3 min read
For years, the Brownstone Boys helped other people rethink their Brooklyn homes while running their own business from their dining room. By the time Jordan Slocum and Barry Bordelon’s design and renovation team grew to eight, their kitchen table was covered in samples and the line between home and work had all but disappeared. They needed an office—but after months of touring white-box spaces, they hadn’t found one that felt quite right.
Then they toured a carriage house on Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill neighborhood. The exposed brick, tin ceilings, and tall windows spoke to the pair’s love of old buildings, while the roughly 1,000 square feet gave their team room to work together and meet clients. But it was the space’s garage door that offered possibilities they hadn’t quite planned for: a way to open the studio to the street. They’ve since brought their stoop sales there, hosted dinners, and made space for neighbors to stop in. Now they’re launching Studio Sessions, a series of in-person conversations where visitors can bring renovation questions to the team.
Brad Stein
Barry and Jordan in their office space.
In honor of the new space, we asked the duo to participate in our Front Office series. Here, the Brownstone Boys share all the details about their new workspace, from the most special details to their practical purchases.
Describe your office in three words:
Jordan: Historic, welcoming, and creative.
Favorite part of the office:
Jordan: I’m a really big fan of the garage. I get the best feeling whenever the garage door is open and people are walking by, staring, like, “What is this?” It sparks curiosity, and I love that.
Brad Stein
The carriage house’s garage door opens the Brownstone Boys’s studio to the streets.
The best thinking spot:
Jordan: For me, I’m a true collaborator, and I just love working at the table, especially when our team is surrounding me and we’re feeding off of each other. I’m definitely noticing an improvement in my work.
Brad Stein
The Brownstone Boys team at the office.
Most sentimental item:
Jordan: Our first print feature. My parents were so proud that they had it framed. It lives downstairs in our little package room now.
What you always keep on hand:
Barry: We have a well-stocked snack cabinet and seltzer fridge.
Jordan: Coffee is very important for our team, so we also have a really nice coffee machine. We always have our tape measures and box cutters, and obviously, we have our samples, too—materials and fabric that we’re approving or looking at.
Brad Stein
The kitchen area.
The latest you’ve stayed at the office:
Barry: We were here until midnight one night with our dog. He loves it here, and having the backyard makes it easy to bring him along.
Brad Stein
Barry and Jordan’s pup lounges in the seating area.
The oldest thing in the office:
Barry: I think it’s probably the windows. They’re original, and we were told the carriage house dates back to 1887. The tin ceilings are really old, too.
Your favorite story about the office:
Jordan: The antique birdcage light in the middle of the space almost disappeared while we were setting up. We loved it so much we almost signed the lease because of it. Then, as we were setting up shop, two guys walked in with a ladder and started taking it down. I was covered in paint and said, “What are you doing?” and “Who are you?”
It turned out the light belonged to the previous occupant, which no one had told us. I asked for her number, called her and said, “Listen, I need this light.” And now Barry and I are the proud owners of this beautiful light. We spent a lot of money on it, but it’s worth it.
Brad Stein
A view of the office, featuring the antique birdcage light.
The most useful part of the space:
Jordan: The organization and sample room. A space is only as useful as it is organized. Now we have a home for everything and we have a system.
Brad Stein
The organization and sample room.
Julia Cancilla is the social media & news editor at ELLE Decor, where she oversees the brand’s socials and covers design, pop culture, and emerging trends. She also authors the monthly ELLE Decoroscope column. Her work has appeared in Inked magazine, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, and more.