How Stained Glass, Navy & White Created a Classic Kitchen
A colourful new kitchen revives a 19th-century townhouse in Brooklyn, USA, with original mouldings and salvaged stained
Ready to give their circa-1880s townhouse in Brooklyn, USA, a facelift but eager to preserve its original details, this couple sought the expertise of New York-based architect Ben Herzog and his team, who specialise in townhouse and apartment renovations and additions in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
The four-story brick home in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood featured intricate plaster cornices, arched doorways and even a speaking tube – a kind of old-school intercom system. But it hadn’t been updated in decades and had an awkward layout, with the kitchen sequestered on the second floor. The homeowners and pros agreed that, in addition to other structural and cosmetic changes, the kitchen belonged on the first floor. And a room overlooking the rear garden proved the perfect spot.
The four-story brick home in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood featured intricate plaster cornices, arched doorways and even a speaking tube – a kind of old-school intercom system. But it hadn’t been updated in decades and had an awkward layout, with the kitchen sequestered on the second floor. The homeowners and pros agreed that, in addition to other structural and cosmetic changes, the kitchen belonged on the first floor. And a room overlooking the rear garden proved the perfect spot.
The home’s original kitchen was probably located on the garden (basement) level, as was typical in that era, says Herzog, but at some point it was relocated to the second floor. Following the two-year renovation that included this kitchen project, that second-floor space is now a main bedroom suite and walk-in wardrobe.
Tempted to renovate your kitchen? Find a specialised kitchen designer near you, browse their projects and read reviews from previous clients
Tempted to renovate your kitchen? Find a specialised kitchen designer near you, browse their projects and read reviews from previous clients
First-floor plan of the newly renovated townhouse.
Accessed via the front entry hall or living-dining room, the new kitchen features custom cabinetry in an L shape around a large island. The room’s intricate cornices remain, though some of the original plaster was crumbling, so the builder called in a specialist to repair it. A 91-centimetre Wolf range cooker replaced the former sitting room’s fireplace.
“We moved the mantel to the basement level, but the chimney remained because we did not want to ruin the 3D moldings,” says Skaraine of the cornices. “We just used that space for ducts and plumbing and electrical. That’s the whole reason the cabinets didn’t go all the way up to the ceiling too – so that we could preserve the original detail up there.”
Accessed via the front entry hall or living-dining room, the new kitchen features custom cabinetry in an L shape around a large island. The room’s intricate cornices remain, though some of the original plaster was crumbling, so the builder called in a specialist to repair it. A 91-centimetre Wolf range cooker replaced the former sitting room’s fireplace.
“We moved the mantel to the basement level, but the chimney remained because we did not want to ruin the 3D moldings,” says Skaraine of the cornices. “We just used that space for ducts and plumbing and electrical. That’s the whole reason the cabinets didn’t go all the way up to the ceiling too – so that we could preserve the original detail up there.”
Installing a reclaimed stained-glass window was the homeowners’ idea. The design team found the perfect one at an architectural salvage yard, Demolition Depot in New York, then built the arch to fit it. The window was repurposed from a demolished church, which is evident when you look closely at its iconography.
Beneath the window, French doors open to a metal deck that steps down to the rear yard. Those doors and the windows over the sink, both by Marvin, replaced two original windows and have architraves that match stylistically with the existing plaster mouldings.
Beneath the window, French doors open to a metal deck that steps down to the rear yard. Those doors and the windows over the sink, both by Marvin, replaced two original windows and have architraves that match stylistically with the existing plaster mouldings.
White Macaubas quartzite benchtops provide crisp contrast to the navy cabinets, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator is hidden behind matching navy panels.
The upper cabinets are topped in unstained white oak with a custom brass rail. Matching open corner shelving and glass-fronted cabinets offer display space.
The homeowners like a rustic look, Skaraine says, and selected the chandelier hanging over the island themselves.
Browse more beautiful blue-and-white kitchens
The upper cabinets are topped in unstained white oak with a custom brass rail. Matching open corner shelving and glass-fronted cabinets offer display space.
The homeowners like a rustic look, Skaraine says, and selected the chandelier hanging over the island themselves.
Browse more beautiful blue-and-white kitchens
Photo from Ben Herzog Architect.
The kitchen splashback is comprised of hand-glazed white, blue and yellow Moroccan terracotta tiles, which add a trendy counterpoint to the traditional timberwork.
“We provided many different variations of how to put these styles together,” says Skaraine. “We ended up matching the [cabinet] paint colour with the colour of the tile and tried to tie in that stained glass transom [fanlight window] as well in the scheme.”
In the kitchen, the cabinets are painted in Midnight Navy, while the walls and ceiling are in Baby Fawn and the cornices are detailed in Pearl (all from Benjamin Moore).
The kitchen splashback is comprised of hand-glazed white, blue and yellow Moroccan terracotta tiles, which add a trendy counterpoint to the traditional timberwork.
“We provided many different variations of how to put these styles together,” says Skaraine. “We ended up matching the [cabinet] paint colour with the colour of the tile and tried to tie in that stained glass transom [fanlight window] as well in the scheme.”
In the kitchen, the cabinets are painted in Midnight Navy, while the walls and ceiling are in Baby Fawn and the cornices are detailed in Pearl (all from Benjamin Moore).
Photo from Ben Herzog Architect.
The kitchen island is raised on feet, which keeps it from looking too bulky.
“It was a little tricky because we have appliances in there, and they need electrical connections,” says Skaraine. “We made sure the design hides whatever is going into the floor underneath the island.”
The island appliances include a built-in microwave and warming drawer. Other features are this nifty drop-in, flush-mounted compost bin from Blanco Solon. Designed to be odour-free, it’s easy to pop out and empty.
The kitchen island is raised on feet, which keeps it from looking too bulky.
“It was a little tricky because we have appliances in there, and they need electrical connections,” says Skaraine. “We made sure the design hides whatever is going into the floor underneath the island.”
The island appliances include a built-in microwave and warming drawer. Other features are this nifty drop-in, flush-mounted compost bin from Blanco Solon. Designed to be odour-free, it’s easy to pop out and empty.
The arched alcove, white pantry doors to the left and right, the trims around both are all original. The design team removed a poorly fitted bookshelf from the alcove, exposed and cleaned the brick, then built in banquette seating with storage beneath the seat. A small marble-topped, tulip-shaped table adds a mid-century modern touch.
Above the pantry doors, you can see the grates from a new air conditioning system. New low-profile lights are recessed in the plaster ceiling, under the cabinets and beneath the dining nook’s arch.
Above the pantry doors, you can see the grates from a new air conditioning system. New low-profile lights are recessed in the plaster ceiling, under the cabinets and beneath the dining nook’s arch.
Photo from Ben Herzog Architect.
This photo shows the arched entrance to the kitchen from the adjacent living room and offers a better view of the detailed plaster ceilings. The builder replaced the hardware for the sliding doors to ensure they recessed smoothly into the walls.
The team refinished the living room’s original pine subfloors, which transition to new stained white oak in the kitchen. The walls in this room are painted in Serenata from Benjamin Moore.
This photo shows the arched entrance to the kitchen from the adjacent living room and offers a better view of the detailed plaster ceilings. The builder replaced the hardware for the sliding doors to ensure they recessed smoothly into the walls.
The team refinished the living room’s original pine subfloors, which transition to new stained white oak in the kitchen. The walls in this room are painted in Serenata from Benjamin Moore.
Another arch sits between the entrance hallway and the kitchen. It perfectly frames the newly installed salvaged stained glass window, making it a focal point for all who enter the home. The team chose Schooner wall paint by Benjamin Moore for a moody feel in this space.
Your turn
Which elements of this refreshed design do you love the most? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save images for your kitchen dreaming and join the conversation.
More
Love this renovation? Feast your eyes on another brilliant revamp here with a New Zealand home that gained More Space & Functionality for a Family’s Tricky 150-sqm Bungalow
Your turn
Which elements of this refreshed design do you love the most? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save images for your kitchen dreaming and join the conversation.
More
Love this renovation? Feast your eyes on another brilliant revamp here with a New Zealand home that gained More Space & Functionality for a Family’s Tricky 150-sqm Bungalow
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their young daughter and the family dog
Location: Brooklyn, USA
Size: 28 square metres
Designers: Architect Ben Herzog and project manager-designer Ilva Skaraine of Ben Herzog Architect
Builder: Ryszard & Son Construction
While the local Federal style was the kitchen’s aesthetic starting point, the finished product reflects a variety of influences. “They’re connected with the arts world,” says project manager and designer Ilva Skaraine of the homeowners. “So they have kind of a quirky and adventurous taste, and they also like an old-world feel.” Perhaps the most striking element of the new kitchen is its colourful stained-glass fanlight window, which the team found at a local architectural salvage yard. But everywhere you look in this room, there’s something to please the eye.
Likely a former sitting room, the first-floor space that the kitchen now occupies overlooks the backyard. Previously, it was used by one of the homeowners as a home office, as pictured here.
Note the room’s intricate cornices, fireplace and tall windows.