This 1901 brick-front townhouse was featured in Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York City. Its interior décor was distinctly boudoir: painted red walls with black trim, a gaudy nine-armed red-shaded chandelier, and furniture to match.

My fearless clients acknowledged the bawdiness of the place but they fell in love with it despite its flaws because of its ornamental marble fireplace and original tin ceilings. They knew that with some effort, they could create an airy and contemporary space to raise their two children in this classic Brooklyn neighborhood they loved.

We had our hands full undoing the ‘dramatic flair’ and replacing it with the bohemian and layered organic modernism my clients preferred. Handmade cement tiles, polished concrete floors and raw steel details coupled with vintage textiles and eclectic art redefined the interior.

This renovation included the addition of two bedrooms for the children with exposed beamed ceilings, the primary suite which opens through glass and steel full-width doors to a serene garden and the primary bathroom with custom concrete sinks, clawfoot tub and walk-in shower, custom built-ins and closets throughout, an updated kitchen with Moroccan tile backsplash, and the complete overhaul of the buildings rental unit adding a modern white kitchen.

A re-finished and restored brick façade, replacing the dated faux white brick cladding, enabled a gracious and welcoming exterior and complemented other stately homes on the block.