INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
D to ow n smyou loa r ar ta d I tp b A ho le &D ne t o ! r
WINTER 2014 | CANADIAN EDITION
THE POWER OF MODERN EVOLVING the glass house reimagined in the city Inspiring CHIC NEW LOOK FOR A CENTURY TOWNHOUSE Inviting A mountain cabin that’s modern at heart Innovative The landscape is muse to Canadian in Norway Todd Saunders: 4 projects
WINTER 2014
$5.95 CDN
INTERIOR DESIGN
Beauty
Brooklyn, N.Y.
TREATMENT
Can a dynamic modern sensibility find happiness against the backdrop of the elaborate architectural detailing of a century-old Brooklyn brownstone? This cool, contemporary update offers design and preservation ideas for an elegant marriage of old and new. By Shawna Cohen Photography by Jean-François Jaussaud
Designer Kelly Woodton has seen it time and time again: a 100-year-old, multiple-unit Brooklyn brownstone completely gutted and transformed into an ultramodern, single-family dwelling with nary a trace of its past. For a recent project, however, preservation was key. Woodton and her clients—a television producer, her husband and their two school-aged boys—were adamant about maintaining the original architecture of their 3,600-square-foot single-family row house. Typical of late-19th-century architecture, the home features elaborate mouldings and millwork, soaring arched doorways and ornate statuary-marble fireplaces—meticulous details and craftsmanship that some homeowners are paying tens of thousands of dollars to be recreated for them. “We wanted to keep the legacy of the house but layer it with a more contemporary aesthetic,” says Woodton. The result is an eclectic space that’s modern, yet played out in a centuryold home. Woodton achieved the balance by creating a neutral Opposite: Elegantly simple, the branching light fixture plays off the ornate ceiling medallion—a feature typical of the architecture of the home’s period—with its details of flowers and leaves. The fixture was made from vintage brass and hand-blown glass by Brooklyn-based industrial designer Lindsey Adelman. A ceramic stool (which doubles as an end table) by Made Goods mimics the shape and finish of the light fixture. Granta chairs, Mr. Brown. Candlesticks, Lindsey Adelman. On mantel: drawing (left), Lauren Seiden; torso art, Matthew Craven.
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Brooklyn, N.Y.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Below: The parlour pays tribute to its past as an entertaining salon and library. “We took that idea and made it current and contemporary,” says Woodton, who incorporated multiple seating areas into the space. Included in the mix is a lush velvet sofa with rounded back— part of Woodton’s attempt to introduce varying shapes into a linear space. The large painting—an abstract of a living room—is by Brooklyn artist Stephanie Pierce. Sofa, Weiman Preview. Coffee table, Made Goods. Mirror, Restoration Hardware. Rug, Tibetano.
palette throughout—greys, blues, taupe and white—and avoiding contrasting trims. “Every wall, every door, has the same colour,” she explains, which gives each room a fresher look while maintaining the original details. The furniture plays a significant role—a curved Capri sofa is lavish, yet streamlined, and gently curved wingback chairs are a new spin on a classic. In keeping with a vintage vibe, Woodton added touches of mid-century-modern design in almost every room—Bertoia chairs in the kitchen, for instance, and a 1950s-style metal floor lamp in the master bedroom. She also embraced a subtle nature theme: a branch-like lighting fixture is the parlour’s focal point, while the front entranceway highlights a three-dimensional brass sculpture of birds in motion. The homeowners are also committed to supporting Brooklyn artists, evidenced by many of the pieces showcased in their four-storey house—from custom light fixtures to vibrant paintings. “Brooklyn has become a huge design mecca,” says Woodton, who, together with her client, visited nearby shops and galleries in search of local talent.
In their original incarnation, both the archway and wall mouldings might have been painted a contrasting colour; here Woodton matched them to the wall colour to achieve a sense of spaciousness and tranquility. The original banister has elaborate carving rarely seen today but was typical of turn-of-the-century brownstones. Woodton (right) painted the stairs matte black to juxtapose, she says, “old world with contemporary.” The metal sculpture of birds in flight, by Curtis Jeré, was found on eBay. “I liked the idea of having something three-dimensional on that wall. It’s a fun pop as you walk into the house.”
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Brooklyn, N.Y.
INTERIOR DESIGN
‘We wanted to keep the legacy of the house but layer it with a contemporary aesthetic,’ says the designer. The result is an eclectic, modern space that allows the architecture and period building details to return to prominence.
Though larger and plusher than traditional living room sofas, this couch synchronizes well with other pieces in the parlour because of its higher arm and back height, which is similar to those of the curved sofa nearby. “I wanted them to be in the same visual plane and not compete,” says Woodton. The painting is by Derek Buckner, who has visually transformed Brooklyn’s gritty Gowanus area into a colourful work of art. Sofa, Stitch of Brooklyn. Nesting tables, Ted Boerne.
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The 1960s Italian games table by Aldo Tura features lacquered legs, an inlay chessboard top and four pull-out brass trays. On the wall is a chromogenic-print photograph by Christopher Harris, a form of colour photography typical of the latter half of the 20th century. Chairs, Calligaris.
Above: A textured wood cabinet acts as a bar in the parlour, as well as a storage place for media. Its rounded legs and edges echo shapes found in the room, including the original arched doorway. “You don’t see doorways like that anymore,” notes Woodton, referring to its height and grandeur. The homeowners disliked the cherry-wood flooring in the 14-by-35-foot parlour, but instead of replacing it, they laid down a pale-toned bamboo-silk area rug. Cabinet, Julian Chichester. Resin trough and champagne bucket, Tina Frey Designs. Bar tray, Wüd Furniture Design. Rug, Tibetano. Television, Samsung.
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Brooklyn, N.Y.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Left: In the office, a retro-style Madeline Weinrib rug adds an unexpected pop of pattern. Woodton was so drawn to her client’s piece of art—a map shaped like a dress, by London multidisciplinary artist Elisabeth Lecourt—that she used it as inspiration for the wall colour. Above the fireplace, a series of old convex mirrors—flea market finds—provide a whimsical touch. The Lindsey Adelman light fixture mimics the one in the parlour; it’s simple but equally striking. Sofa, Gus Modern. Pendant light, Lindsey Adelman. Floor lamp, Rich Brilliant Willing.
Right: The garden-level kitchen is a showcase of mid-century-modern classics, with a Saarinen dining table and Bertoia chairs balancing the period-style French oven and hood. It has a vintage vibe, but the subtle touches—such as the white-on-white wallpaper with a pattern of stylized birds, by Brooklyn-based graphic designer Jill Malek (detail, top right)—make the space feel contemporary. The homeowners would have preferred original wooden flooring, but due to budgetary restraints, they retained the grey stone tiles installed in a previous renovation. The vintage prints are by Harold Roth, Adolf Fassbender and Jacques Lowe. Bowls, Royal Boch.
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Brooklyn, N.Y.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Below: Made from paper, the custom ceiling light by French designer Anne-Pierre Malval riffs on the organic feel of the fixtures on the parlour floor. Woodton and her client stood in line for hours at a sample sale for the 1950s-style floor lamp by Brooklyn designer David Weeks. Chairs, Room and Board. Etching, Stephen McMillan. Love birds (on mantel), Jonathan Adler.
Left and above: Contemporary updates almost inevitably include knocking down walls to create massive, spa-style bathrooms. Here, the bath’s footprint was maintained, along with the classic white subway tiles, in an effect more in keeping with the home’s original dimensions and detailing. A sculptural pedestal sink, curved-arm shower rod and rain-shower head, and fixtures in soft-sheen finishes are graceful flourishes that could have come from an earlier era, but the all-white colour palette keeps the look modern. Sink, Kohler. Tub, faucet, shower and accessories, Waterworks. Sconce, Visual Comfort. Medicine cabinet, Century.
In the third-floor master bedroom, an accent wallpaper defines a niche with its relief pattern of iridescent flowers that reflect the abundant natural light. The archway above the bed has decorative wood corbels that would have been stained when the house was built in 1899; Woodton painted them the same colour as the walls for a subtle, contemporary look. Wallpaper, Romo.
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Brooklyn, N.Y.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Left: Children’s tastes are quick to change, which is why Woodton aims for longevity in design. “I’m always designing for three years above their age,” she says. “We didn’t want to Disney-fy anything.” The world-map mural on the wall might pique a child’s interest in geography, while the circular rugs add a lively visual component that the children also use as jump-off points as if they’re in a playground. The bedding’s pattern is a fun take on a cityscape. Bed, Argington. Table and chairs, Room and Board. Rugs, Flor. Mural, Environmental Graphics.
Woodton provided the kids with options for reading chairs and let them choose their favourite. It’s a clever means of exposing children to design at a young age while giving them ownership of their rooms. Below: Woodton applies her high-low approach to design by pairing two vastly different chairs: a classic Herman Miller rocking chair with a punchy blue one from Ikea. The wall mural of a surfer in action brings energy to the space. Shelves, CB2.
Above: The vintage vibe continues in the fourth-floor bathroom, where bold cobalt blue penny tiles strike a period note paired with white subway tiles and add colour to the otherwise all-white space. Soaking tub and toilet, Kohler. Shower, Waterworks.
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Above: The children’s rooms, located on the fourth floor, are outfitted with modular beds—ideal for sleepovers as well as their ever-evolving needs as they grow older. The pendant light picks up on the nautical-inspired bedding. Bed, Argington. Bedding, Serena & Lily. Light, Rejuvenation.
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