The founders of Brooklyn studio Civilian have renovated a historic townhouse for themselves and their young family, rearranging the layout and adding contemporary elements for optimum functionality.
Nicko Elliott and Ksenia Kagner, who founded Civilian in 2018, overhauled the three-storey building in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, often shortened to Bed-Stuy.
The renovation of the townhouse involved moving the kitchen and living room to the parlor level
They now occupy the lower two levels of the terraced house, built in 1895, after reconfiguring its programme to suit the needs of them and their two children.
"The project draws from a diverse mix of references, from the rich material palette found in Milanese homes to the bold use of color in the work of French architect Robert Mallet-Stevens," said the studio. A maple millwork block was added to divide the spaces and create storage
"The resulting space foregrounds Nicko and Ksenia's creative circle of artists and makers while maintaining a sense of comfort and ease that supports the daily rituals of their growing design practice and young family," Civilian added.
Changes included moving the kitchen and living room from the lower garden level to the parlor level, which boasts 10-foot (three-metre) high ceilings and historical detailing.
Historic features were restored in the living room
A full-height "block" of maple millwork was added to divide the spaces, which remain conne...