A three-storey Bed-Stuy brownstone is revived with a blend of modern Swiss flair and traditional New England spirit for an art professor, a sound engineer in film and their young child. Nathan Cuttle helms this first solo project where he and his team at Studio Nato oversee the transformation of this 1899 brick rowhouse, a cross between Italianate and Federal styles. Their intervention gives new energy to a space for creative inspiration and casual living, reflecting the couple’s respective cultural histories and sensibilities.
The original front façade was restored in relationship to the historical context of the neighborhood; most elements of the existing architectural style remain while some of the period details were revitalized. A facelift is given to the rear with a new stucco finish; additionally, larger windows and new skylights are introduced to bring in natural light and give the space a bright and open feel.
Vestiges of the building’s history are fondly cherished as seen in the stretch of exposed brick behind the woodstove, the original fireplace in the dining room, and the refinished radiators. These are contrasted by contemporary fixtures and furnishings, as selected by Studio Nato. Challenged with budget constraints, the designers found creative solutions to achieve a consistent design language; they would use Ikea’s affordable modular systems with reworked front-facing white oak millwork from Danish company Reform in the washrooms and Oregon pine in the kitchen.
Photography : Hanna Grankvist
