When our clients welcomed their first baby, they saw an opportunity to create a more family-focused home without leaving their beloved Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. Having lived in the area for years, they valued the schools and community but needed more space. Instead of a full gut renovation, they chose to preserve the pre-war charm of their two-bedroom unit in their landmarked building at 61 Pierreport, including original floors and the kitchen, while formally combining the space with a neighboring unit. Our team renovated all the bathrooms, added new wall moldings, updated the lighting, and installed HVAC, blending modern functionality with timeless details to turn their tight and dated apartment into a warm, family-friendly home.
The transformation of the integrated space was dramatic, with a former studio apartment completely absorbed into the original two-bedroom apartment design, then reconfigured beyond recognition. The studio was reimagined as a spacious master bedroom and en suite bathroom, blending effortlessly with the layout of the original unit to form a cohesive and functional space tailored to our client’s expanding needs. The design for the reimagined co-op carries a traditional style with ornamental wall mouldings, timeless lighting, and traditional door accents, enhancing the original detail and offering a true to pre-war look.
With such adjusted floorplans, the master bathroom underwent a complete transformation, as the space was originally the kitchen and bathroom of the adjoining small studio. From outset, the client’s plan was to purchase part of the exterior hallway, in order to enlarge the space exactly the way they envisioned. However, when that plan was unable to be executed mid-way through the process, we had to pivot and adjust design plans significantly. Reconfiguring the space spontaneously required careful planning to maximize functionality amidst the abbreviated square footage, while addressing subsequent structural challenges.
Because this luxury condo renovation didn’t require a complete overhaul, we had two bathrooms that required a total renovation and another requiring a partial update. For the hallway bathroom, we outfitted the space with a lighter Calacatta Azur Polished Porcelain Tile from Tile Bar, which we then juxtaposed with a bold Phantasm Winter Sky Polished Marble Tile for the shower floor and niche. All fixtures in the space are made from sleek Vibrant Brushed Moderne Brass, offering a modern elegance throughout. The kids bathroom required a more practical design, delivered via herringbone patterns of timeless Glossy Porcelain Subway Tile on the wall, complemented by matching matte black fixtures from Kohler. While the master bathroom only required us to install a custom vanity and updated vanity wall, we made sure to blend our additions seamlessly with existing installations.
In combining two condos, one of the necessities required was enhanced heating and cooling. To accommodate, we created a custom central air solution more appropriate for the freshly enlarged space, without sacrificing any of the original historic details garnishing our clients’ charming pre-war home. For more information, read our blog, Why Custom HVAC Solutions Are Essential for Pre-War Renovations in New York City.
Additional Updates
Considering an apartment combination in Manhattan or Brooklyn? View our portfolio of NYC apartment combination before and afters, learn more about Gallery, or simply contact us today.We are an award-winning design-build firm in New York City with a full-service approach to residential renovations that includes everything from interior design and architectural services to facilitating building management and board approval, to construction and construction management. We’re experts in renovating pre-war homes, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, sourcing custom pieces, building entirely new rooms (or even balconies), millwork, and all that falls in between. Let Gallery bring your dream home to life.