Tour a 125-Year-Old Brownstone In Brooklyn

When Angela and Joe Austin bought an aging brownstone in Brooklyn, New York, they needed all the caffeine to renovate it. They had that part covered — the Austins cofounded and run a chain of area coffee shops, called Milk & Pull. And the house had its charms: nearly 125 years old, 3,000 square feet and full of original details. But it needed exhaustive updates, including raising low ceilings, replacing beams, reimagining the kitchen and ripping out the linoleum that covered every single floor. They joined forces with designer Danielle Fennoy to balance jolts of color (usually shades of Angela’s favorite, green) with clean white, and choose pieces that snap against the woodwork and pine floors. The juxtaposition of old and new — and lively and low-key — make for a high-octane place to start the day, a calming way to end it and special family time always.

This room sets the tone for the entire home. Original features like the pine floors converge with zippy furniture and accessories, including a curved sofa by R. & E. Bouroullec, a two-tone mirror by Porter James of New York, and a painting by artist Shateek Brown. While the sofa is sleek, it’s like sitting in a hug.

This spot serves up a bright area for meals, Ava’s art projects, Carter’s playtime and Angela and Joe’s touch-bases before work (over coffee, naturally — for him, pour-over; for her, café con leche). Mustard-color chairs from Blu Dot invigorate a white Saarinen Tulip table. The rest of the area is timeless, down to the antique hutch gifted by a family member.

As in many New York brownstones, a railroad layout connects each room to the next in a straight line. The couple leaned into the middle room’s darkness by painting it deep green; now it’s their TV-watching hangout. The velvet couch, by Interior Define, is perked up with patterned pillows and an ottoman, made by designer Danielle’s company and upholstered with fabric by Zinc Tile.