Before & After: Bright and Flowing Spaces for Comfortable Living

Wet bar with blue millwork and banquette, white table and chairs and modern pendant light. — Dylan Chandler

This project came to us a two-family home with a garden apartment. Our clients wanted to combine both units to create their dream home.

The existing garden level was very compartmentalized as a two-bedroom apartment, making the floor feel cramped and lightless. An L-shaped kitchen towards the rear restricted flow and access to the rear yard. Meanwhile, two front bedrooms left the living space in between with little natural light and a weak connection to the layout. The existing parlor floor also missed some opportunities. Its closed stair hallway interrupted the brightness and open flow of the floor. At the same time, the kitchen layout was so open it became dysfunctional.

Parlor-level kitchen with white cabinetry, a double oven, wood an white marble island, and clear bar stools — The parlor renovation included creating larger openings between the spaces to match the scale of the floor's high ceilings. All new, brightened materials and a center island visually ground the kitchen and add counter and seating space.

Parlor level kitchen with dark wide plank floors and dark wood cabinetry and a ceiling fan. — The parlor renovation included creating larger openings between the spaces to match the scale of the floor's high ceilings. All new, brightened materials and a center island visually ground the kitchen and add counter and seating space.

The parlor renovation included creating larger openings between the spaces to match the scale of the floor's high ceilings. All new, brightened materials and a center island visually ground the kitchen and add counter and seating space.

Restored historical wood doors open to reveal the entryway of a Cobble Hill townhouse with wide plank wood floors and a chandelier — We achieved a "through-view" from the parlor entry door by rotating a powder room behind the stair to allow a glazed door to the deck outside.

Entryway before our renovation with wide plank wood floors and grey carpeted staircase — We achieved a "through-view" from the parlor entry door by rotating a powder room behind the stair to allow a glazed door to the deck outside.

We achieved a "through-view" from the parlor entry door by rotating a powder room behind the stair to allow a glazed door to the deck outside.

Open concept garden floor entertainment room with a sitting area, large grey wrap around couch, and playroom in the rear — The garden floor renovation required replacing the apartment with a recreational floor integrated into the parlor floor above. We created a fully open, bright space with a front room that can be closed off for quiet work. Four pocket doors sit discreetly between the two living rooms, allowing the large opening to bring light into the center of the floor.

Garden floor of a a townhouse before our renovation with a garden level kitchen and living space. — The garden floor renovation required replacing the apartment with a recreational floor integrated into the parlor floor above. We created a fully open, bright space with a front room that can be closed off for quiet work. Four pocket doors sit discreetly between the two living rooms, allowing the large opening to bring light into the center of the floor.

The garden floor renovation required replacing the apartment with a recreational floor integrated into the parlor floor above. We created a fully open, bright space with a front room that can be closed off for quiet work. Four pocket doors sit discreetly between the two living rooms, allowing the large opening to bring light into the center of the floor.

Areaway leading to a rear yard with two white side tables, wood paneled walls and ceiling, a modern ceiling fan, bluestone pavers, and two cushions. — A large, double sliding door replaced the openings at the back of the garden floor. To maintain scale and alignment, we coordinated the size of the door with the large openings between each room. The underside of the areaway between the garden floor and rear yard, sheathed with a warm cedar, almost feels like an interior space.

Areaway before our renovation with faded white-painted brick and wood, two support columns, and a trellis — A large, double sliding door replaced the openings at the back of the garden floor. To maintain scale and alignment, we coordinated the size of the door with the large openings between each room. The underside of the areaway between the garden floor and rear yard, sheathed with a warm cedar, almost feels like an interior space.

A large, double sliding door replaced the openings at the back of the garden floor. To maintain scale and alignment, we coordinated the size of the door with the large openings between each room. The underside of the areaway between the garden floor and rear yard, sheathed with a warm cedar, almost feels like an interior space.

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