A Masterfully Curated Brooklyn Townhouse Blending Victorian, Mid-Century Modern, and Art Deco Design

PublishedJul 24, 2026 1:24 AM EDT

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Interior designer Isobel Herbold, founder of Salle studio, developed her design philosophy while studying in Rome—absorbing a European approach to restoring centuries-old spaces. “This is an oversimplification, but they will create an intentional line between what’s original and what isn’t,” she explains. “By using a contemporary intervention instead of trying to imitate, you’re allowing both the old and the new to shine.”

This recent project in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill neighborhood exemplifies Herbold’s approach: the renovation of a historic townhouse for a young family, merging period architecture with new construction to reveal the best of the structure’s original character.

The clients sought to transform their existing residence into a “forever home” with dedicated areas for relaxation and entertainment, a more formal parlor level, and private quarters on the upper floors. Following a substantial design process, construction—led by Grant Davis Thompson Inc. and including restoration and a one-story extension—was completed in just one year.

The renovation commenced on the garden level, originally a separate apartment unit. Herbold reconfigured the existing footprint to create an entrance hallway with light blue millwork and built-in storage, complemented by a vibrant yellow laundry zone and a full bath.

To create a versatile garden-level living room, Herbold combined ten feet of the existing rear house with a new ten-foot extension. The construction team excavated to maximize ceiling height—gaining a mere three inches, yet the effort proved worthwhile, resulting in an expansive, naturally lit space.

Appointed with a glossy green wet bar, sumptuous vintage sofa, saltillo tiles, and large windows overlooking the patio, the new space “feels swanky enough for adult barbecues and film nights, but also sunny and light for children,” Herbold adds. “It’s so common to do an extension on the back of a townhouse and just do floor-to-ceiling glass with doors. But I really like where we ended up here.”

One floor up, original crown molding and refinished wood floors establish the backdrop for an elegant sitting area and dining room, anchored by vintage pieces sourced locally and globally. “The Spanish olivewood highboard and the 1970s Carl Straub suede sofa came from a wonderful Belgian antique dealer—those were the splurge pieces we committed to first,” says Herbold. A travertine dining table sourced from a nearby auction house features rosy tones that complement the warm teak of reupholstered dining chairs in soft chartreuse wool.

To establish continuity and visual calm, Herbold employed a palette of whites—ranging from creamy to crisp—as one moves from the front of the house toward the kitchen, which received a thoughtful retrofit rather than a full gut renovation. “We wanted to keep it simple for now,” she explains. Flat front cabinets and tubular hardware were selected for their modern, clean lines that reference late twentieth-century design, while reeded glass doors on the newly-added pantry cabinet echo the dining room sconces and the ironwork of the sideboard.

“We were inspired by 1990s Euro interior design magazine editorials,” says Herbold of the kitchen and parlor level. “Here, the beautiful plaster crown molding and historic details called for an approach that celebrated their ornate character rather than competed with it.” Another flight up, French doors that once separated the parlor and kitchen were repurposed for his-and-hers offices.

The primary suite—including walk-in closets and an ensuite bathroom—is arranged en filade. “This part of the house was conceived as a sequence of spaces rather than individual rooms, each with its own atmosphere while flowing naturally into the next,” explains Herbold. The bedroom is enveloped in Farrow & Ball’s Green Blue: “Like the sky or the sea, it recedes visually, allowing the architecture and natural light to take precedence.” The closet features shades of mustard and plum before giving way to the luxurious bathroom. “Framed by two large windows, it feels like a breath of fresh air, so we kept the palette restrained and luminous.”

A particularly notable feature in the primary bedroom is the jigsaw chimney piece, which Herbold advocated to retain. “When these were originally installed, they were painted: Builders would just buy the simplest pieces the stoneyard had and fitted them together,” she explains. The dueling materials revealed themselves when stripped—ultimately, the clients chose to embrace the unexpected character.

The top floor serves as the children’s quarters, with two bedrooms and a shared bath. “The client was nervous about the idea of a red, white, and blue bathroom, which can lean very Americana and lobsters,” says Herbold. Yet the periwinkle ceiling paired with an oxblood pendant, white millwork and tiles, and playful accents create a modernist sensibility—a contrast to the adjacent bedroom’s more nostalgic atmosphere.

“The ceilings are lower up here, and it’s very cozy—it reminds you that you’re in an old townhouse,” says Herbold. A bookshelf houses a family heirloom—a maternal grandmother’s collection of Caldecott hardcovers—and the floral Schumacher wallpaper feels as though it has always been there. A pair of chairs by artist Camella Ehlke, who creates “clothes for furniture,” serve as the modern intervention in this otherwise nostalgic space. And—as throughout the home—the old and new genuinely shine together.

Elizabeth Kiefer

Writer

Elaina Sullivan

Gloria Kilbourne

photographer

Linda Denahan

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