The Seashell House
Seashell House is the comprehensive renovation of an 1897 landmarked brownstone in Park Slope, Brooklyn, for a family relocating from California.
The project brings a relaxed, California-inspired sensibility to a historic New York townhouse, balancing carefully restored architectural details with contemporary spaces, natural materials, and abundant daylight.
Throughout, old and new coexist deliberately. Original features are preserved and celebrated, while contemporary interventions introduce a new layer of design, creating a home that feels both rooted in its history and distinctly modern.
Park Slope Brooklyn brownstone
Photography by Jonathan Hökklo
The Plan
Designed by architect William Calder in 1897, the three-story neo-Italian Renaissance brownstone retains many of its original architectural features, including a distinctive curved bay, carved stonework, and ornamental interior details.
Our renovation reorganized the interiors around the needs of a contemporary family while preserving the home’s historic character.
At the parlor level, the formal living room retains its traditional position at the front of the house, while the rear is transformed into an open, light-filled kitchen and dining area. The transition between these spaces creates a deliberate dialogue between historic architecture and contemporary living.
The garden level accommodates a family room, guest suite, and home office, while the upper floors provide additional bedrooms and a primary suite overlooking the street through the home’s distinctive curved bay.
Throughout the interiors, warm wood tones, natural textures, and a restrained palette of earth tones create a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. Vintage and mid-century furnishings sit alongside restored architectural details and contemporary millwork, giving the home a layered character that feels collected rather than newly assembled.
Performance
The renovation also addresses the comfort and energy performance of a 19th-century townhouse, integrating contemporary building systems within its historic structure.
Energy-efficient windows, improved insulation, and careful air sealing help reduce heat loss, drafts, and energy consumption while improving year-round comfort. Daylight and natural ventilation are incorporated throughout the design, connecting the interiors to the outdoors.
These improvements are balanced with the preservation of the building’s original architectural fabric. The result is a historic home thoughtfully adapted for contemporary living, combining enduring architectural character with improved comfort, efficiency, and resilience.
