Dynamic Spaces
Nothing increases the value of a property like added floor area. We take this a step further by maximizing the impact of our additions. For this Upper West Side brownstone, for example, we added two small extensions–one at the roof and one at the rear. But their rippled effect was huge.
First, each of these modern extensions added a double-height space to the historic house, creating a spatial dynamism that’s rare in a brownstone. The double heights also made space for oversized windows, to flood the interior with precious daylight. This not only made an indoor vine trellis possible, but also created a sunny play space in the heart of the house.
Outdoor Spaces
What’s more, our extensions yielded a bumper crop of outdoor spaces. One is a private terrace off the daughter’s bedroom. Another is a little deck just for the grandparents’ suite. A large deck at the rear rooftop is perfect for entertaining, while a small deck at the front roof boasts a hot tub.
Family Spaces
With so much vertical living, we also inserted a new elevator–a must for this multi-generational family. Other features include a climbing wall in the cellar gym illuminated by a walkable skylight. Yet another light shaft brings daylight to the vanity in the primary bathroom. This bathroom also features a cypress ofuro tub and a walk-in shower. A laundry chute sends linens to the laundry room two floors below.
The kitchen in this Upper West Side brownstone is a cook’s paradise. There’s a 60″ Wolf range, a vacuum sealer, a meat dry ager, and a hidden Roomba charging station. Since the wall of kitchen cabinets includes drawers, doors, and in-plane sliding panels, we needed a single recessed pull that could serve multiple functions. So we invented one: a bronze and hickory pull that unifies the whole wall.
The design is a master class in marrying a brownstone’s historic restoration with modern extensions tailored to the busy lives of an urban family.
