SOUTH SLOPE BROWNSTONE

WHAT: Brownstone renovation over two phases under two owners.

CHALLENGE: Opening up the parlor and garden floors and optimizing
kitchen and bath area for clarity of layout and storage.

STRATEGY: The rear facade in the kitchen is entirely removed to bring in light
and improve the connection to the garden. The wall between kitchen and bath
is reconfigured to maximize storage and move the fridge out of the way.

CONTRACTOR: Sumner Green Eco-Construction
PHOTOS: Ben Rahn, A-Frame Studios

SOUTH SLOPE BROWNSTONE

Visually, the sink area connects to the garden space without even a backsplash to break the flow. Two wall cabinets made of reclaimed wood (by artist Myriah Scruggs of Nightwood LLC) read as ‘found objects’ on a wall of Heath Ceramics tile.

SOUTH SLOPE BROWNSTONE

To continue the industrial look of the cabinet doors made from discarded steel windows, custom stainless steel shelves hold spice jars and hide under-cabinet lights, and the counter is made of light grey concrete by Concrete Shop

SOUTH SLOPE BROWNSTONE

The newly configured wall between kitchen and bath accommodates the refrige-
rator, cookie sheet storage,
as well as the kids’ table

SOUTH SLOPE BROWNSTONE

The niche in the bathroom takes up space behind the refrigerator that would otherwise have been wasted.

SOUTH SLOPE BROWNSTONE

Phase 1 of the project, under the previous owners, consisted of opening up the parlor floor by replacing a load-relieving wall with a beam, tearing out closets and restoring the elaborate plaster molding in places, as well as a gut renovation of the top, sleeping, floor. The walnut book case in the living room is by Atlas Industries.

SOUTH SLOPE BROWNSTONE

Floor plan
BEFORE (above) and
AFTER (below)