London and New York-based interior design studio nune peel back the layers of an 1890s Renaissance Revival-style townhouse in Brooklyn.
After seeing nune‘s Slope Townhouse, a Victorian brownstone in Brooklyn, the owner of this four-storey outdated townhouse asked the design studio to breathe new life into their family home. While the spatial zoning of the home was was fit for family life, the interiors were in desperate need of a refresh, calling on the studio’s warm and curated aesthetic. Using materials synonymous with the home’s heritage, nune have paid their respects to the New York City architectural style through a fresh and timeless lens.
nune exposed original brick walls throughout the home, painted to subtly reference the old bones of the home.
nune founder Sheena Murphy says the home was a colourful mishmash after several past renovations. “The kitchen walls were painted turquoise and the cabinets were cherry wood, while the dining room featured a mustard and white Moroccan-tiled feature wall with a purple upholstered bench below,” she says.
White oak planks replace the original parquet flooring throughout the home, lightening the spaces from the ground up. Roman blinds soften the rooms, complementing the crisp white walls, skirting boards and new ceiling roses; reintroduced where they had been removed in previously.
Framed by the New York cityscape, the living room features a vintage marble mantle fireplace sourced from a local salvage store – a nod to both the home’s location and history. Iconic Mid-Century furniture pieces like the Akari 75A Pendant, Knoll Saarinen Table and PH5 Pendant bring a design edge to the classic home.
The PH5 Pendant by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen hangs above the entrance.
The light-filled living room features the Akari Pendant 75A by Isamu Noguchi for Vitra and Saarinen Side Table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll.
The treatment of the grand staircase was especially important, a defining characteristic of Brooklyn townhouses, which Sheena describes as the ‘biggest impact’ area. “The original structure was solid wood and stained in a muddy brown tone. It was an incredibly imposing volume upon entering the house,” Sheena says. nune opened the bottom of the staircase and painted the balustrade black while carefully retaining the period ornate details.
The 4th Street Townhouse reveals a timeless sensitivity, achieved through nune’s signature quiet and elegant approach to a classic New York City home.
