A 183-Year-Old Brooklyn Brownstone Had Its Character Stripped Out - So a Designer Brought It Back

"Over the years and through several owners, many of the apartment's original details had been stripped away - most notably, the generous proportions that parlor floors typically offer. The typical striking architectural features seen in brownstones, such as crown molding and ceiling medallions, had all been removed. What we adopted was a series of choppy rooms, with several varying ceiling heights, and all the finishes were gray and white, making the space feel very sterile and dated."

"Part of that work involved restoring an original Italianate fireplace mantel, with a hearth updated in matching marble, turning it into a recurring motif that moves quietly through the living spaces."

Jila Keshavarz-Miller and Scott Miller purchased a 183-year-old Brooklyn Heights brownstone apartment that had lost much of its historic charm through previous renovations. The ceilings had been lowered, original architectural details like crown molding and ceiling medallions were removed, and the space felt choppy with varying ceiling heights and sterile gray-and-white finishes. The couple, both design professionals, undertook extensive renovations to restore the apartment's grandeur. Key changes included removing the dividing wall between the kitchen and dining/living areas and raising the ceilings to their original heights. They also restored an original Italianate fireplace mantel and updated its hearth in matching marble, creating a recurring design motif throughout the living spaces.

Read at Apartment Therapy