We have had this blog for what seems like forever, and back when we first started the blog homes filled with flea market/thrifted finds were all the rage and Jo and I were obsessed. I think it’s safe to say we still are and this quirky, random, thrift-filled Harlem townhouse of architects Maria Berman and Brad Horn of Berman Horn Studio is so fun and artful and everything I remember loving about thrifted homes.
This renovation of a hundred-year-old Manhattan townhouse sought to honor the neighborhood’s rich architectural past while updating and redefining its spaces for twenty-first century living. In contrast to the small rooms typically found in rowhouses, here, the living, dining, and kitchen spaces are combined into a single large space spanning from the front to the back of the house. The kitchen is centrally located and designed as a single 18-foot run of lower cabinets that becomes an extension of the furnished spaces, and the beating heart of the house, whether for daily life or entertaining. In contrast, a small library at the back of the house brackets the large rooms with an intimate space that looks onto the yard below. The bedrooms are on the more private upper floors, and are sun-filled and cozy, layered with textiles and collected art. Throughout, the remaining historic details have been restored, but simplified through a cohesive painted palette that allows them to contribute to the architecture of the rooms without overwhelming them. Photos: Greta Rybus with some from this post via Remodelista