Explore this glamorous townhouse in Brooklyn with serious design flair

THE PROPERTY

An 1830s townhouse in Brooklyn Heights, NYC. On the ground floor of this modern home (opens in new tab) is the living room with dining area and a kitchen. On the lower-ground floor is a family room, kitchenette, guest bedroom (opens in new tab), laundry room, bathroom and WC, plus a cinema room and wine store in the cellar. The first floor has the master suite with a dressing room and study. Upstairs, the three children’s bedrooms (opens in new tab) (plus two bathrooms) lead off a central playroom. The top floor has another family room leading to a roof terrace.

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THE LIVING ROOM

The genteel peach-soft spectrum of pastels in the living room (opens in new tab) (pictured above) took their cue from its key artwork, an oscillating orb of colours by Charlotte Hallberg. With the shafts of natural sunlight that flow in through the tall windows, this space feels both sophisticated and dazzlingly simple.The living room pendant by Apparatus Studio is a lesson in advanced trigonometry.

THE DINING AREA

Not many people can say they bought their latest home from an order of nuns. But, then again, there’s little about this Brooklyn Heights house that’s run of the mill. As the gritty photograph in the dining room says, when you walk into this home, ‘Be Prepared for the Unexpected’. The Studio Dunn lighting design over the dining area is as poised as a tightrope walker’s pole.The window offers views over lower Manhattan.

THE BREAKFAST NOOK

The ground floor is largely open plan, but the owners work in this more intimate spot, which is warmed up with pops of lemon yellow.

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THE STUDY

Moodier hues are given free reign in this glamorous lair. The walls of the study hum in a deep aubergine shade that lets the glossy lighting and furniture shine out in contrast.

THE KITCHEN

The kitchen is chic and simple, with plenty of marble to add a natural yet sophisticated element. Details are all-important, from rounded cabinet corners to the brass footrest.

THE HALLWAY

Working on a grand scale – the house is spread over six floors – there's a strong design ethos evident in this thoroughly modern townhouse.This is a place where architectural curves are echoed in sculptural furniture and lighting.

The classic sweeping staircase (opens in new tab) is the centrepiece, setting the tone and design template for the whole house. The curves soften the space and this idea is echoes on the furniture and artwork too. At the top of the staircase there's a skylight, allowing natural light to flow all the way down.

THE FOYER

Marble flooring in the entrance hall comes studded with brass for a museum-foyer vibe. A lift is concealed behind double doors on the left, providing easy access to the top floor.

THE MASTER EN SUITE

Although the entry floor has a flow-through feel, the spaces upstairs remain truer to the house’s 19th-century roots.While convention rules in terms of the architecture, furniture and surfaces are that bit edgier.

Here, bespoke units with recessed handles subtly echo the geometric mood of the mirror and lights.

THE MASTER BEDROOM

Texture takes precedence over colour in this restful space.

THE BATHROOM

Art and real life happily coexist in this home.

To see more of Studio DB’s portfolio, visit studiodb.com (opens in new tab)

Photography ⁄ Matthew Williams

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