Name: Stefanie
Location: Windsor Terrace neighborhood of Brooklyn, NYC
We bought a completely dilapidated limestone home in 2007. Friends would often ask things like "How long was this house abandoned?" It never was — someone lived here right up until he died on the front steps a few months before we bought it. or "Why did you buy this dump?" That question was funny at first until we were about half way through the renovation and wanted to kill each other!
Pretty much everything had to be restored, repaired or replaced. So we undertook a huge renovation followed by a much less impressive interior decoration to make our home what it is today. It's not at all perfect and there is still loads to finish up but the before and after shots are pretty drastic. It's hard to describe your own style so I don't have a good way to sum it up but we like mixing — both periods and finishes.
Thanks, Stefanie!
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Stunning renovation!
REALLY REALLY REALLY BEAUTIFUL!!!
side table next to the bed is out of scale ;)
REALLY REALLY BEAUTIFUL!!!
I am so jealous! I would love to renovate a home like this! It is all in the bones, and some people can't see past the superficial stuff...
Yes, that mid-renovation desperation -- that is one thing my husband and I, renovation-free for 2 1/2 years now, do *not* miss!
I wish you much enjoyment in your home (hope you don't sell it and move on to another place!)
Just wanted to say I'm very proud of you in case no one has... Thank you for saving a beautiful property! It is gorgeous, so be proud..........
Wow! What a wonderful job.. you really successfully mixed and matched from different style.. I notice that SOMEONE in the household really likes variations on Tiffany Blue.. :o).. I'm currently obsessed with that color as well.
Love the industrial/chem lab stools in the kitchen- and where did you get those pendants over the island?
Wonderful job. You have every reason to be proud.
This is FABULOUS. Would love to see the whole thing in a house tour. Love the penny tile in the washroom marble(?) up the walls.
Beautiful! Can I ask, what is the kitchen countertop? I love it.
the bathroom and kitchen are HOT HOT HOT :)
i'd like to see the before shots and yes, this would make a great house tour.
Yes, we want a full house tour!
Perfection! All the way around.
I love the kitchen, really nice job and the color of the bedroom walls is gorgeous, do you know the paint color?
The bathroom is stunning and perfect, it will stand the time and generations to come, so classic and well done.
Yes more pictures would be nice.
Wish I could see some before photos.
She's got a great blog (with LOTS more photos, including befores & afters) at www.brooklynlimestone.com.
What kind of countertops are those?
Amazing! Would LOVE to see some before photos.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE It. Just my style. I would never leave home if it looked this beautiful.
This is absolutely stunning!!!!!!! The woodwork!! The windows!! The Floors!! The kitchen!!! I love everything.
Awesome job and beautiful result, especially your floors and the perfectly appointed kitchen -- it's like an early 20th century laboratory. But do hide that TV and keep thinking about the living room which you've so stunningly restored! Maybe a big, dramatic piece of art there on the wall instead, and some white twill slip-covers on the sofa and chairs?
Such a delightful, quality home - No cookie cutter interiors here!
Those gorgeous floors are my favorite!
Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations on living through your renovation. Very nice. Would love to see more.
Are those, by any chance, Lyon stools in the kitchen? I'm curious about the rubber feet. I'm thinking about ordering a couple, and I noticed that you can get them with steel gliders or rubber feet. Are they really two different things, or do the feet just fit over the gliders?
Really lovely. I agree with Montoni, though--the only thing taking away from the perfection is the flat screen. Please find a clever way to hide it, then do a house tour for us!
wow! it's absolutely gorgeous - I just saved some of the photos in my idea gallery.
A-Mazing.
I didn't know what my dream kitchen looked like until I saw your picture. Congratulations on your lovely home!
Lovely renovation. I'm curious if you took a wall down in the kitchen because usually the older homes have closed in kitchens. It's great how it opens to the rest of the house. Can you share what paint color you used in the bedroom? - I love it. Thanks.
If I recall from Stefanie's blog correctly, the counters are soapstone. Search the blog, the whole renovation was immaculately detailed!
Love this house and her blog is great.
What is it with people in the comments who suggest to get rid of the TV? Obviously, these people probably like to watch TV or movies, who are you to tell them to not make it part of their living when they enjoy it?
WOW! What an amazing home!
I love every room.
Stefanie,
I diligently followed your renovation on Brownstoner and am so pleased to see final images of your home. I can't tell you how many ideas I got from your space and the decisions you made. Love your style and use of colors.
I too vote for a complete house tour!
thanks!!
That is a lovely and inviting home. Your kitchen is seriously absolute perfection!!!
Your house is so beautiful it has hurt my feelings.
I have soapstone counters, too. I absolutely love the way they look and feel, but be warned--the edges chip quite easily if you knock something heavy (like a pot) against them. The edges around my sink and above my dishwasher are all nicked up. This is fine if you don't mind the "patina" of age (in my case, achieved in a matter of months!), but not good if you want your counters to look perfect forever.
msjessiemeghan: In answer to your question: No one is telling the owner to get rid of her TV. Of course she has it for a reason. We are commenting on the decor of her home. Everything else is beautifully and tastefully done--but the TV stands out like a sore thumb to those of us who do not see electronics as a worthy addition to their home decor. Her living room is definitely a tricky space to work with, but there are options that would make it less obtrusive.
Absolutely stunning. Ignore the TV haters. It's beautiful in every way!
... I need this place. NOW! Full house tour please!?
yippee, i love stefanie too!
http://raenovate.blogspot.com/2009/09/redone-brooklyn-home-office.html
I'm no cook, but I would never leave that kitchen if it were mine. To.Die.For.
That bathroom is a close second.
http://www.bookliciousblog.com
This makes me lick my lips in the same way I do when viewing photos of Anna@D16's renovation -- the highest compliment that I can possibly pay Stefanie!
another one wanting the name of the bedroom color. So smooth!
Thanks so much for the kind words! (Was a bit afraid to read the comments fearing the worst kind of snark but you've been really nice so I really appreciate that.) As someone already mentioned - you can find loads more photos of my house before and afters on my blog. Still a work in progress of course.
To answer your questions:
mschatelaine : No plans to move. I can't imagine putting so much work into a place to just pack up and start over.
a1katie: The pendants in the kitchen are made by Hinkley Lighting. We got them online.
pinknest: The kitchen counters are soapstone (black venata to be exact)
klt108: Yes, they are Lyon stools that I spray painted that color. I have the rubber feet with steel gliders and they prevent me from destorying the floor. I know there are other
types but this one seems to work well for indoor use.
annarama: Yes, we took a wall down in our current kitchen. There is a header that supports the ceiling and defines the space a bit. (Originally that area was a bedroom and the kitchen was on a different floor.)
The color in the guest bedroom is Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage.
While I agree that a TV is not a worthy addition to home decor, this is a practical choice as I actually enjoy watching tv every single day. Hiding it in place wouldn't work and moving it to a less ideal watching location wasn't a logic choice. As soon as they come out with tvs as thin as wallpaper, I'll be looking into it.
I do agree that the end table in the guest bedroom (the one you see in the photo above, my own bedroom is still a work in progress) is a too small but its what I had laying around. I might change it eventually if I find just the right thing.
Love everything! I especially love the mirror in the bedroom. Absolutely beautiful! BTW - I'm with mrslimestone on the tv. I never understood the hiding of a television. We all have them, and it's nearly impossible to hide televisions as big as they are today.
You've got a lovely home - such an inspiration!
Beautiful! And I seriously admire your steadfastness... work on the important stuff even if less $ is left for interior. It's not a rental, after all.
Our TV's equally problematic, and our "solution" is the same. Pragmatic. I do watch the news every evening with hubby in the library/living/family room, so there it stays.
Such a lovely home. I can't imagine all the work that went into making it as gorgeous as it is today!
Beautiful kitchen. The whole thing looks great...even the television in the living room is fine...I think the angle of the photograph makes it look more obtrusive than it is. I do think a coffee table that is less heavy and dark would look more at home in this setting, and the living really could use some large scale artwork and accessories.
just had to throw in my 2 cents about the television...
what is ugly about a sleek, flat screen? one that serves a purpose and is efficiently hung on a wall, no less? what makes it more beautiful in a big, awkward box or a inconvenient oversized chest or shelving? why is this piece of technology something to hide?
am i going to get rid of my refrigerator bc it's large or my plumbing because it's not antique? no, i'm going to fit these modern amenities into my scheme in a useful way that doesn't interrupt the rest of the language. which she did...
(and, by the way, i don't even really watch television...)
i absolutely love everything stefanie has done in her home and am a HUGE fan of her blog. it is so classic and will definitely stand up to the test of time.
full house tour!
Oh, my god -- those FLOORS!
Gorgeous result. You deserve to be very proud. I can't imagine the amount of work this took!
wow, gorgeous, love that such a lovely couple would save a 'dump' and work so hard to achieve such a wonderful place.
the office space is wonderful, and I love your headboard
thanks for the color name mrs.limestone!
On hiding a TV: agreed, it's hard, and flat against the wall is about as good as it gets. Once I saw someone hanging a colorful quilt over it when not in use. It worked in that particular home.
Congrats on your feature! I adore your home and everything you've done with it. It just keeps getting better.
All I can say is: WOW.
Love, Love, Love, Amaze! Exactly my style, when can I move in?
Are you two looking for work? Just kidding but I agree with all the postive feedback, it's gorgeous! What aspects of the work did you do yourself?
I love everything you have done! It's just amazing. I saw pictures of your guest room on another blog a while ago, and visited your blog from there. I lost the link though, and have been looking for it ever since. I was so happy to see your house featured on here and I'm looking forward to seeing more in the future!
Awesome - would love to view more