When Lindsey Branca and Mike Grosshandler purchased a historic brownstone in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood in early 2017, the decrepit building was mostly in a state of disrepair.

Yet the duo, who launched the residential renovation and restoration firm Branca & Co., know a good opportunity when they see one.

Before: Slope Townhouse Exterior

After: Slope Townhouse Exterior

Enlisting the help of Brooklyn–based designers Sheena Murphy and Tor Sauder of sheep + stone, with whom they had worked with previously, as well as the architectural designers at Frances Mildred, Lindsey and Mike completed a gut renovation of their investment property while preserving as many historic details as possible.

Before: Entry

After: Entry

“The biggest overall challenge was successfully transforming it into a high-end home with authentic details and high-quality finishes without totally busting the budget,” explains Sheena.

“While ensuring the team made smart decisions about where and how to spend money, it was important to the owners and founders of Branca & Co that the house be restored with absolute integrity and without cutting corners, so it was a fine balancing act.”

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

In addition to repairs and restoration work, the brownstone, which dates back to 1890, was reconfigured with a new floor layout better suited to the busy lifestyles of the modern urban family.

Before: Office

After: Office

Every room was meticulously renovated and rebuilt from top to bottom. Meanwhile, the team was also careful to salvage as many original features as possible, from the doors and window shutters to the trim and crown molding.

Before: Master Bedroom

After: Master Bedroom

Spanning an area of 2,040 square feet across four floors, the fully renovated brownstone features four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and a 50-foot-deep private garden with a back deck and rear patio.

Before: Kitchen/Dining Area

After: Kitchen/ Dining Area

“We love it all, but the kitchen is probably our favorite,” notes Sheena. “The overall mood is very calming, and it overlooks the garden, making it feel like a bit of a haven from the city streets.”

“The light is gorgeous throughout the day,” she continues, “and the pale green on the cabinets gives it a softness and dimension. The layout provides great circulation, and it is both visually and physically connected to the living room.”

Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom

Located at 413 8th St, New York, New York, just one block from the subway, the elegantly updated Park Slope townhouse has been listed on StreetEasy for $4,495,000.

Project Credits:

Architectural Designers: Frances Mildred

Builder/General Contractor: Robertson-Tait

Interior Design: sheep + stone

Cabinetry Design: Semihandmade

Appears In

Before & After: A 19th-Century Brooklyn Brownstone Is Saved From Utter Disrepair