This residence was a complete gut renovation of a 4-story row house in Park Slope, and included a new rear extension and penthouse addition. The owners wished to create a warm, family home using a modern language that would act as a clean canvas to feature rich textiles and items from their world travels. As with most Brooklyn row houses, the existing house suffered from a lack of natural light and connection to exterior spaces, an issue that Principal Brendan Coburn is acutely aware of from his experience re-imagining historic structures in the New York area. The resulting architecture is designed around moments featuring natural light and views to the exterior, of both the private garden and the sky, throughout the house, and a stripped-down language of detailing and finishes allows for the concept of the modern-natural to shine. Upon entering the home, the kitchen and dining space draw you in with views beyond through the large glazed opening at the rear of the house. An extension was built to allow for a large sunken living room that provides a family gathering space connected to the kitchen and dining room, but remains distinctly separate, with a strong visual connection to the rear garden. The open sculptural stair tower was designed to function like that of a traditional row house stair, but with a smaller footprint. By extending it up past the original roof level into the new penthouse, the stair becomes an atmospheric shaft for the spaces surrounding the core. All types of weather – sunshine, rain, lightning, can be sensed throughout the home through this unifying vertical environment. The stair space also strives to foster family communication, making open living spaces visible between floors. At the upper-most level, a free-form bench sits suspended over the stair, just by the new roof deck, which provides at-ease entertaining. Oak was used throughout the home as a unifying material element. As one travels upwards within the house, the oak finishes are bleached to further degrees as a nod to how light enters the home. The owners worked with CWB to add their own personality to the project. The meter of a white oak and blackened steel stair screen was designed by the family to read “I love you” in Morse Code, and tile was selected throughout to reference places that hold special significance to the family. To support the owners’ comfort, the architectural design engages passive house technologies to reduce energy use, while increasing air quality within the home – a strategy which aims to respect the environment while providing a refuge from the harsh elements of urban living. This project was published by Wendy Goodman as her Space of the Week, part of New York Magazine’s Design Hunting on The Cut. Photography by Kevin Kunstadt

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Example of a large transitional kitchen design in DC Metro with quartz countertops, green backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and double-sink bathroom idea in DC Metro with gray walls, quartz countertops and a built-in vanity

View of side and rear exterior of the house addition with two bump-outs. Photo by: Caleb Foster
Example of a mid-sized transitional blue two-story wood gable roof design in San Francisco with a shingle roof

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and double-sink bathroom remodel in DC Metro with gray walls, quartz countertops and a built-in vanity

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and double-sink bathroom idea in DC Metro with gray walls, quartz countertops and a built-in vanity

Where the old Kitchen meets the new, tied together with a pair of windows and a zellige backsplash.

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Large transitional blue two-story concrete fiberboard exterior home photo in DC Metro

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Example of a mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and double-sink bathroom design in DC Metro with gray walls, quartz countertops and a built-in vanity

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and double-sink bathroom idea in DC Metro with gray walls, quartz countertops and a built-in vanity

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and double-sink bathroom remodel in DC Metro with gray walls, quartz countertops and a built-in vanity

Sunroom addition at rear of historic row home property, set into the tree canopy
Inspiration for a craftsman sunroom remodel in Philadelphia

Rear mudroom entrance

Chris Foster Photographer
Inspiration for a small farmhouse galley medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Living room - transitional living room idea in DC Metro

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Example of a transitional home design design in DC Metro

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Example of a transitional kitchen design in DC Metro

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in DC Metro

Whole home remodel in Falls Church, VA to include remodeled kitchen, master suite, addition includes new bedroom and bathroom.
Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in DC Metro