Clinton Hill Townhouse by Ronen Lev

The parlour floor – the second floor in historic New York brownstones and townhouses accessed through the building’s front steps – is always the most luxurious. These grand rooms are often filled with period detailing such as high ceilings, stone fireplaces, large street-facing windows and ornate ceiling work. Ronen Lev founder Jessica Wilpon Kamel explains that she and Christina deliberately restricted the amount of furniture in this room, allowing each piece to shine in its own right. “Each piece is so special and unique in this room; we wanted every element to have space to breathe,” Jessica says. 

An intimate sitting area is formed at the front of this room, while the back plays home to an eclectic dining space featuring a vintage dining table and dining chairs and a custom-designed shelving unit by Ronen Lev. In the centre of the room, the original fireplace and artwork by young Brooklyn painter Marcus Leslie Singleton subtly distinguish both spaces.

Layers of blush and terracotta in the primary bedroom evoke warmth, providing the client with their own sanctuary away from the rest of the home. As for both children’s rooms, Jessica admits these two rooms were the most significant challenge she faced when redesigning the home. “We wanted these rooms to feel like a place the kids would feel comfortable and would want to spend time in,” Jessica says. “We didn’t want them to feel like they were ‘decorated’ but instead a room that would inspire them to feel uniquely themselves,” she adds. With this in mind, Ronen Lev approached these rooms through a playful design lens, selecting soft, rounded furniture and vibrant green and yellow hues.

Ronen Lev’s Clinton Hill Townhouse is ultimately a celebration of those who live there. As Jessica puts it, “a space doesn’t have to be loud, bright or come at you from all directions to feel complete.”