House Tour: A Historic Brownstone Reimagined as A Journey Through Colour and Texture
Step inside a dramatically yet sensitively restored brownstone in the heart of New Jersey
As home renovations go, the revamp of this 1901 brownstone in Hoboken, New Jersey, was a brief process – albeit challenging. 'We saw the listing for our home and immediately thought it had a lot of potential,' recall the homeowners. 'It had lost a lot of the "brownstone" character, and we knew we wanted to invest in finishes such as beautiful mouldings while making the home function.'
Work on the home had already begun when the team at Crystal Sinclair Design were called in. 'The client didn’t like the original aesthetic, and contacted us to reshape the vision,' shares Crystal. 'It was in the framing stage. We worked through the concepts quickly, but it took some time to get our drawings together (especially the drawings with the moulding details) and over to the contractor. It was a race to stay at pace with a project that was in full swing. There were several changes to the floor plan we made, and we added a lot more detail that was not in place prior to us working on it.
'After seeing the homeowner’s inspiration images, I understood right away what they were looking for. Within a week we had pretty much all the concepts put together, as well as floor plan changes.' Inspired by the moody hues of a city storm, the home features a captivating palette that evokes the feeling of being both under and above the clouds.
Each of the four floors is a journey through varying nature-inspired hues. The basement, painted in a tranquil teal, symbolises the city’s Hudson River, while the first floor captures the essence of clouds with soft pink and gold accents.
Ascending to the second floor, deep purples and blacks convey a sense of mystery before one finally reaches the airy top floor, where playful aqua and sunny gold reflect a bright, uplifting ambiance. 'I wanted it to feel like a livable art installation,' Crystal explains, highlighting how bold yet desaturated colours play off each other to evoke distinct emotions in each room.
Texture also played a crucial role in the design narrative. The interplay of wool rugs, luxurious velvets and polished chrome creates a moody yet inviting atmosphere. Crystal expertly blended modern pieces with historical elegance, incorporating intricate mouldings that evoke the home’s heritage. 'Contrasting textures keep the spaces from feeling monotonous,' she notes.
This remarkable renovation showcases how thoughtful design can breathe new life into a historic structure, transforming it into a unique haven that celebrates both the past and the present.
