Most folks who renovate their brownstones usually go to one extreme or the other, seeing that a happy medium between traditional and modern is often hard to come by. Keeping all the mouldings is something that those with a traditional mindset want, but the modern folk just rip it all out. Destroying original detail can actually bring down the value of a brownstone, so what is a modernist to do?Mid-Century modern may be the answer, along with some creative painting. While natural wood tones are valuable to the more classic school of thinking, Victorians did also paint their mouldings. Contrasting natural creams and whites make mouldings pop and look modern at the same time. Add a rich hue of grey, taupes or browns, and an old interior is instantly updated. Throw in a few mid-century pieces, making sure to soften things up with traditional rugs, along with wood accent pieces, and the space becomes the perfect modern abode. Another good thing to keep around is the original wood floors. Bamboo or Pergo doesn't really make a good impression on the brownstone buyer.
The above photo is that of actress Julianne Moore's brownstone in the West Village, and we always thought that this was such a great mix of modern and classic. For homeowners who want to sell one day, this type of interior preserves the original integrity of the building and is also attractive to a more contemporary crowd.
Great post and I agree, this works extremely well, the elegant proportions and scale are still clearly evident with this more contemporary decor. Another variation could be exposed brick, stripped and varnished woodwork and modern minimalist furniture. Again, very interesting.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what size this house is? i.e. is it 20 foot wide? Are there other images of interiors like this one? This is great and I would be so pleased to see more examples of how people handle the interior spaces of brownstones.
ReplyDeleteThanks