The four-story home was originally designed by architect William M. Miller and built in 1898. It's located in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens Historic District in Brooklyn, so when GRT Architects renovated the structure in 2018, they made sure to keep the facade true to its roots.

The townhouse had seen modifications over the decades since its construction. In 1940, the ground floor was converted into a doctor’s office, and at another point, a two-story rear addition was installed. The architects were tasked with lightly reorganizing the interior spaces and knitting the home back together.

“When working on historical buildings, we begin by establishing an attitude of new to old,” said the firm. “As landmarked buildings require a literal approach to facade preservation, we set a gradient from invisible improvements facing the street, to obviously new elements towards the rear.”

Before: The Living Room

In order to blend old and new, the architects “created framed views through the building on every level,” the firm said. “Detailed consideration was given to the way in which portals are marked.”

After: The Living Room

Before: The Dining Room

After: The Dining Room

Before: The Kitchen

After: The Kitchen

Shop the Look

Before: The Pantry

After: The Pantry

Before: The Bathroom

After: The Bathroom

Before: The Principal Suite

After: The Principal Suite

Before: The Guest Room

After: The Guest Room

Related Reading: A Pristine Prospect Heights Townhouse Deftly Harmonizes Old With New

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: GRT Architects / @grtarchitects

Builder: Black Square Builders

Structural Engineer: GMS, Gilsanz Murray Steficek

MEP Engineer: ANZ Consulting Engineering