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Open Family Room / Murdock Solon Architects

Humble materials are used to good effect throughout the apartment. The bathroom contains ordinary rope lights concealed above the sinks. The tumbled slate mosaic tiles are by Artistic tile. All the wooden bathroom accessories were purchased from Ikea.

The rear facade is a surprisingly modern counterpoint to the traditional front. Here, traditional brick is traded for modern stucco.

Opposite the master bedroom on the top floor lies the sunny kids’ bedroom. A double-sided wardrobe provides storage, and functionally divides two separate sleeping areas. Further storage is placed along the window wall that faces the backyard.

Creating a library along a staircase out of open shelving means that the books can be accessed from both the staircase and the stair hall on the other side.

Sherman sits in front of his Prospect Heights home. The front door is made from etched Lexan bulletproof glass.

The minimalist kitchen features Richlite countertops and Ikea PAX cabinets with Reform Basis fronts in matte white.  

The refrigerator is to the side of the pantry and forms a niche with a wine fridge and appliance garage separate from the cook’s main work space.

The social spaces are at the rear of the yard, including turf for the kids’ play and a cooking and dining area, all tucked behind a custom concrete planter. The raised beds, including on top of the fence, are for herbs, as the homeowners are avid cooks.

Architect Daniel Kaplan of Bowerbird Architects added onto the rear façade to expand the floorspace for the lower apartment, and accommodate a three bedroom, three bath plan, plus a study and finished cellar. By creating a stepped addition, Kaplan made it possible for three floors to have outdoor access. Note how the top right deck is angled to prevent the new structure from blocking sunlight into the neighbors’ windows.

Rear facade with a modern replacement for the original, decrepit rear bay window

Margarita McGrath and Scott Oliver of Noroof Architects termed the 1,650-square-foot house in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, “Pushmi-Pullyu,” in reference to the interior-exterior flow they created. Resident Jill Magid, pictured on her front steps with son Linus, is a conceptual artist; she fabricated the neon house numbers.

Custom white oak cabinetry conceals the pantry and a bar. The seating nook is a favorite family spot, as the kids can hang out there and draw while the parents are cooking dinner.

The seating bench hides the heating system.

Exposed beams continue into the upper-level kitchen. Sliding glass doors provide natural light and lead out to a private deck.

The kitchen’s shelving and cabinetry was a product of an early 1990s renovation, still featuring ceramic masks the Merzes purchased in Mexico.

Hynam built additional storage along one angled wall of the bedroom loft and beneath the skylight.