Sterling Townhouse
a brownstone townhouse reorganized through circulation and light
A century-old Brooklyn brownstone, long fragmented by accumulated subdivisions, is restored to coherence through a renovation that reorganizes the cellar, first floor, and second floor around the logic of light, movement, and daily life.
The original interior bore the marks of incremental adaptation: the cellar was a series of dim closets and storage rooms, disconnected from the floors above and only accessible through a steep, narrow staircase in the kitchen, constraining the heart of the home. On the second floor, an enclosed closet room consumed valuable area without purpose, leaving the primary suite undersized, without a bathroom, and inefficient.
The central moves of the project were oriented around structure and space: relocating the cellar stair from the kitchen to the library room directly under the stairs to the second floor. The alignment of these two runs consolidates all vertical circulation into a single core, simplifying movement through the house while opening the kitchen to the living level in a more generous and flexible arrangement. The stair sequence itself becomes a site of discovery, with a reading nook tucked into its descent, carving out an intimate niche for children within the everyday flow of life.
In the cellar, the removal of non-structural partitions converts what had been enclosed storage into a suite of connected family spaces: creating a family room, an activity area, a workshop, and a laundry room at the rear of the house, each benefiting from improved daylight and spatial openness. On the second floor, the former closet room is replaced with a new primary bathroom and walk-in closet, allowing the suite to function as a private, well-ordered retreat
Material continuity unifies the three levels. Custom walnut millwork provides warmth and a consistent register throughout the interior, punctuated by blue millwork in the kitchen and the cellar reading nook. Italian blue marble, handmade tile, and natural stone introduce texture and quiet variation, grounding the renovation in craft without overstating it.
The result is a home that feels at peace; organized, light-filled, and calibrated to the rhythms of a family in the city
STERLING PLACE TOWNHOUSE
Typology: Renovation - Single Family Residence
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Year: Current
Status: 2025-Present
Size: 2,176 SF
Client: Private
WAKE’s Role: Architect, Designer, & Project Manager
Design Team: Nathan E. Minett RA, Xiaoxuan Hu, Mercedes Cuvi, Myat Khine
Collaborators:
Construction: Home Design Group