English by Angela Feng
Photography by Dustin Aksland
Stepping into the Warren Place Mews, one feels transported out of New York City and into a different time and place. The hidden street, made up of 34 idyllic brick cottages, is located in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The historic Gothic-style homes were built in the 1870s for working-class families by Alfred Tredway White, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist. Though these residences have since been renovated into luxury townhouses, the neighborhood maintains an antique, village-like charm.
A creative young couple took interest in one of these 1,100-square-foot townhouses, seeing it as the perfect place for their growing family. They sought out architect Elizabeth Roberts to oversee the renovation. The wife is an interior designer, and the husband a music writer. Both with an artistic eye, they had a clear aesthetic vision for their future home. “She wanted a layered and cozy interior with a mix of historic, vintage, and contemporary elements that spoke to the history of the house,” Roberts said in an interview with Elite.
A Spacious Transformation
The house is made up of three floors with a stairway running through the middle. The family enjoys meals together on the first floor, where the kitchen and dining room are located. The second floor is a relaxing space to unwind, as it contains the living room and a study. The family’s sleeping quarters are on the third floor. The home has two bedrooms, one full bathroom, and one powder room.
One of Roberts’s main goals was to brighten the living spaces and make the home feel more spacious. The home had originally felt dark and cramped. The house was already very narrow, and its existing layout and finishes made it appear even smaller. The dark-brown walls were repainted a dove-white, which instantly lightened the place. The proportions of the rooms were adjusted, and walls were removed to create a more open floor plan. The stairs had originally been completely enclosed, but were restored and redesigned to be visible to the rest of the home—a change that is Roberts’s favorite design element. Other features, such as a skylight and exposed beams, helped enlarge the home while adding to the rustic-modern ambiance.
Roberts was able to successfully modernize and transform the home without losing its personality. “I think the concept was staying true to the original building and letting that character guide our work,” she said. This is reflected through the color scheme: neutral with splashes of dark blues and grays, creating a comfortable yet luxurious feel. Vintage-style furniture—such as the venerable dining table with bench seating—pays homage to the home’s historic roots.
A Serene Oasis
Perhaps one of the most-coveted aspects of living in a Warren Place Mews townhouse is the delightful, English-style courtyard. The townhouses all face one another across a beautifully landscaped garden that stretches down the street. This unique feature was originally designed to ensure that the homes received natural light throughout the day without impediment. The lush greenery provides residents with the perfect backdrop for their evening strolls, and a change of pace from the bustle of the city.
The place also comes with a private backyard garden, a rare find for a New York City home. Tucked away in the gorgeous garden is a small shed that was transformed into a modern writers studio. The charming, one-of-a-kind addition was an especially useful feature during the pandemic. If one parent needed a break from the commotion at home to focus on work, he or she could simply escape into the backyard.
Neighborhoods like Warren Place are a breath of fresh air among the city’s sea of sleek, high-rise apartments. After a day out in the clamor of the city, residents can come home and relax in their peaceful oasis. The structure of the Mews also cultivates a stronger feeling of camaraderie among neighbors. Many people who live in such areas describe a sense of community that’s hard to find in big cities.
To learn more about Elizabeth Roberts Architects, please visit ElizabethRoberts.com
