Stunning Brownstone Reveal: 32-Foot Great Room Hidden Behind Historic Facade!

Historic Charm Meets Modern Living at West 84th Street Residence

The iconic brownstone exterior of the West 84th Street Residence has been meticulously maintained over the decades, presenting a timeless facade. Meanwhile, a newly added 32-foot-long great room modernizes the space without existing in the original plans. This project by Placeholder was executed without a conventional client brief, challenging the designers to refine the essence of townhouse living into a format that is both personal and flexible, steering clear of the typically expansive scale seen in urban single-family homes.

The renovation of the building focused on preserving the traditional aesthetic of the landmark New York City brownstone while updating the interior to enhance the sense of space, light, and flow. This strategy demonstrates the successful integration of historical preservation with contemporary upgrades. The townhouse extends over three stories, featuring a sprawling great room with 11-foot ceilings that amplify the sense of space, a rare find in city dwellings.

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The Molteni&C kitchen, adorned with Calacatta Viola marble, anchors the open floor plan, connecting seamlessly to nearly 900 square feet of outdoor space. This space includes a beautifully landscaped garden and terrace, which allow for an expansion of living areas into the outdoors. On the garden level, the primary suite offers views of the yard and includes a versatile adjacent room that can serve as a dressing area, office, or lounge.

Penthouse Elegance with Urban Panorama

The penthouse unit provides a generous 2,700 square feet of interior space complemented by a 400-square-foot rooftop terrace. The design continuity is maintained with a shared material palette that features Arabescato Turquoise marble vanities, Alaska White showers, and Nero Marquina heated floors. These luxurious elements are complemented by high-end Waterworks and Dornbracht fixtures. A custom-built curved staircase enhances the connection to the rooftop studio and terrace, transforming what could be a mere functional element into a striking architectural statement.

Throughout both residences, oak herringbone flooring, carefully restored moldings, and thoughtfully integrated lighting contribute to a cohesive design narrative. The kitchens and bathrooms are treated as distinct, precisely crafted spaces akin to standalone architectural elements, often with the meticulous attention to detail typically reserved for bespoke furniture pieces. The design of each residence uniquely engages with its urban surroundings. The parlor level integrates with the city via its rare landscaped garden, offering a private, serene escape horizontally. In contrast, the penthouse emphasizes verticality, with its terrace and studio designed to capitalize on natural light and cityscape views.

Together, these elements make the West 84th Street Residence a prime example of how historical architecture can be both preserved and thoughtfully adapted to meet contemporary needs, providing luxurious, yet functional living spaces in the heart of the city.