Victorian townhouse remodel in San Francisco

This Pacific Heights Townhouse, in San Francisco, California involved Feldman Architecture updating and reconfiguring a 1906 stucco clad Victorian. The owners not only wished to maintain the traditional feel of the building, but also to infuse some modern elements, so the house would be both more livable and reflective of their personalities.  They also hoped for a light-filled house that would incorporate sustainable elements. Furthermore, the original house took up nearly the entire length of its lot and the clients wanted a garden that would be accessible from the main living spaces.

To achieve these goals, the architects placed the living areas on the top floor, where the light would be best and where, by removing a large portion of the rear space, a roof garden was created. Most of the walls were removed from this floor to create spaces that are visually connected but functionally separate.

The building is set off the south property line, which allowed the addition of numerous large windows along the length of the house. New skylights on the north side flood the interior of the top floor and the long hallway on the second floor with natural light. Open-riser stairs, a light well, and interior windows also allow light to filter down to the second floor hall.

Photos: Paul Dyer

Melbourne townhouse with impressive modern arrangements

Park Street Residence was designed by the studio of Hecker Guthrie in Melbourne, Australia. What began as an exercise in loose furniture quickly grew into a kitchen, bathroom and joinery overhaul as the potential of this inner-city townhouse became increasingly realized by both the owners and designers. Definition and texture were key elements introduced into the dwelling, clearly identifying gathering spaces. The kitchen and fireplace elements create focal points, while a coveted selection of loose furniture layered with objects and art has turned this house into a home.

“The house was originally planned to be two townhouses side by side, and in a struggling real estate market our dot.com entrepreneur and his wife swooped in and had the two apartments converted to one mid-way through the build. As with many developments, they are designed to sell, and rarely do they reflect the personalities of their future inhabitants.”

The kitchen was under scaled and had no connection to the surrounding living areas. Conversely, the living spaces were vast and had no real sense of purpose.

The kitchen increased in both scale and serviceability and the materials chosen had a whole lot more grunt then what was there previously.

A single rug connected the spaces followed by a Cassina shelf that divided them– allowing the client to showcase a new selection of objects.

Inserting a wall of joinery on the south wall which accommodated a fireplace, bar unit and study nook – this connected the two living spaces and gave a real sense of rigor to the space.

The powder room went from being an eyesore to a space the client was no longer embarrassed to allow guests to visit.

Striking six-story townhouse in TriBeCa’s West Historic District

While Wayne Turett of Turett Collaborative Architects had been developing feasibility studies for this site, a charming and well-loved corner of West Broadway in Tribeca, New York, the present owners asked him if he knew of any townhouses they might purchase – and a deal was made. “This building enabled us to build exactly what we were looking for – and then some,” the client noted.

Developers of multi-unit condo towers had long admired the location with its 120′ of frontage, but balked at the limitations in height and use placed on it by the city’s preservationists. The audacity of suggesting that this parcel could become a single-family house is its genius; at almost 11,000 square-feet, it is large but consistent with luxury homes elsewhere in the city. The final plan was approved by the Landmarks Commission with the requirement that TCA meticulously restore the low corner portion of the historic structure, while the less historically interesting southern portion could become a new six-story tower, detailed, fenestrated, and finished to sit comfortably and elegantly in its context.

The home features a two-car loading dock, a 50-foot indoor lap pool, indoor gym, library, screening room and offices for both owners in addition to 6 bedrooms and 11 baths. On the second floor a kitchen, dining room, living room and poolroom overlook a sunken landscaped courtyard with steps up to the larger main garden on the third floor.

Photos: Paul Warchol Photography

Creatively partitioned five-story Chelsea townhouse

The existing dwelling in Chelsea, London has a deep and narrow floor plate, with daylight penetrating from the east and west. The proposed project by architecture firm Elips Design aimed to enhance the amount of natural light by investigating levels of transparency both vertical and horizontally, through a play of reflections and perspectives. That is the reason why the architects chose to build an extension in complete glass, and used stainless steel for the structure in order to have the reflection of the surrounding green landscape.

The depth of the 52 square meters building creates a visual connectivity between the living space and the external landscaping, whilst maximizing transparency and natural daylight. The choice open space, creating a sequence of distinct functional areas where it is dismantled the concept of “room” for a context of spatial fluidity. The service areas including toilet and laundry cupboard are all together. The dining area is planned in the basement, along with the kitchen area, while the ground floor is dedicated to the living room and a library room.

The creation of a core services behind the kitchen frees up the stairs by expanding existing wardrobes across wide spaces and create a space for living adjacent to the well-being. The bedrooms, on the three floors below, maximizes the use of space with bespoke furnishings and creates contemporary yet cozy rooms.

Townhouse remodel in historic Greenwich Village

This four story townhouse at 67 Charles has been designed by Turett Collaborative Architects, situated on a charming tree lined block in the heart of the original Greenwich Village Historic District in New York City. Originally constructed as one of a series of three rowhouses in 1867 by Bartlett Smith, the brownstone facade and painted wood cornice is a typical example of the French Second Empire style common to rowhouses built in that period. While the front facade has remained relatively unchanged throughout the building’s history, the 4,070 square foot interior has seen several renovations throughout the years which were less than kind to its historic bones.

Several historic details on the parlor level including base and crown mouldings, a ceiling medallion, and fireplace mantles throughout the house had managed to survive. These historic elements were very dear to the clients, yet they also recognized the value of contemporary space planning, details, and amenities. Their design directive to TCA was threefold: to preserve these historic elements; to create a dialogue between these preserved elements and a decidedly contemporary envelope; and to create a functioning layout complete with modern amenities that would serve the family into the future. In response, TCA created an architectural language to highlight the moments where old and new would interact.

Original base and crown mouldings appear to pass through glass entry vestibules at both the garden and parlor levels. Recessed metal reveals encircle the perimeter of preserved fireplace mantles demarcating old and new. A modern chandelier is juxtaposed against a restored ceiling medallion. Door jambs lined in non-directional stainless steel discreetly celebrate the use of contemporary reveals, without diminishing the texture and finesse that the owners so cherished in the preserved original mouldings. The new home demonstrates at every scale how the old and new can complement and enhance each other.

Photos: Courtesy of Turett Collaborative Architects

Spectacular restoration of a New York townhouse

Design studio Dufner Heighes were commissioned with the task of turning back the clock on a New York City townhouse. The most recent developer gutted the building and left if feeling cold and stark, so the new owner wished to create a cozy home with modern details. The designers restored the original facade from 1899 and reinstated original architectural and design details. The 4,200 square foot multi-story townhouse opens by way of steps that lead up to the first floor entry level featuring a double parlor. The living room with its custom Koi wallpaper mural adds elegant warmth to the home. The rear parlor beyond is the TV room and study. The kitchen and dining room are on the garden level, offering views out to an outside garden and sitting area. The second floor houses the two children’s bedrooms. The master bedroom retreat is situated on the third level. The top floor was designed as a rooftop lounge with both interior and exterior living spaces.

Glassed-in lounge features a whirl ceramic wall installation by J Prichard Design and a Moroccan relief rug from Stark. A skylight offers additional light to penetrate into the cozy space.

The roof deck has its own fireplace and teak furniture.

The dining room is on the garden level.

The master bedroom on the third floor is a cocoon of soft pastel color with silk carpeting and a new stone fireplace.

The walls are covered in suede wallpaper.

On the second floor, one of the two sons’ rooms is designed with custom built-in furniture to retain as much floor space as possible. A round pivoting porthole with corkboard to connects the two boys rooms.

A painted teak bench and lots of plantings fill the small garden.

The TV room and study are painted in high-gloss gray lacquer. Custom steel bookshelves are cantilevered off the walls.

The fireplace surround was replaced from a modernist design to a classical marble.

The curtains have been hung from the ceiling to create the impression of height.

Through the front door of the home is a Lindsey Adelman pendant bubble light fixture with a stair runner from Tai Ping.

SoHo townhouse with swanky indoor pool

As one steps through the weathered front door of this 19th-century building on Lafayette Street in SoHo, New York, you are faced with a window of blue water, which is a view into the depths of a 39-foot-long swimming pool! This is an unusually edgy entrance, which has been crafted by a filmmaker who is a master of horror movies such as “Friday the 13th,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Frankenstein”, and is currently the most expensive residential property for rent in Manhattan. The 5-story building was once a 19th century power station that was transformed into a downtown-style palatial-size home with some intentionally rough edges by director Marcus Nispel and his wife, who bought the apartment in 1996 for $1.75 million.

The Nispels now live mainly on the West Coast and have used the space as a New York pied-a-terre, renting it out for video-shoots and parties. A 2008 Beyonce video of her song “Halo” was filmed at the house, in a vast 29-foot high living room, and in the pool as well, where Beyonce was filmed hovering underwater in a white dress.

The 100-foot deep townhouse has several unique features, including the 8 foot deep indoor pool, which has a window on one side and large portals on the other. The portals open out onto a guest room, with a spiral staircase, designed to evoke a submarine. The living room boasts exposed brick walls with a large retractable movie screen that is illuminated with 13-foot high windows and two nautical lamps, which are said to have been salvaged from a Staten Island Ferry boat. There is also a 925-square-foot Zen terrace and a dumb waiter next to the open industrial kitchen. An antique French fireplace mantel was installed in the living room, and carved stone sinks and floor tile in the bathroom were imported from a French monastery. There are three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, but it also has a number of other bedroom-like spaces for additional guests.

The huge loft-like, 13,000-square-foot townhouse is on the market for $100,000 a month furnished, or $50,000 a week, or $20,000 a night for short stays, from here.

Portal view into the indoor swimming pool.

Photos: Donna Dotan

Gorgeous contemporary Australian residence

This contemporary townhouse is the ultimate luxury home designed by architect Wojciech Huczek in Victoria, Australia. With clean lines and incredible space planning, this four bedroom, two and a half bathroom home is comprised of 3,229 square feet (300 square meters) living space. This incredible home makes a statement in every sense of the word with a striking façade and commanding street presence.

Upon entrance to the home is an inviting grand entrance foyer that opens to spectacular open living zones. Burnished dark concrete floors with underfloor heating are contrasted by 32 foot high windows to create the perfect balance. The palatial master suite features a serene designer bathroom, park views and stylish external louvers that allows for the ultimate in privacy.

Adjoining Clarke Street Reserve and its eco-friendly features give this home its green edge, including solar hot water, hydronic heating, 5000 litre in-ground water tank, double glazed windows throughout, and low voltage dimmable lighting.

This stunning property is listed for sale at an undisclosed price from here.

A Swedish townhouse holds impeccable style

The narrow site is sandwiched between very old neighboring buildings in Landskrona, Sweden. Since mid-20th century it has been empty, waiting behind a wooden fence. It is only 5 meters wide with a tiny area of 75 square meters. Immediately adjacent buildings are low, but the street is lined with buildings of various height, size, facade material, age, and approach. Behind the row of buildings is a colorful world of back yards, brick walls, sheds, and vegetation.

Designed by architect Elding Oscarson, his goal was to create a razor sharp contrast to the other neighboring homes, to express inherent clarity, but most importantly to highlight the beauty of the surroundings. The architect’s clients, a male couple who has a great love for art and runs a café in a bigger city close by; plan to settle here permanently. They see the potential in this small town, beyond its current economic and social problems. Via

The architect’s intention was to use small means to create an array of different spatial experiences in this very small project, 1,345 square feet (125 square meters). The division of the single space aims at a non-minimalistic and lively sequence of confined and airy spaces, niches, interiors and exteriors, horizontal and vertical views as well as carefully framed views of the site. The continuous interior space is opening up to the street, to the middle of the block, and to the sky above.

Compressed slab construction, unconventional ceiling heights, and the ground floor flush to the street level, permitted fitting three floors into a volume aligned with the neighboring rooftops. The interior consists of a single space, softly partitioned by three exposed steel slabs. These span the entire width of the house and divide its program – kitchen, dining, living, library, bed, bath, and a roof terrace. A home office for a growing side business of art dealing is located in a separate building across a small garden in the back. Mechanical and service spaces are housed next to a glazed entrance from the street.

The openness to all directions generates a building both monolithic and transparent. All facades are treated equally, exposing the interior and offering views through the building with similar apertures whether on the front, back or sides. The neighboring facades are closed, yet there is something deeply humane about their tactility, detailing, and ornaments. The architect wanted the home to contribute to the street with a faded border to the private sphere, with artifacts, furniture, plants, and patios; traces of human presence, consideration, and care.

Photos: Ã…ke E:son Lindman

Townhouse undergoes amazing transformation

This beautifully remodeled townhouse is located in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn, New York. Many of the home’s details were designed and constructed by Fitzhugh Karol, a woodworker and sculptor, and Lyndsay Caleo, a jewelry designer and goldsmith. In addition to their individual work, they collaborate on the interior planning and architectural design for The Brooklyn Home Company. The couple moved from the country, so their main goal was to create a space that detached themselves from the city. They sought out a brownstone that would have ample daylighting, an outdoor living area, vast space for guests, a bathroom for two, storage, a functional kitchen, office, and three rental apartments to help them with their mortgage. (All within the confines of a 55′ x 20′ brownstone, they had to get very creative!) In the picture featured above, the custom sculpture above the fireplace makes a bold modern statement amidst the room’s classic architectural detailing including the white wide plank wood floors and the home’s original ceiling beams that were discovered during the renovation.

The dining table was crafted from a fallen beech tree.

A nine foot extension was added to the garden and parlor floors. A ladder right behind the dining room leads up to a guest room loft.

The bathroom off the living room has a grand wood barn door salvaged from a New Hampshire sheep farm in New Hampshire.

The modern kitchen was an entirely new extension to the home, featuring a vintage American Standard farmhouse sink with a striped skirt as the centerpiece. Open shelving reclaimed from a mill in upstate NY, a wall of floor to ceiling double hung windows and a fabulous wood block kitchen island made of a rich brown Sapele.

Natural light floods into the bathroom through a floor to ceiling panel of sandblasted glass.

The four poster bed was designed and built by Fitzhugh Karol.

Behind the glass partition, there are stairs that lead down to the garden floor.

Behind the glass partition, there are stairs that lead down to the garden floor.

The design of the guest room was inspired by the sleeping quarters on a ship.

A second living room was added on the first floor completely decorated with custom furniture.