Designer: Studio DB
Project: Downtown Townhome
Location: Manhattan, NYC, US
Size: 9,600 square feet living space + 1,000 square feet roof terrace
Photography: Matthew Carbone
Downtown Townhome is a single family house renovated by Studio DB for a family of five.
Project description: This full renovation of a single-family Manhattan residence creates and intimate and modern home for a family with three young boys. The contemporary and functional design juxtaposes the building’s rich history dating back to its construction in 1888 as a grocery distribution center.
The renovation focuses on creating a central continuous stair atrium, which visually connects the six above-ground levels and invites daylight into the entire townhouse via two large roof skylights and glass floors on the two upper levels. The stair treads are constructed of 2″ think laminated teak treads and two 1/4″ blackened steel stepped stringers which are all sandwiched between a blackened steel brake-formed guardrail and the original exposed brick walls.
The ground floor and cellar levels are designed for recreation and entertainment. A recreation room on the first level takes advantage of the existing tall ceilings with a half-court basketball court, a climbing wall, and a built-in seating area with a 100″ drop-down screen for movie nights. This entertainment system, along with audio and video throughout, the lighting, heating and cooling, and security in the entire project, is controlled with a central Savant system.
Directly below the seating area in the cellar, two frosted glass floors borrow natural light from the recreation room skylights to illuminate a 700 SF gym and yoga area. Family and guests can take an elevator from the cellar wine vault to the second floor containing a guest suite and personal office or to the third floor, the main living level.
A kitchen with custom oxidized maple and lacquered cabinetry organizes the third floor open plan. A two-story living room space north of the kitchen receives daylight from a custom two-story steel window and door system. To the south, original southern yellow pine beams are exposed in the ceiling to define the dining area.
The top two living floors are more private containing two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a children’s study area, playroom, master suite, and a family room. A roof terrace with a seating area, dining area, and kitchenette offer fresh air and views of surrounding downtown Manhattan’ s.
The furnishings, art work and accessories were sourced and styled by Studio DB to create a warm and comfortable family environment. The balance of soft, modern and sophisticated textures, fixtures and fabrics complete the vision of this grand townhouse.
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