There are no junk drawers here. No closets waiting to be edited either.
There are no junk drawers here. No closets waiting to be edited either.
Photography by Jen Trausch, unless noted, courtesy of FABR Studio + Workshop.
Photography by Jen Trausch, unless noted, courtesy of FABR Studio + Workshop.
It was a wise choice: Fabr is in our own Julie Carlson’s words “Brooklyn’s most inventive, economy-minded, under-the-radar architecture firm”: see their headquarters in A Tree Grows in East Williamsburg.
It was a wise choice: Fabr is in our own Julie Carlson’s words “Brooklyn’s most inventive, economy-minded, under-the-radar architecture firm”: see their headquarters in A Tree Grows in East Williamsburg.
The Hoveys describe Fabr’s approach as “anti-white box, Scandinavia-meets-Adirondack cabin.” (They themselves looked to the Rivertown Lodge in Hudson, New York, for styling inspiration.).
Photograph by Hovey Design.
Ground Floor
Ground Floor
The houses are situated in twin pairings, two in front, two behind, and share a 10-foot wide alleyway, which is where the entries are located.
The houses are situated in twin pairings, two in front, two behind, and share a 10-foot wide alleyway, which is where the entries are located.
Photograph by Hovey Design.
Photograph by Hovey Design.
Architect Bretaigne Bret Walliser who runs Fabr with her husband Thom Dalmas and their partner Eli Fernald filled us in on their approach to the project We preserved the brick shell of the buildings it was important to us to retain some aspects of the original construction for continuity...
...Once we gutted the interiors we built a poured in place concrete frame inside to support the new construction You can see this new concrete exposed in parts of the kitchen and living spaces So in a sense the building retains its old shell but has a new internal armature
...Once we gutted the interiors we built a poured in place concrete frame inside to support the new construction You can see this new concrete exposed in parts of the kitchen and living spaces So in a sense the building retains its old shell but has a new internal armature
The custom kitchen has a clean-lined farmhouse look.
The custom kitchen has a clean-lined farmhouse look.
So instead of every room having identical-sized, double-hung windows, we made some openings larger for full-height windows, we turned some into open-air balconies, and we frosted some windows to create privacy from busy Fifth Avenue.”
So instead of every room having identical-sized, double-hung windows, we made some openings larger for full-height windows, we turned some into open-air balconies, and we frosted some windows to create privacy from busy Fifth Avenue.”
The house is located next to historic, sprawling Green-Wood Cemetery, hence the bucolic views.
The house is located next to historic, sprawling Green-Wood Cemetery, hence the bucolic views.
The bespoke cabinets were custom crafted by Olde Mill Kitchens of Pennsyvlania, and are painted Benjamin Moore Forest Green.
The bespoke cabinets were custom crafted by Olde Mill Kitchens of Pennsyvlania, and are painted Benjamin Moore Forest Green.
Photograph by Hovey Design.
Photograph by Hovey Design.
The fridge is concealed behind custom paneling.
The fridge is concealed behind custom paneling.
“We try to limit the amount of paint in our projects, and instead to rely on masonry or wood and natural pigments, which give a more dimensional texture,” Bret tells us.
“We try to limit the amount of paint in our projects, and instead to rely on masonry or wood and natural pigments, which give a more dimensional texture,” Bret tells us.
The main living room is situated here, plus a home office/guest room and balcony.
The main living room is situated here, plus a home office/guest room and balcony.
Second Floor
Second Floor
Thanks to the new tall windows and balconies, the rooms have an indoor-outdoor feel.
Thanks to the new tall windows and balconies, the rooms have an indoor-outdoor feel.
Photograph by Hovey Design.
Photograph by Hovey Design.
The guest bed is Ikea’s Espevar frame cloaked in Tensira striped bedrolls; see 7 Favorites: Soft, Stylish Throwbeds for sourcing. The white ramie pillows covers are the $7.99 Vigdis from Ikea.
The guest bed is Ikea’s Espevar frame cloaked in Tensira striped bedrolls; see 7 Favorites: Soft, Stylish Throwbeds for sourcing. The white ramie pillows covers are the $7.99 Vigdis from Ikea.
A glass wall on the office end of the room overlooks the open-air balcony with exposed brick and cedar planters.
A glass wall on the office end of the room overlooks the open-air balcony with exposed brick and cedar planters.
The pine stair railings match the custom pine frames on the Kolbe windows, and the tongue-and-groove paneling on the ceiling.
The pine stair railings match the custom pine frames on the Kolbe windows, and the tongue-and-groove paneling on the ceiling.
“New York City code required that we set back the building after reaching a certain height,” explains Bret of the two new floors.”With the mansard roof we were able to maximize the usable footprint of the space.” The carpets are vintage Moroccan.
Third Floor
Third Floor
Photograph by Hovey Design.
Photograph by Hovey Design.
Above A tucked-under-the-eaves bedroom with Arne Jacobsen Table Lamps, an Ikea bed frame, and L.L.
Above A tucked-under-the-eaves bedroom with Arne Jacobsen Table Lamps, an Ikea bed frame, and L.L.
Photograph by Hovey Design.
Photograph by Hovey Design.
The room’s five-sided dormer windows overlook Green-Wood Cemetery.
The room’s five-sided dormer windows overlook Green-Wood Cemetery.
A Roman brick wall adds another texture.
A Roman brick wall adds another texture.
A glimpse of the baby’s room: the rabbit is by Hansa and the throw blanket is by Hawkins New York.
A glimpse of the baby’s room: the rabbit is by Hansa and the throw blanket is by Hawkins New York.
“The trim and casing throughout is pine with custom-designed profiles,” says Bret.
“The trim and casing throughout is pine with custom-designed profiles,” says Bret.
Attic
Attic
The master bedroom is situated in the 300-square-foot aerie.
The white pine-paneled closet wall includes a tidy work niche.
The white pine-paneled closet wall includes a tidy work niche.
A small desk with a small view.
A small desk with a small view.
A partition of rough-edged red oak sections off the stair while allowing light to travel through. The glass door leads to the master bath.
A partition of rough-edged red oak sections off the stair while allowing light to travel through. The glass door leads to the master bath.
The WC has a custom barn door: “We wanted the entire wall (with closets and study niche) to be white pine, so we hand made the door with diagonal bracing on the back. A lot of barn construction is extremely practical and logical within a limited budget, so it was helpful here,” says Bret.
The WC has a custom barn door: “We wanted the entire wall (with closets and study niche) to be white pine, so we hand made the door with diagonal bracing on the back. A lot of barn construction is extremely practical and logical within a limited budget, so it was helpful here,” says Bret.
Exterior, After and Before
Exterior, After and Before
The buildings have their original brick, now faced with fiber-cement HardiePlank siding.
The buildings have their original brick, now faced with fiber-cement HardiePlank siding.
The structures—the two white houses, shown here, and the two behind them—are part of an enclave of two-story brick houses that date from the 1920s.
The structures—the two white houses, shown here, and the two behind them—are part of an enclave of two-story brick houses that date from the 1920s.
