As a youthful, edgier populace of culture vultures spreads deeper into Greenpoint, Bushwick, etc, Park Slope has remained something of a grownup fortress of serenity. And indeed, our client here envisioned this historic, 5000 sq. ft. townhouse as a hideaway from the hyper-stresses of everyday life in the big city.

Yet it also had to feel cool and contemporary, avoiding clutter and allowing natural light to permeate each room. The plan was to create very Nordic feeling spaces, using a warm Scandinavian palette, making the rooms feel cozy-but-chic, not unlike a design-forward B&B you might find up in the Catskills or Hudson - but with an almost Japanese Zen-like feel.

This was accomplished by a considered study of how the proportions of the rooms and of the furniture sort of conversed with each other, employing a little bit of physics to achieve a great deal of harmony. But we also were not shy about splurging on materials, especially a generous use of superior stone.

The working fireplace flanked by integrated bookcases in the den is a particular highlight.

“In the overall, the client wanted it to feel like an escape from the city - and one need only glimpse the breathtaking garden view from the wall of kitchen windows to realize that it was ‘mission accomplished’ in every respect.”