Brooklyn Home Blends Modern and Traditional Style

Designer Ben Herzog takes a once dark and outdated house and turns it into a light, airy home that mixes traditional beauty with modern design.

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November 25, 2014

By: Keri Sanders

From: Ben Herzog

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Abysmal Before

Before the redesign, dark red walls made a cluttered, depressing dining space appear darker.

From: Ben Herzog

A Kitchen With Charm

After moving the kitchen to a more centrally-located area, lightening the wall color was the first step to creating a more uplifting and charming atmosphere. Traditional details, like the plaster crown molding which was carefully recreated and the pine wood flooring add character to the home.

From: Ben Herzog

All in the Lighting

French doors, not shown here, allow plenty of light to cover the kitchen, making it a space that the family enjoys cooking, cleaning and even dining in. A smart mix of natural, ambient and task lighting makes the room more functional for both working and entertaining.

From: Ben Herzog

Dining in Style

A four-person dining table is set against an attention-grabbing feature wall covered in bright green wallpaper, a fun pop of color that really gives the room an extra-special touch, while also subtly setting the dining space off from the rest of the kitchen.

From: Ben Herzog

Hard-Working Window

"We opened up the house visually on the parlor entry hall by adding a salvaged leaded glass window on a center pivot in a blank wall at the end of the hallway," says designer Ben Herzog. "The leaded design adds visual interest from the front entry but is also important functionally, as it brings light and air through the deep townhouse. It is one of our client’s favorite features in the house."

From: Ben Herzog

A New Gas Fireplace

After living with a non-working fireplace for such a long time, the family was sure to include a working gas fireplace on their wish list for the redesign, a smart decision that resulted in physical and visual warmth throughout the home.

From: Ben Herzog

Old and New

"Our clients wanted a clean and modern look, so we helped them find a nice balance between traditional and modern design sensibilities," explains Ben. "We kept most of the detailed window trim and door casings but painted them and the walls white to give the house a brighter feel. However, we stripped the paint off of the newel posts and handrails to expose the beauty of the original wood details."

From: Ben Herzog

Bright New Bedroom

A brand-new master bedroom shows off the traditional-meets-modern look the designer was striving for with stunning white walls paired with decadent molding. Simplistic decor lets the natural beauty of the pine wood flooring take center stage in the warm space.

From: Ben Herzog

Lit From Above

A large skylight above the shower floods the master bathroom in light and is a gorgeous focal point in the room, highlighting the more contemporary design.

From: Ben Herzog

Cool and Contemporary

"We used Calacatta marble hex tiles with a black border on the floor for a nod to the traditional," says Ben. "However, other features such as the glass enclosed shower, stacked white wall tiles and wall hung vanities and toilets have a more contemporary feel."

From: Ben Herzog

Quaint Patio

With outdoor space at a premium in New York City, the homeowners are lucky to have this lovely redone patio to enjoy the beauty of nature.

From: Ben Herzog

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Ben Herzog

Brooklyn Home Blends Modern and Traditional Style

Related To:

Abysmal Before

A Kitchen With Charm

All in the Lighting

Dining in Style

Hard-Working Window

A New Gas Fireplace

Old and New

Bright New Bedroom

Lit From Above

Cool and Contemporary

Quaint Patio

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