Among rows of treelined historic brownstone houses that characterise Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighbourhood, one such house went through a mesmerising renovation to expand its spaces for a family of three. The project delivered by local design studio Barker Architecture Office (BAAO), under the leadership of architect Alexandra Barker, uses architectural forms, playful geometries, and bold colours to aesthetically enliven domesticity while maximising its area for guest accommodation and entertainment.

An immersive moody palette of finishes and sculptural surfaces dominate the residential design of the Bergen Street Brownstone, the official name of the project. A contemporary yet grounded design anchors the renovation architecture of the house in its place, ensuring it makes the most of natural light that generously grazes its spaces. At the same time, the indoors remain visually light and airy. The four-storied former townhouse now accommodates its social heart on the ground floor comprising a parlour, kitchen and dining; a playroom and a media room on the first floor, a primary suite and a home office on the second floor; and a light-filled skylit hall guiding towards two bedrooms.

The entryway to the house is flanked by deep green walls while a riveting green and pink checkerboard floor leads to the parlour inside. The arch of the door is replicated by an abstract mirror piece that captures attention before the gaze shifts towards a light-filled living space. Set before a modernist fireplace with a beautifully carved furnace cover in charcoal black, the living setup is illustrated by the feminine allure of a curved Julep sofa and the bold asymmetric design of the Galatea armchair. A curvy rug in a black and white continuous line work (a piece by Mumbai-based design studio Hatsu) places two interconnected marble tables in the centre. The tables overlook a wall separated by two windows on either side, while a custom walnut sideboard sits in the corner, slightly offsetting the wall next to the fireplace. Above the marble mantle, a gold-painted relief by Andrew Zimmerman and Cloud Support by Mike Hansel are displayed.

The softness in the aesthetics of the parlour spills into the other arm of the social heart of the house—the kitchen and the dining. A deep fluted plaster arch in the ceiling frames views towards the space where an island painted in a feathery mushroom tone separates the cooking and eating pockets. The Calacatta Vagli Viola marble, distinguished for its reddish-purple veining, tops the island and the side cabinets, rendering natural patterns in the interior design. Across the island, facing a floor-to-ceiling glass door with metal bars, the dining set features a pale oak dining table by Maiden Home and Giraffe chairs by Juliana Lima Vasconcellos. A trio of bulbous hand-blown lighting pieces by Bomma hover overhead. Off the hallway, a powder room is donned in creamy plaster walls, a backlit abstract mirror, and a custom Irish Connemara marble sink characterised for its green veining.

A newly built sculptural staircase leads further into the playroom—a subdued, naturally lit space designed for creative stimulation, of the young and old. Here, as per BAAO, "a Togo chair and a La Pepino chaise share space with a table and chair set by EO around Okej’s Squiggle rug." Further from here, while crossing a tambour-lined discreet space, one arrives at a media room and the garden behind. The toned-down aesthetics that have dominated the house so far find a twist here as deep aubergine walls take centre stage. A sense of warmth comes across in the space’s deep-hued finishes, upholstery and dark wood furniture design. The seating is characterised by a sectional sofa and a barrel chair covered in chartreuse velvet, poised next to a curvy custom walnut coffee table. The space also features a bar area on one of the walls that overlooks the central seating. Lit by Volker Haug sconces, the bar with its complete marble finishing—viewed against the singular aesthetic of the room—offers a graphic nod to the space. The recurring thread of every space being connected to the outdoors manifests here in the form of a large floor-to-ceiling glass and metal door that leads up to the outdoor deck and garden.

The curving stairwell leads to the second floor which houses the primary suite, marked by soft lavender grey walls and stained oak pieces. The suite sits in close proximity to the home office that sports teal walls and a custom tambour white oak desk. The stairwell culminates into a seeming gallery-like hall, its pristine white walls, circular skylight, and large artwork evoking that resemblance. This floor has two bedrooms—a guest bedroom sporting sandy walls, and a green velvet bed flanked by custom travertine side tables; and another bedroom with a feature wall carrying an arched wall illustration.

Soaking up the lightness and warmth of the new while carrying on the spirit of the old, the house has quite beautifully carved little moments within each space that draw attention. One space opens into the next, and a sense of intrigue prevails.