This Designer Undid a Historic Brownstone's Developer Remodel With Warm Layers and Soft Curves

PublishedMay 17, 2026 1:10 AM EDT

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When you hear the phrase 'historic Brooklyn Heights townhouse,' you probably expect charming 1800s motifs: ornate banisters, wood floor inlays, decorative trim. "This didn't have any of those," says interior designerHannah Klingensteinof the floor-through apartment she recently completed for a young family. The four-bedroom residence had been renovated by a developer before purchase, and while the end result was tasteful, Klingenstein's clients found it seriously lacking in character and depth.

Fortunately, the remodeled space came with soaring ceilings, a well-functioning layout, and high-end finishes, so Klingenstein—who launchedStudio June, her residential firm, two-and-a-half years ago—could channel her efforts into the decorative layer. The resulting home is filled with texture, elegance, and elevated furnishings that keep the reality of life with small children in mind without sacrificing style. Below, Klingenstein spills all the details on the decisions that made all the difference.

Lacking crown molding or millwork, the apartment was basically a white box—which actually gave Klingenstein the perfect opportunity to elevate the space with standout lighting fixtures. In the living room, a large sculptural chandelier commands attention without being visually overpowering; its undulating edges echo the soft lines of the drapery and furnishings, which are largely custom by Studio June. I'm honestly obsessed with how this works.

In the nearby kitchen, a trio of leather pendants hang over the island, a new configuration Klingenstein worked out with a general contractor and electrician to achieve. The cylinders feature small circular punch-outs; in the evenings, their twinkle is basically like starlight. Dreamy, right?

When Klingenstein started the project, her clients were expecting their first child. "One thing that came up alotin conversation was what to do about a living room coffee table—sharp corners can be really scary to have around a baby who is learning to walk." Been there, right?

She nixed any remotely "dangerous" options and went with a custom upholstered ottoman in a high-performance fabric that is as impervious to sticky fingers as it is to the occasional spill during post-bedtime cocktail hour; the piece can be easily moved when the family hosts mommy-and-me classes. Now that's what I call smart design.

"I got lucky with this kitchen," admits Klingenstein, referring to the high-end cabinetry and stone surfaces the developer had installed. Not much changed in the cooking and prep zones, but the adjacent dining area needed a complementary, yet unique style. To pull that off, Klingenstein sourced a 1940s French dining table fromAntikin Brooklyn, pairing it with midcentury chairs that were reupholstered in high performance fabric. "The seat is woven wool—it's a workhorse—and we got to have a little more fun with super luxe velvet on the chairbacks."

The trio of wall plates add a rustic counterpoint and, while they look as though they could be vintage, were actually a wedding gift made by a friend, artist JB Townsend of JBT Clayworks: The couple had two but commissioned a third to round out the grouping for the kitchen display. How sweet is that?

The guest bedroom was designed as an expressive counterpoint to the living and kitchen areas. "I wanted something that felt like a big hug for guests on the weekends," the designer says. Warm vanilla walls provide a neutral backdrop to patterned bedding and a marigold vintage lamp. To mix things up, Klingenstein trimmed the window in Benjamin Moore's Weekend Getaway—a green shade that frames the view and adds a playful burst of color. Trust me, this little move makes such a difference.

Keeping a sense of tranquility in the nursery was essential—but it also had to be truly special. The client had fallen for a grasscloth wallcovering by Caitlin McGauley early on; wrapping the whole room in the buttery pattern would have been costly and also potentially claustrophobic. "I'm not usually a proponent of the accent wall, but my solution was to introduce a complementary wallpaper on the ceiling to accentuate the height, and then color-match the other three walls to a mint chip shade," explains Klingenstein. Honestly, such a clever workaround.

"The design of this primary suite was actually centered around one problem: The only wall that worked for bed placement had an off-center window that drove the client absolutely crazy," says Klingenstein. She collaborated with the homeowners on a brilliant solution: run drapery along the entire length of the alcove as a design element and simply cover up the offending window—no drywalling or reconstruction required. Sometimes the simplest fix is the best one.

While a hallway of floor-to-ceiling storage was an asset, the client was underwhelmed by the original look: white, glossy laminate, sans any hardware or decorative detail. Klingenstein's suggestion? Work with what was there and, rather than replace the cabinet faces, add wallpaper. For the cabinetry, she selected a subtle, small-scale polka dot pattern; then she added matte black knobs and finished off the look with off-white tassels. Such a simple upgrade with major impact.

The foyer was intentionally moodier: "I wanted these areas to feel like an extension of one another, but also completely opposite. The black oak of the console with those cane doors, mixed with the sculptural iron work of that mirror and heavy bottom of the vintage lamp provided a rich contrast." And honestly, the contrast is everything.

Julia Stevens is a Domino contributing editor. Basically, she's a professional online shopper. She started at Domino as an intern and spent seven years in the style department curating products for our gift guides, trend roundups, and product reviews and on set styling the beautiful homes we get to share. Off hours, you can find her scouting New York's newest design shops and restyling hershelves.

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