It’s a well-established rule of thumb: The higher the floor, the more light you get, particularly in cities, where neighboring buildings often block the sun at street level. But Laura and Kelly Moffat found the opposite to be true in their Fort Greene, Brooklyn, home.

The top floor of their four-story brownstone left a lot to be desired when it came to natural light, despite its elevation and existing skylights. It wasn’t until the pandemic, when they were confined to their house with their young kids, that they decided it was time for a change.

Before: Primary bedroom

After: Primary bedroom

The couple, founders of the androgynous fashion company Kirrin Finch, had completed two previous renovations (the garden and the kitchen) in the home, but those happened before they had children. During the pandemic, it became painfully obvious that they had no place just for themselves. Their bedroom was opposite their kids’ on the third floor, and they largely shared a bathroom.

“We were feeling frustrated with space. The kids were with us all the time, and we were constantly on top of each other,” says Laura. “We wanted to reclaim our house and make more space for ourselves.”

They enlisted their longtime friend Luki Anderson, founder and principal of Brooklyn-based firm Studio Officina, to make a plan. Initially, they considered renovating the basement, but after a too-high cost estimate came back (it would have involved excavating the floor to make the ceilings taller), they looked higher.

Before: Home office

After: Home office

“We went floor by floor to figure out how we could improve it and where we could create an area of retreat,” says Anderson.

“When you have kids, you don’t really get a lot time to yourself, so we wanted to find adult space in the house that felt tranquil,” adds Laura.

The top floor, along with the one below it, had two rooms, one at either end, connected by a central hallway with a bathroom. Laura and Kelly each used one of the top floor rooms as an office, while the third floor held two bedrooms—one for them, and one for their five-year-old twins. Despite the large size of the rooms (roughly 16 by 16 feet), the space felt cramped and unorganized.

Before: Primary bathroom

After: Primary bathroom

They went through many layout iterations before deciding on the final plan for the fourth floor. The primary bedroom now occupies the back room, and instead of giving the bathroom and closet entry points from the hallway, as previously, these spaces are tucked away in the bedroom.

Now, a walk-through closet leads into a dreamy bathroom that could have been plucked straight from a five-star resort. A sumptuous soaking tub sits under a new skylight and a walk-in shower features dual rainfall showerheads.

“Having our own space where we’re not competing with kids’ toys and toothbrushes, and toothpaste all over the sink is incredible,” says Laura. It also creates a new opportunity for self-care.

“You can close the door and feel like you’re somewhere else. Maybe there is chaos going on everywhere else, but you have this space where you can decompress,” says Laura. “Kelly and I both find a shower to be very mentally grounding, and the physical space is super important to how you feel. A lot of bathrooms in New York City are so cramped, and now we actually have room. It’s amazing.”

The couple’s sleeping quarters got an upgrade with a king-size bed set against a tall beadboard headboard that runs the length of the room, topped by a shelf for decorative details like plants, books, and candles (and, admittedly, less daily detritus). Yellow Arne Jacobsen bedside sconces add a pop of color to the neutral palette.

Before: Hallway

After: Hallway

The space is indicative of how Laura describes their personal style: clean and uncluttered, but still warm and inviting. Underbed drawers and a super functional closet eliminate the need for a wardrobe or dresser, and a custom corner banquette features clever built-in storage to hide cords and the cable box.

The other room on the top floor shrank slightly—to allow for a larger bathroom and to carve out an exercise nook in the hallway—and was split down the middle to create hers-and-hers offices. They’re near mirror images, save for a favorite color picked by each occupant: a deep blue beadboard wall for Laura, and emerald-green floating shelves for Kelly.

Before: Closet

After: Closet

The renovation went smoothly, save for pausing for multiple bouts of Covid and to reconsider the possibility of a roof deck, a wishlist item of Kelly’s. It was ultimately nixed because of cost and the fact that it would have made the project take an additional six months.

Work wrapped in late 2022, and the family moved back into their house (after living with Laura’s parents for over a year) after Thanksgiving. “We use every part of the new space,” says Laura. “It’s such an efficient floor plan.”

But everyone’s favorite room? The new bathroom. Despite being designed as a retreat for Laura and Kelly, they’re often not alone in there. “Oh the kids love it,” says Laura. “They think it’s like a hotel. There have definitely been shower parties.”

After: Kids’ Rooms

More Before & After stories:

Their Job Is Discovering Hidden Gems. Their Brooklyn Townhouse Is One of Them

Just-Right Furnishings and a Few Shades of Paint Punch Up a Brooklyn Brownstone

A Series of Unfortunate Updates Are Reversed at This Brooklyn Brownstone

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Studio Officina Architecture PLLC / @studioofficina

General Contractor: Sync Construction LLC

Structural Engineer: Structural Engineering Büro PLLC

MEP Engineer: Wells Engineering PLLC

Photography and Styling: Louisa & Fyodor

Appears In

Before & After: A Vibrant Revamp Gives a Cramped Brooklyn Brownstone Room to Breathe