Cobble Hill Brownstone, Cobble Hill Historic District, Brooklyn, NY
an environment for the art
Cobble Hill Brownstone Brooklyn, NY Size: 5,000 SF Type: One Family
Historical Research, Preservation, Architectural Design + Documentation, Interior Design, Lighting, Landscape Design, Agencies Filing, TRA studio’s Assistance : Historical Research, Preservation, Architectural Design + Documentation, Interior Design, Lighting, Project Management
Thank you to @TRAstudio, the architects who helped us make this house such a great environment for the art. The thing I like best is how they have stayed with us to solve any problem that has come up, even years after the renovation was complete. I find them smart, creative and non-profit budget-conscious. And not only did they do a wonderful job, they have always been available for the past four years whenever an issue comes up.
from our clients, the owners of the Cobble Hill Brownstone
The Cobble Hill Brownstone has been received the 2024 SARA California Council Excellence Award
see the spread in zerobeyond’s interview with Robert Traboscia
the Cobble Hill Brownstone project is the recipient of a 2024 California SARA Award
The restoration and interior renovation of this five-story historic Cobble Hill brownstone, located on a tree lined street that retains its original residential atmosphere, offered us the unique opportunity to work with the same client we have known and worked with, in a different setting, before. Our clients, an artist and a fashion image expert, who are not new to restorations and renovations, were attracted to the seemingly intact exterior, which however housed a heavily altered interior in need of extensive upgrades.
The envelope has been completely restored following, as much as it is possible when dealing with an historic structure, passive house practices. New mechanical systems are seamlessly woven in to bring the old structure up to contemporary expectations.
TRA Studio’s collaboration with the clients enabled the completion of a special interior project that included a careful historic preservation with contemporary design details. The interior design fully embraces the narrative of a modern lifestyle, where living spaces, which are connected by the historic restored central staircase, are layered to suit different functions and moods. The garden level, occupied by kitchen and dining, accesses a surprisingly modern landscaped rear yard, complete with a fountain and carp pond, through a new conservatory inspired by the turn of the century glass and metal greenhouses.
TRA Studio worked closely with the clients to restore the charm and beauty, inside and out, that supported their social lifestyle. Drawing on their artistic and fashion backgrounds, they curated the paint palette that covered the five-story brownstone. The paint schedule includes 28 colors, as many as six in shades of color in a single room with combinations of finishes. The painter was given specific instructions for the application method, according to the surfaces.
The colors tell the whole story of the occupants by emphasizing the tranquility of their lifestyle and their love of entertaining, from the reds and salmon colors in the dining room, to the rich teal tones of the library, to the blues of the public spaces and the calming grey tones used for the bedrooms and accenting the bathrooms. A warm white tone announces the painting studio, as a laboratory for art making.
The brownstone is the gallery for the clients’ curated collection of art, antiques, books, and vintage storytelling objects. Contrary to the belief that art is best displayed against white backdrops, their art lives on colored walls, with each color reinforcing the art.
This treatment unites the collection from one end of the house to the other: the architectural design, art installation and color palette are distinct with each creating an engaging, seamless environment.
THE ARCHITECT LED PROJECT MANAGEMENT
At the client’s request, the construction process was led by the architect, allowing to both the client and the design team, full control on the construction details and process.
THE MCLAUGHLIN CAMPAIGN
The sophisticated interiors are the backdrop of the elagant 2025 McLaughlin clothing line
NEWS:
see the spread in zerobeyond’s interview with Robert Traboscia