Tour a Family’s Vividly Colorful Expanded Brooklyn Town House

In Brooklyn,Carroll Gardens所有的魅力,同时提供一个小镇吗the conveniences of big city life. This is precisely why a couple who already lived in the neighborhood chose to upgrade and extend their current home to fit their new needs instead of moving away.

“They love their neighborhood and are active in their local community, so moving was not an option,” says Alexandra Barker, founder and principal ofBAAO Studio.

When they first discovered the house, the couple—who have two daughters and a Bernedoodle dog—fell in love with some specific features, including the working fireplaces, antique pine flooring, and magnolia tree out back. But after living there for 10 years, the family wanted more space, especially for the girls’ rooms and in the kitchen, which was too small for cooking and entertaining.

Organized in three levels (a garden level, parlor, and second floor), the town house now comprises four bedrooms and three bathrooms. “It is situated in an area with a very high water table, so the extension is built entirely on piles—really like a tree house,” Alexandra says.

Preserving the magnolia tree by ensuring it would have enough light and root canopy space was key during the renovation, which also consisted of opening up the living space; connecting the parlor and garden levels, as well as the interior and the exterior; and introducing creative storage solutions. “I love the built-in benches and nooks,” the wife confesses.

“My client is very into organization,” Alexandra adds. “We spent lots of time on the custom built-in on the parlor level—on the size and shape of openings for keys, dog toys, shoes on one side, and books and objects on the other. We also designed an adjustable pegboard organizing wall on the garden level for helmets, scooters, tennis racquets, etcetera.”

Saturated tones and textures were introduced in the different areas, making them both fresh and bright, while echoing the homeowners’ tastes. “The use of color and pattern is a prominent feature of the house, including in plumbing fixtures,” Alexandra describes. “The client loves color. She grew up in a house with a vibrant palette and wanted to recreate that feel for her house and her children.”

画我n Benjamin Moore’s deep blueSummer Nights, the primary bedroom features a custom maple raw edge headboard that creates a connection to nature—also part of the brief. For the children’s bedrooms, Alexandra used “a fun mix of paint and wallpaper that recalls a cozy train car in their shape and organization.”

Separated from a sitting area by a custom steel and wood stairway spiraling down to the garden level, the cozy living room is furnished and adorned with some of the wife’s favorite pieces. “The pink swivelEgg Chairs by Milo Baughmaninvite you to curl up and read by the fire,” Alexandra says.

Occupying the extension, the dining room is painted in a soft peach hue by Benjamin Moore that complements the J.L. Møllers dining chairs upholstered in blue-green. In this area of the house, the star of the show is the signed limited edition artwork byRichard Anuszkiewicz, which is made up of 12 pieces that click together; the couple has six of the modular pieces and their cousin has the other six.

Artworks by contemporary artists such as the blue pen drawing above the stairs byTimothy Hullcalled and a limited edition lithograph byAlex Katzadd another layer of sophistication and visual interest to the bold interiors.

Throughout the project Alexandra always kept in mind the initial objective of bringing to life a comfortable sanctuary with special finishes and details, as well as rustic elements, in perfect harmony. “It is a cozy, warm retreat for family gatherings,” the wife describes. “I feel completely relaxed here.”