A Brooklyn Townhouse Is Seamlessly Transformed With European Oak
Partner Story
Renovating a home is an opportunity to imbue an existing space with an entirely new character, one that reflects the lives of those who inhabit it. For a young family in Brooklyn, New York, it was also a chance to expand their home to accommodate their growing family. Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design collaborated on the project, transforming the original townhouse into a crafted home that is defined by sweeping planes of seamless wood, finely detailed battens, and immaculate custom millwork.
A new cantilevered stair behind a batten screen was key to a more open, light-filled interior—and it offered a consistent design element that cut through the section of the home. "The wood elements really envelope you and define the space," says architect Ian Starling.
"The original house was quite spare and the layout was very chopped up," recalls Ian Starling, principal of Starling Architecture. "It was mostly white gypsum, without any design features. We were looking for a way to elevate the space, create a feeling of warmth throughout the house, and develop a design language that would tie all of the spaces together."
The solution was found in a palette defined by elegant, light European oak, which was supplied by Madera, who designs and fabricates seamless wood design solutions.
The bespoke timber dining bench allows generous seating and integrated storage. The upholstered back cushions are made from a yellow Rogers & Goffigon fabric with an irregular twisted weave that complements the natural veining in the oak timber. The impressive, tapered dining table is crafted from one slab of walnut by maker Rowan Shaw-Jones and adds an element of drama to the primarily light space.
The clients—a couple in their mid-thirties with three young children—had been living in a two-family townhouse in Brooklyn, New York, for some time, occupying the main house and renting out the garden apartment. The original brief was to combine the house and apartment into a 3,700-square-foot, four-bedroom single-family home and to add a mudroom, work-from-home spaces, and a dining room to accommodate the entire family and guests.
The project took five months to design and was in construction for 10 months, with the interiors developed alongside the architectural scope. "Projects are more successful when conversations around use, function, flow, and shaping spaces are integrated early into materials, millwork, lighting, and furnishings," says interior designer Emily Lindberg on the collaborative process.
When it became apparent early on that the flooring in the parlor needed to be replaced, the clients decided on a light oak floor for a bright, natural feel. They fell in love with the wide format of the Madera floor boards, and these were the catalyst for carrying the material palette across the four floors and basement.
The cantilevered oak stair and linear wood screen cuts through the entire home, creating a sense of balance and harmony. The first floor features the entry foyer and living room, with a timber volume that houses a mudroom, powder room, and home office; the second floor features a foyer, sitting room, oak-clad dining room and kitchen; the third floor is the primary suite and guest room; and the fourth floor is home to two kids’ bedrooms and bathrooms. The wooden stair and screen even extends down into the windowless basement that has been dramatically transformed into a welcoming playroom.
On the first floor, architectural panels from Madera define a corridor and create a volume to house the mudroom, powder room, office, and wet bar. Each wood component was CNC-fabricated and finished in Belgium to the precise specifications of the design. "All of the panels were custom fabricated, so we were able to specify exact panel sizes based on as-built dimensions and each panel was divided into equal veneer widths," explains architect Ian Starling. "We have never had this level of control before and I think the results are subtle but stunning."
Madera is able to produce material up to 26 inches wide and 36 feet long without a single seam to create strikingly minimal, unfussy interiors that are enriched with the beauty and unique character of natural timber. The products feature MDF, Pine, or Baltic Birch cores and substrates with sawn veneers up to 6mm thick. On the second floor, the timber has been used in an astonishingly diverse range of applications, from millwork and architectural cladding, to the batten screen and cantilevered stairs.
The goal was to create a design language of wooden slats, panels, and battens for a cohesive design thread throughout—even in utilitarian rooms, such as the mudroom. "No matter where you are in the house, this language is apparent," says architect Ian Starling.
This statement screen element not only united the disparate spaces, but also became a guide feature in the design development, with a rhythmic "wood and slat" language that characterizes the millwork throughout. From the wall and ceiling paneling that defines the dining room as a cozy space, to the bespoke floating nightstands and timber paneling that visually extend the width of the primary bedroom, the effect is one of stunning unity. "In each space of the house, you come into contact with the wood, but it’s used in different ways to create distinct effects," explains Starling.
Many of the pieces in the home are crafted by local makers in the Northeast to complement the Madera wood used throughout. The shelves in the study above the bespoke built-in desk by Madera, for example, are by Richard Watson. "I enjoy the simplicity of their design, with just a simple tapered form that adds visual interest to the divisions," says interior designer Emily Lindberg.
The primary bed features an inset upholstered headboard and floating nightstands within a paneled wall. The millwork takes cues from the wood slat and panel language throughout the house, while limewashed walls add another level of tactility to the subtle yet rich material palette.
The challenge to this approach, however, was specifying wood that would match in terms of quality, character, and finish. This potential issue was easily solved with a full suite of Madera products—including architectural panels, doors, custom millwork, and furniture—that seamlessly match the brand’s wide plank flooring and stairs.
Full-height oak doors crafted from Madera lead into the powder room, mudroom, and home office. Their monumental format allows the hallway to read as a solid architectural form when they are closed. "I love that we were able to elevate this home with significant architectural intervention, but keep everything comfortable," says interior designer Emily Lindberg.
As the brief evolved, so did the layout of the home. The kitchen, which had previously been a dark space at the center of the house, was moved toward the south facade. This allowed for generous natural light and more open access to the dining area, creating a more enjoyable space to gather.
The natural light also highlights the subtle yet tactile material palette—from the tonal depth and grain of the oak, walnut and ash, to the combed plaster and slate in the entry, and the quirky office clad almost entirely in cork. Warm yellows and brass accents pick up on the golden oak hues, while shades of blue add dynamic contrast.
The gray marble backsplash and worktops in the kitchen echo the natural beauty of the millwork by Madera, adding another layer of interest to the material palette.
The office is clad almost entirely in cork, which complements the oak that defines the scheme. "I want to cover everything in cork—there’s so much potential!" says interior designer Emily Lindberg.
"Our clients had prepared themselves for a big transformation and were excited to be able to provide a spacious, inviting home for their young kids and visiting family," says Lindberg. "We were looking to add a distinct character to give the home more heart, warmth, and personality—and the quiet oak material was a perfect neutral palette to build from."
Learn more at maderasurfaces.com.
Project Credits:
Architect: Starling Architecture
Interior Designer: Emily Lindberg Design
General Contractor: Euro Art Construction
Wood Surfaces: Madera
Photography: Eric Petschek
Published
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