English text by Angela Feng
Photography by Francis Dzikowski/OTTO

Brownstones are a valuable commodity, and they are often considered the most beautiful architectural archetype in New York City. They make up some of the finest properties ever built, their timeless quality giving Brooklyn and other 19th-century residential enclaves a distinctive character and identity.

These distinguished homes usually come with tall stoops, long windows, and majestic entryways. There is an enchanting harmony to their symmetry, especially when paired with venerable trees, flower boxes, and cast-iron railings.

For historic homes, the challenge lies in retaining the property’s historic character while giving it the open and airy feel of a 21st-century abode. BFDO Architects PLLC, an award-winning firm based in New York, took on this challenge.

In this Crown Heights brownstone, spaces are defined by built-in, graphic millwork compositions and vivid, three-dimensional color treatments, punctuated by skylights and fireplaces. The designers didn’t shy away from bold lighting choices, with fixtures sourced from Innermost, a company known for unique, contemporary pieces.

Custom pieces are offset by budget choices, and new elements are balanced by the home’s original woodwork. The
entryway is lined with playfully patterned orange-yellow tiles from Brothers Cement Tile. To balance the brightness of the tiles, the original inner door was re-hung and painted a deep gray.

To balance the brightness of the tiles, the original inner door was re-hung and painted a deep gray.

In the parlor, the original lead glass cabinet doors are mounted on new cabinet boxes that flank the gas fireplace. The second-floor stairwell was widened to allow light from the large sculptural skylight to flow down to the dining room.

A mellow, sky-blue wall provides a backdrop for the dining table and conceals the powder room lined with wallpaper from Calico.

A mellow, sky-blue wall provides a backdrop for the dining table and conceals the powder room.

Gray and white Ikea shelves make up the kitchen wall, intermixed with the walnut cabinetry that lines the sides of the den. The windowed back wall overlooks a lush garden, and the room is brightly lit by a large skylight.

Ikea boxes with gray and white doors make up the kitchen wall, and are intermixed with the walnut cabinetry lining the sides of the den.

Upstairs, the master bedroom overlooks a plant-lined roof deck. Three of the walls are painted a clean white, giving the room an open and airy feel, while the deep blue-gray hue of the wall framing the bed adds an intimate touch.

A deep-blue-gray wall frames the bed, giving the room an intimate atmosphere.

The master bedroom opens onto a plant-filled roof deck—the perfect place to unwind after a long day.

The master bathroom features an antique-gray stone slab as well as Waterworks fixtures and a custom walnut vanity, along with affordable subway wall tiles and porcelain flooring from Classic Tile. In the study, an L-shaped blue bookshelf and walnut desk frame the view of the bustling city streets.