{"id":217601,"date":"2026-05-02T12:08:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T12:08:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/217601\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T12:08:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T12:08:47","slug":"before-after-this-183-year-old-brooklyn-brownstone-lost-its-choppy-layout-but-not-its-character","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/217601\/","title":{"rendered":"Before & After: This 183-Year-Old Brooklyn Brownstone Lost Its Choppy Layout, But Not Its Character"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Domino Reno: Before + Afters, DIYs, and Advice From the Pros<\/p>\n

Subscribe now to get our newsletter in your inbox.<\/p>\n

When interior designer Jila Keshavarz-Miller<\/a> and her husband, Scott Miller\u2014the founder of hospitality design and strategy studio Ensemble<\/a>\u2014first set eyes on the parlor floor of a circa-1843 Brooklyn Heights brownstone, they clocked its pitfalls right away: a ceiling reduced to a zigzag of horizontal lines, choppy rooms, and finishes in a sterile wash of gray and white. The crown moldings and medallions that once bedazzled the space were long gone. But the couple knew better than to judge, focusing instead on its future, not its past. \u201cWe decided to move in anyway,\u201d says Keshavarz-Miller, who runs an eponymous New York City\u2013based studio.<\/a> \u201cWe spent the first year just understanding the light.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The living space, before. <\/p>\n

\"\"Swiss Coffee Wall Paint, Benjamin Moore<\/a>; Sofa by Ellison Studios, Design Within Reach<\/a>; Vidro Convex Brass Round Wall Mirror, CB2<\/a>. <\/p>\n

By year two, they knew exactly what to do with it. That\u2019s when the real transformation began, in partnership with I&N Builders<\/a>, which worked on the build. Ceilings were lifted to bring back the parlor floor\u2019s original sense of height and proportion\u2014a move complicated by HVAC ductwork and electrical lines. \u201cIt was a bit of a balancing act,\u201d Keshavarz-Miller says. \u201cEvery inch had to be negotiated.\u201d There were surprises along the way: a deteriorated waste line from the unit above and abandoned lead pipes discovered resting on the downstairs neighbor\u2019s ceiling. \u201cAn accident waiting to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple moved out for demolition, only to return before things were fully wrapped. \u201cShort-term rentals in Brooklyn were nearly impossible,\u201d she says. \u201cSo we spent a few weeks hotel-hopping with a toddler and a dog.\u201d Their 4-year-old daughter, meanwhile, befriended the crew and carried around her own mini measuring tape. \u201cShe took it very seriously,\u201d Keshavarz-Miller laughs.<\/p>\n

Removal Can Make Way For Character to Shine<\/p>\n

\"\"USM Console, Design Within Reach<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"\"Nycola Extendable Oval Dining Table, Lulu and Georgia<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Inside, the biggest shift came from taking things away. Removing the wall between the kitchen, dining, and living areas turned what was once a series of choppy rooms into one continuous space. Sightlines now run the length of the apartment\u2014from the bed at the back to the trees out front\u2014while the dining area looks onto a backyard on one side and a livelier streetscape on the other. \u201cIt\u2019s that mix of stillness and energy we\u2019ve always loved,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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\"kitchen<\/p>\n

Original character was carefully brought back\u2014crown moldings, a restored Italianate fireplace hearth, and salvaged 200-year-old French doors\u2014reintroducing a sense of scale without tipping into anything overly formal. The kitchen\u2014with custom cabinetry by Werki by D<\/a>\u2014pulls focus. A last-minute material switch led to Arabescato Fiorito Viola marble, its veining running across countertops, toe kicks, window sills, and even jambs. \u201cIt was definitely our biggest splurge,\u201d Keshavarz-Miller says. Painted in Farrow & Ball\u2019s Paean Black<\/a>\u2014a deep aubergine\u2014the cabinetry makes its own statement. \u201cWe\u2019ve always believed kitchens can have personality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"A hallway to the kitchen, before. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Unexpected Pivots Can Lead To New Wins<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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Mind you, not everything went to plan. A long-awaited soaking tub never arrived after the vendor went silent. \u201cThe panic set in,\u201d she recalls\u2014until their daughter swiftly decided she was \u201ctoo grown up\u201d for baths anyway and wanted a \u201cbig girl\u201d shower instead. The pivot led to a marble bench and a reworked shower setup, now one of their favorite features. \u201cOur contractor was extremely patient,\u201d she adds. There were smaller wins, too. Discovering an old vent during demolition was oddly exciting. \u201cEverybody knows\u2014a venting range hood is a big deal in NYC,\u201d she says. And after two weeks without a working kitchen sink, its return felt unexpectedly luxurious.<\/p>\n

Find Furniture For Fantasy and Real Life<\/p>\n

\"\"Paean Black Paint, Farrow & Ball<\/a>. <\/p>\n

A vintage Florian Schulz Onos pendant, long on her wishlist, now hangs over the marble island. \u201cWe thought the offer would be declined,\u201d she says, referring to her bid on 1stDibs. \u201cWhen it wasn\u2019t, it felt like a pinch-me moment.\u201d Vintage finds carry through the rest of the home\u2014MR-10 chairs, a teak buffet, Hans Wegner tripod chairs, and a Michael Boyd paddle chair, all sourced at auction and reupholstered by Keshavarz-Miller\u2014alongside contemporary pieces like Ellison Studios\u2019 Float sofa. A burl wood chest doubles as discreet toy storage. \u201cWe needed something that worked for real life without adding visual clutter,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"\"Console, Soho Home<\/a>; Elda Mirror, Lulu and Georgia<\/a>; <\/p>\n

Let Materials Act as Binding Agents<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"The primary bedroom, before. <\/p>\n

\"\"Repose Linen Bedcover by Colin King, Cultiver<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Material choices pull everything together: plaster walls, refinished white oak floors, mohair, aged leather, and a mix of stone. Brass fixtures add warmth, while commissioned artwork brings in another layer of personality. It\u2019s a home that holds onto its history but doesn\u2019t feel precious about it\u2014designed for a young family, a dog, and the messiness of everyday life. A place that\u2019s grown into itself, one decision at a time\u2014dog, child, and everything in between.<\/p>\n

\"\"Red Wine Limewash, Meoded Paint<\/a> <\/p>\n

\"\"The daughter\u2019s bedroom, before. <\/p>\n

\"\"Limewash Noche, James Alexander Paint<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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