{"id":234365,"date":"2026-05-17T05:27:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T05:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/234365\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T05:27:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T05:27:45","slug":"this-designer-undid-a-historic-brownstones-developer-remodel-with-warm-layers-and-soft-curves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/234365\/","title":{"rendered":"This Designer Undid a Historic Brownstone\u2019s Developer Remodel With Warm Layers and Soft Curves"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Your daily dose of home tours, design news, and style inspiration.<\/p>\n

When you hear the phrase \u2018historic Brooklyn Heights townhouse,\u2019 it\u2019s natural to expect charming 1800s motifs: ornate banisters, wood floor inlays, decorative trim. \u201cThis didn\u2019t have any of those,\u201d says interior designer Hannah Klingenstein<\/a> of the floor-through apartment she recently completed for a young family. The four bedroom residence had been renovated by a developer prior to purchase, and while the end result was tasteful, Klingenstein\u2019s clients found it wanting in character and depth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the remodeled space included soaring ceilings, a well-functioning layout, and high-end finishes, so Klingenstein\u2014who launched Studio June<\/a>, her residential firm, two-and-a-half years ago\u2014could channel her efforts into honing the decorative aspects. The resulting home is filled with texture, elegance, and elevated furnishings that keep the reality of life with small children in mind without compromising style. Below, Klingenstein delves into the decisions that made all the difference.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Make Lighting a Moment\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Studio-June-Brooklyn-Townhouse-tour-domino-6_260f3f\"Celeste Pendant Lights, Lostine Home<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Lacking crown molding or millwork, the apartment was, in effect, a white box\u2014which provided an opportunity to elevate the space with standout lighting fixtures. In the living room, a large sculptural chandelier commands attention without being visually overpowering; its undulating edges echo the soft lines of the drapery and furnishings, which are largely custom by Studio June.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the nearby kitchen, a trio of leather pendants hang over the island, a new configuration Klingenstein worked with a general contractor and electrician to achieve. The cylinders feature small circular punch-outs; in the evenings, their twinkle is akin to starlight.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Max Out Versatility with Custom Furniture<\/p>\n

\"Studio-June-Brooklyn-Townhouse-tour-domino-2_9e9943\"<\/p>\n

When Klingenstein began the project, her clients were expecting their first child; by the time it concluded, a second was on the way: \u201cOne thing that came up a lot in conversation was what to do about a living room coffee table\u2014sharp corners can be really scary to have around a baby who is learning to walk.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

She nixed any remotely \u201cdangerous\u201d options and settled on a custom upholstered ottoman in a high-performance fabric that is as impervious to sticky fingers as it is to the occasional spill during post-bedtime cocktail hour. Klingenstein also added wheels so it could be easily moved when the family hosted mommy-and-me classes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nix New Build Vibes with Vintage Selects<\/p>\n

\"Studio-June-Brooklyn-Townhouse-tour-domino-5_839f00\"Paint, Crisp Linen<\/a> by Benjamin Moore; Stools, Etsy (similar)<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cI got lucky with this kitchen,\u201d admits Klingenstein, referring to the high-end cabinetry and stone surfaces the developer had installed. Not much changed in the cooking and prep zones, but the adjacent dining area needed a complementary, yet unique style. To accomplish that, Klingenstein sourced a 1940s French dining table from Antik<\/a> in Brooklyn, pairing it with midcentury chairs that were reupholstered in high performance fabric. \u201cThe seat is woven wool\u2014it\u2019s a workhorse\u2014and we got to have a little more fun with super luxe velvet on the chairbacks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Studio-June-Brooklyn-Townhouse-tour-domino-3\"Wall Plates, JB Townsend of JBT Clayworks<\/a>; Vintage Vessels, Lostine<\/a>;\u00a0Vintage Table, Antik<\/a>;\u00a0Midcentury Chair Reupholstery, Stitchroom<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The trio of wall plates add a rustic counterpoint and, while they look as though they could be vintage, were actually a wedding gift made by a friend, artist JB Townsend of JBT Clayworks: The couple had two but commissioned a third to round out the grouping for the kitchen display.<\/p>\n

Inject Color and Bold Choices\u2014but Sparingly\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Studio-June-Brooklyn-Townhouse-tour-domino-10_84a6d4\"Butterflies Grasscloth Wallpaper, Caitlin McGauley<\/a>; Wave Crib, Nestig<\/a>; Wall Paint, Mint Chocolate Chip<\/a> by Benjamin Moore; Trim Paint, Chantilly Lace<\/a> by Benjamin Moore; Esme Glider Chair, Sixpenny<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"Studio-June-Brooklyn-Townhouse-tour-domino-9\"Karin bath towel, Nickey Kehoe<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The guest bedroom was conceived of as an expressive counterpoint to the living and kitchen areas. \u201cI wanted something that felt like a big hug for guests on the weekends,\u201d the designer says. Warm vanilla walls provide a neutral backdrop to patterned bedding and a marigold vintage lamp. To mix things up, Klingenstein trimmed the window in Benjamin Moore\u2019s Weekend Getaway\u2014a green shade that enframes the view and injects a playful burst of color.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Maintaining a sense of tranquility in the nursery was essential\u2014but it was also imperative for the room to be truly special. The client had fallen for a grasscloth wallcovering by Caitlin McGauley early on; wrapping the room in the buttery pattern would have been costly and also potentially claustrophobic. \u201cI\u2019m not usually a proponent of the accent wall, but my solution was to introduce a complementary wallpaper on the ceiling to accentuate the height, and then color-match the other three walls to a mint chip shade,\u201d explains Klingenstein.<\/p>\n

If You Hate It \u2026 Hide It\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Studio-June-Brooklyn-Townhouse-tour-domino-11_7ed284\"Nonna Floral Coverlet, Nickey Kehoe<\/a>; Piaf Chandelier, Visual Comfort<\/a>; Belgian Slope Arm Slipcovered Chair, RH<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"Studio-June-Brooklyn-Townhouse-tour-domino-13\"Verity Table Lamp, Soho Home<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe design of this primary suite was actually centered around one problem: The only wall that worked for bed placement had an off-center window that drove the client absolutely crazy,\u201d says Klingenstein. Her smart solution was to run drapery along the entire length of the alcove as a design element and simply cover up the offending window, no drywalling or reconstruction required.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Put Wallpaper Wherever You Want\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Studio-June-Brooklyn-Townhouse-tour-domino-14_43011a\"Alonso Wall Mirror, Soho Home<\/a>; Islay Sideboard, Lulu and Georgia<\/a>; Trim Paint, Meadow Pink<\/a> by Benjamin Moore; Wall Paint, Ionic Column<\/a> by Benjamin Moore; Wallpaper, Drop Rose<\/a> by Helene Blanche; Door Tassels, Samuel & Sons<\/a>. <\/p>\n

While a hallway of floor-to-ceiling storage was an asset, the client was underwhelmed by the original look: white, glossy laminate, sans any hardware or decorative detail. Klingenstein\u2019s suggestion was to work with what was there and, rather than replace the cabinet faces, add wallpaper. For the cabinetry, she selected a subtle, small scale polka dot pattern; then she added matte black knobs and finished off the look with off-white tassels.<\/p>\n

The foyer was intentionally moodier: \u201cI wanted these areas to feel like an extension of one another, but also completely opposite. The black oak of the console with those cane doors, mixed with the sculptural iron work of that mirror and heavy bottom of the vintage lamp provided a rich contrast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Kiefer is a veteran magazine writer and editor, as well as a gardening coach. She lives with her family in Upstate New York.<\/p>\n

Julia Stevens is a Domino contributing editor. Basically, she\u2019s a professional online shopper. She started at Domino as an intern and spent seven years in the style department curating products for our gift guides, trend roundups, and product reviews and on set styling the beautiful homes we get to share. Off hours, you can find her scouting New York\u2019s newest design shops and restyling her shelves<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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