This project is a late 1890s brownstone located in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. “It’s one of those neighborhoods that perfectly captures old New York charm while still feeling vibrant and livable today,” says designer Jordan Slocum. “We’ve always loved Boerum Hill for its tree-lined streets, historic architecture, and strong sense of community. There’s an incredible mix of old and new here: classic brownstones sitting alongside independent shops, restaurants, and creative spaces.”
Jordan is one half of The Brownstone Boys, a design firm that he runs alongside his husband, Barry Bordelon. Instead of “all new everything,” the pair prefers to preserve and restore historic homes with functional, modern touches. That translates beautifully in this residence, which is full of soulful design details that call back to the 1890s architectural charm.
“The home itself had been altered many times over the decades, but underneath it all, the original craftsmanship was still there,” Barry shares. “We saw an opportunity to uncover and celebrate that history while creating a home that works beautifully for modern family life.”
Their clients were a young family looking to put down roots in Brooklyn, and their top priority was creating a house that felt warm, functional, and deeply connected to the building’s history. “They wanted a home that could evolve with their family while also being a place for gathering and entertaining,” Jordan explains. “Some of the must-haves included an open and welcoming kitchen, strong indoor-outdoor flow, ample storage, a dedicated office, nursery, and thoughtful modern amenities integrated in a way that still felt true to the brownstone’s architecture.”
They reimagined the entire home as a triplex residence with a separate garden rental, redesigned the layout for modern living, restored historic details, addressed major structural issues, and furnished and styled the interiors. It was a full scope: the project included architectural planning, custom millwork, kitchen and bath design, lighting, material selections, furnishings, and decor throughout.
The interiors call on timeless materials and have the feeling pieces were collected over time. Warm woods, veined stone, patinated metalwork, and a mix of custom millwork, vintage finds, and contemporary pieces strike perfect harmony alongside the architectural details.
They say that without question, the biggest challenge here was the structural work. “Over more than a century, the house had experienced significant settling, and the floors were dramatically sloped,” Barry recalls. “A huge amount of effort went into leveling the structure and stabilizing the original curved staircase and bannister without losing their historic integrity. Those kinds of interventions are rarely glamorous or visible in the finished project, but they’re some of the most important parts of preserving these old homes for the future.”
The project took a little over a year from construction through final furnishing and styling. “Seeing the clients walk through the finished home for the first time was incredibly rewarding because so much of the transformation was about making the house feel whole again,” Jordan says. “They loved that the home felt historic and soulful but also completely functional for the way they live today. It felt like the brownstone had been brought back to life.”
See more in the slideshow.
