hill house - Cypress hills, Brooklyn

This house sits amid a dramatic slope in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. After having lived in the home for 4 years, the owners decided it was time to renovate the first floor, encompassing the living room, middle parlor, dining room, kitchen and rear extension. The existing kitchen was narrow and uncomfortably split between the main shell of the house and the one-story addition. The addition provided access to the backyard, through a very tight and awkwardly located door.The dining room, the kitchen, and the rear extension were all reimaged as one free-flowing space. The home’s load bearing walls were removed to bring the kitchen and the dining room together, and we enlarged existing door and window openings. A skylight and sliding doors were installed to enhance the feeling of openness, and to make the backyard feel like it was part of the house.

From Dwell: "One of the biggest things the renovation did was it actually gave more definition and clarity on how they should be using their spaces," says Powell. "Before, the middle room was trying to be all of these different things—it wasn’t clear if it was a breakfast room, a study, or a library. Now, they have flow throughout the rooms and defined purposes that are harmonious with one another."