The Lefferts House

The Lefferts House is a thoughtful restoration of a landmarked brownstone in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn. We carefully preserved the original architectural details while surgically upgrading systems and introducing light-filled spaces for contemporary family living. As in all our historic-home projects, the design lives in the productive tension between preservation and intervention - the old and the new set beside one another, each amplifying the other.

Hand-sketched floor plan of a home with labeled areas including dining, bath, pantry, kitchen, and backyard access. Features French doors and staircase.

Photography by Pepe Molina

The Plan

Our team transformed this 1899 neo-Renaissance brownstone into a comfortable, contemporary home for a young family of three, while carefully restoring and celebrating its exceptional historic character.

The landmarked structure retained a wealth of original detailing on its upper two floors, all of which required careful restoration. By contrast, the basement level was in poor condition, with dated finishes and limited access to natural light, having seen little meaningful renovation since the building’s original construction.

We meticulously restored original millwork and plasterwork throughout, and repaired and refinished the existing hardwood floors. We integrated two new bathrooms into the historic layout, while respecting the home’s original proportions and architectural language. And we reimagined the basement level as a bright, welcoming kitchen, anchored by large French doors that open directly to the rear yard.

Both exterior façades were carefully repaired and restored, and a new rear stair added to  provide direct access from the parlor level to the garden.

Sustainability

Our team focused on significantly improving the home’s energy performance through enhanced insulation and a comprehensive upgrade of its mechanical systems. We replaced most existing windows with high-performance units, and installed a new concealed HVAC system with electric heat pumps. Additional sustainable strategies included low-VOC paints, LED lighting throughout, and low-formaldehyde plywood and cabinetry to promote a healthier indoor environment.

Restored Front facade
Backyard view of a three-story brick townhouse with a modern glass and black framed bay window, metal exterior staircase, glass door entry, artificial grass lawn, wooden deck, and outdoor seating area.
View of the front and middle parlor with original woodwork and hardwood floors restored
Two gray armchairs with a small round marble table in between, placed on a patterned rug, in front of a wooden staircase with a railing, and a circular light fixture above.
A powder room was inserted at the parlor level in a very discreet way
Modern kitchen with gray cabinets, marble countertops, a stainless steel range with red knobs, a decorative wall clock, and a vase of flowers on the island.
Surgically inserted between the two bedrooms, the master bedroom incorporates the original to the structure wood cabinetry, which has been restored
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