” Alison says.
Spoke Woven dream catcher, Wilder. Cot, Oeuf. Shelf, Crate & Barrel. Chair, custom-made, Palecek.
“I wanted the kids’ space to feel like an extension of the rest of the house while still being specific to them,” Alison says. “I like to create spaces that feel as if they came together over time.”
A vintage Gladys goose nightlight, colourful Pendleton blanket and French-style armchair bring charm to the room. A woven dream-catcher with all the family members’ birthstones hangs above the cot. Once Alison’s daughter was able to pull herself up and reach for it, though, Alison moved the dream catcher to the other side of the room. Also, the goldfish has since been moved into a permanent tank, “where he happily lives to this day,” she says.
A print by artist Faile above the fireplace was an artistic collaboration with the New York City Ballet. “I love the image of the strong woman, especially in a room shared by my son,” Alison says.
Spoke Woven dream catcher, Wilder. Cot, Oeuf. Shelf, Crate & Barrel. Chair, custom-made, Palecek.
In the new master bedroom, malachite-print wallpaper creates a feature wall behind the bed and covers an old fireplace that was closed years ago.
The armchair in the corner is an antique; it belonged to Alison’s grandmother.
Strata Study wallpaper in Cambrian, Apparatus at Zak+Fox. Vintage cotton sheets and duvet with ticking cushions, Matteo. Roman blind in natural linen, The Shade Store. Side table, Design Within Reach. Walls painted in Himalayan Trek 1542, Benjamin Moore. Dome pendant, Atelier de Troupe.
The armchair in the corner is an antique; it belonged to Alison’s grandmother.
Strata Study wallpaper in Cambrian, Apparatus at Zak+Fox. Vintage cotton sheets and duvet with ticking cushions, Matteo. Roman blind in natural linen, The Shade Store. Side table, Design Within Reach. Walls painted in Himalayan Trek 1542, Benjamin Moore. Dome pendant, Atelier de Troupe.
The first floor previously didn’t have a bathroom, so the couple transformed a small home office into the new en suite. A space-saving pocket door separates it from the bedroom.
A claw-foot tub, traditional-style furnishings and Carrara marble countertops exude classic style, while a wall-mounted towel warmer adds some modern luxury.
Bath, Sunrise Specialty. Vanity unit, Restoration Hardware. Industrial chandelier, Workstead. Bath tap, Highgate collection, Waterworks. Towel warmer, Amba Products.
Tell us…
What do you like about this restored townhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
A claw-foot tub, traditional-style furnishings and Carrara marble countertops exude classic style, while a wall-mounted towel warmer adds some modern luxury.
Bath, Sunrise Specialty. Vanity unit, Restoration Hardware. Industrial chandelier, Workstead. Bath tap, Highgate collection, Waterworks. Towel warmer, Amba Products.
Tell us…
What do you like about this restored townhouse? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? Designer Alison Jennison, her husband, Josh, and their children, Decker, 6, and Margot, 2
Location Greenpoint neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York, USA
Property An 1890 to 1900 townhouse
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms; 2,200 sq ft (approx. 204 sq m)
‘After’ photos by Jessica Glynn
Before Despite being in trendy Brooklyn, the original townhouse certainly didn’t look hip. The first-floor living room, shown here, had acid-green walls and commercial acoustic ceiling tiles.