![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81gwqZPqvbJLxsyHwy7C6kYwIMI9V-r_qGoH45wtcR_KuEV14ofwIjb-M0-EzC3OefaGdYG1pvECz-Hg6TOisrRbvCf3OoViSiNjBRu2Q4_tYp8umxXFFaii2XaI21nRWn80CREALr3WrZEhR4gykc_myfm4IP4WgAxruRxF0XjcDeZgP6uOrNMHi/w640-h428/313prez_0104_FINALS.jpg)
A Design-Savvy Couple Turn a Worn-Down Brownstone Into a Minimalist Home, Dwell, Apr. 18. 2022.
Brooklyn-based architect David Cunningham had helped them inspect the property. When they sent him the detailed brief to turn it into a triplex with a garden-level rental, the extensive thought put into the document impressed him. "It’s pretty unusual for a client to do that," he says. "We’ve never seen it before. A lot of people make lists of things, but they had an overall vision or concept of how everything would hold together."
The brief called for a warm family home that preserved historic details while introducing a more modern aesthetic—and this aim defined the main tension in the building’s transformation. Initially, the couple emphasized the wish to preserve historic details, their appreciation for craft, and a desire for a minimalist but approachable aesthetic. They also mentioned "refraining from anything that is too precious."
As the design progressed, though, much of the Neo-Grec shouldered arch door-and-window trim fell away—only original and well-preserved elements in some rooms were saved—in favor of greater openness on the inside, and the need to add insulation to the front and rear facades.