Commissioned to remodel a 1901 Brooklyn brownstone for a Swedish-American family of four, architects Solveig Fernlund and Neil Logan transformed the first floor into the beating heart of the house. Wanting to create an open, loft-like space that contrasts with the rest of the structure's hallways and rooms, the architects took inspiration from Mies van der Rohe's use of built-in storage cabinets as an alternative to walls. Fernlund and Logan also solved the trickiest riddle of the room—where to place the staircase—by turning tradition on its head and building an open-tread stair at the back end of the space; their stair design like the first floor itself is at once low key and undeniably grand.
N.B.: The architects headed the firm Fernlund Logan when they worked on the project, which was done in close collaboration with the father of the family, Jakob Trollbäck. The architects have since opened their own offices: Solveig Fernlund Design and Neil Logan Architect.
Photographs by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.
Above: The wide-open kitchen revolves around a modernist picnic table and mobile-like Ingo Maurer light, the Zellel'z 5 Chandelier, clipped with pieces of paper decorated with drawings and notes. The combination of white walls, modernist wood furniture, and pale floors lend the design a Scandinavian feel.
Above: The table's bench seating is inset with shaggy seating cushions. It was purchased at ABC Carpet and Home in New York.
Above: The kitchen work area features cabinets of Douglas fir laminated to multi birch ply and an elegant, wafer-thin stainless-steel counter that's also laminated to the ply. A signature of the architects is to leave the striped edges of the plywood exposed. The range and hood are both Viking designs. The ceramic canisters filled with utensils are from Le Creuset.
Above: A large custom cabinet of Douglas fir laminated onto birch multi ply sections off the kitchen from a small living room area by the entry. The kitchen side of the cabinet conceals the refrigerator and freezer as well as storage shelves behind closed doors.
Above: The cabinet knobs are custom made of Douglas fir.
Above: A Sub Zero refrigerator is tucked into the end closest to the sink.
Above: Shallow shelving designed for glassware.
Above: The other side of the cabinet is divided into open shelves that section off the living area, which functions as a casual parlor.
Above: The front entry presents another built-in divider, a coat closet made of Douglas fir.
Above: The living area is used for practicing and playing music.
Above: The staircase has open risers that are made from old floor joists removed from the house and glued together to get the desired width. The open riser design allows the whole space to be light filled and oriented to the French doors. The down staircase, meanwhile, connects the first floor with the garden level of the house. The floor itself is newly installed oak that's painted in Benjamin Moore Platinum Gray enamel. It has radiant heat and is made from best-grade wood to prevent it from warping due to the heat. For more on the subject, see Remodeling 101: Things to Know About Radiant Floor Heating.
Above: The picnic dining table is used for kids' art projects as well as for family meals and dinner parties. French doors open the kitchen to a terrace and ground floor garden.
Above: A new kitchen terrace extends over a ground floor garden patio. The long weathered table is surrounded by French Tolix chairs.
Above: A floorplan of the newly opened-up first floor shows the use of built-in cabinets as room dividers. The brownstone is 24.5 feet wide and the first floor is 900 square feet.
To see the brownstone's attic bathroom, turn to pages 238-241 of our new book, Remodelista, A Manual for the Considered Home. Also check out another Fernlund + Logan project at Architect Visit: Fernlund + Logan in New York. And for more inspiration, browse our photo gallery of Scandinavian design.