This Brooklyn Townhouse Is a Masterful Mix of Victorian, Mid-Century Modern, and Art Deco
ByElizabeth Kiefer,Photography byGloria Kilbourne,Styling byElaina Sullivan,Art Direction byLinda Denahan
PublishedJul 24, 2026 1:24 AM EDT
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OK so years ago, when Isobel Herbold was a Pratt student studying abroad in Rome, she completely fell for this very European way of restoring old spaces. "This is an oversimplification, but they will create an intentional line between what's original and what isn't," says the interior designer, who runs her studio,Salle, from New York City and Maine. Basically: "By using a contemporary intervention instead of trying to imitate, you're allowing both the old and the new to shine."
Want proof of how that philosophy plays out in Herbold's own work? Just look at this recent project in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill neighborhood: the renovation of a historic townhouse for a young family, where period architecture and new construction come together in the most gorgeous way, bringing out the best of its bones.
The homeowners wanted to transform their existing space into a true "forever home," with dedicated spots for relaxing and entertaining, a more formal parlor level, and private quarters upstairs. After a thorough design process, the construction—led byGrant Davis Thompson Inc.and including restoration plus a one-story extension—took just a year. Trust me, the results were so worth it.
The transformation started from the ground up—literally, the garden level. Originally its own apartment unit, Herbold reworked the existing footprint to create an entrance hallway with light blue millwork and built-in storage, plus a cheerful yellow laundry zone and a full bath.
To create a versatile new garden-level living room, she combined ten feet of the existing rear house with a new ten-foot extension. The construction team actually excavated to maximize the ceiling height—and while they only gained a mere three inches by digging down, Herbold says it was absolutely worth it, resulting in a room that feels expansive and flooded with natural light.
Decked out with a glossy green wet bar, a sumptuous vintage sofa, saltillo tiles, and large windows overlooking the patio, the new space "feels swanky enough for adult barbecues and film nights, but also sunny and light for children," she adds. "It's so common to do an extension on the back of a townhouse and just do floor-to-ceiling glass with doors. But I really like where we ended up here." Honestly, same.
One floor up, original crown molding and refinished wood floors set the stage for an elegant sitting area and dining room, anchored by vintage finds sourced near and far. "The Spanish olivewood highboard and the 1970s Carl Straub suede sofa came from a wonderful Belgian antique dealer—those were the splurge pieces we committed to first," says Herbold. A travertine dining table came from a nearby auction house, and its rosy tones pair beautifully with the warm teak dining chairs, reupholstered in soft chartreuse wool.
To create a sense of continuity and visual calm, Herbold leaned into shades of white—from creamy to crisp as you move from the front of the house toward the kitchen, which was more of a thoughtful retrofit than a gut renovation. "We wanted to keep it simple for now," she says, noting that the client plans to revisit the design later. The flat-front cabinets and tubular hardware were chosen for their modern, clean lines with a late twentieth-century vibe, while the reeded glass doors of the new pantry cabinet pick up on the dining room sconces and the iron work of the sideboard.
"We were inspired by 1990s Euro interior design magazine editorials," says Herbold of the kitchen and parlor level. "Here, the beautiful plaster crown molding and historic details called for an approach that celebrated their ornate character rather than competed with it." And here's a fun detail—one flight up, French doors that once separated the parlor and kitchen were repurposed for his-and-hers offices.
The primary suite, complete with walk-in closets and an ensuite bathroom, is laid out en filade. "This part of the house was conceived as a sequence of spaces rather than individual rooms, each with its own atmosphere while flowing naturally into the next," explains Herbold. The bedroom is drenched in Farrow & Ball's Green Blue: "Like the sky or the sea, it recedes visually, allowing the architecture and natural light to take precedence." The closet features shades of mustard and plum before giving way to the luxe bathroom. "Framed by two large windows, it feels like a breath of fresh air, so we kept the palette restrained and luminous." I'm honestly obsessed with this flow.
One element Herbold absolutely loved and fought to keep in the primary bedroom: the jigsaw chimney piece. "When these were originally installed, they were painted—builders would just buy the simplest pieces the stoneyard had and fitted them together," she explains. The dueling materials were a total surprise when they stripped this one (you can see it in the first image). Ultimately, the clients decided to embrace the unexpected, and honestly, it's so charming.
The top floor is kid territory, with two bedrooms and a shared bath. "The client was nervous about the idea of a red, white, and blue bathroom, which can lean very Americana and lobsters," says Herbold. But trust me on this—the periwinkle ceiling paired with an oxblood pendant, white millwork and tiles, and playful accents give off a total modernist sensibility—a fun contrast to the little girl's bedroom next door, which has more nostalgic vibes.
"The ceilings are lower up here, and it's very cozy—it reminds you that you're in an old townhouse," says Herbold. A bookshelf holds a family heirloom—a maternal grandmother's collection of Caldecott hardcovers—and the floral Schumacher wallpaper feels like it could have been there forever. A pair of chairs by the artistCamella Ehlke, who makes, as Herbold explains, "clothes for furniture," serve as the modern intervention in this otherwise nostalgic space. And—as in the rest of the home—the old and new truly do shine.
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