It’s fitting for an artist who loves “layers of history” to settle down in a building with a storied past. The 1828 Federal-style townhouse was originally built for a family before becoming the headquarters for an egg and poultry distributor in New York City’s Washington Street food market. When that market underwent an “urban renewal” in the 1960s, the townhouse earned landmark preservation status and was restored a decade later, then not touched again until the artist took an interest in it.
Soon after purchasing the house, the homeowner engaged Brooklyn architect Susan Yun and interior designer Penelope August—a longtime friend—to turn the rundown townhouse into a home (and while the remodel was under way, the homeowner married and now lives in the townhouse with her husband—also an artist—and their new baby).
When Yun and August embarked on the remodel, all the original Federal-style details were long gone, and during its most recent update, the stair had been moved to the back corner of the house, with the kitchen in the center, putting the living room in an awkward spot. Yun designed a new, gracious staircase in the center of the home and sited the kitchen at the back—to double its size and allow for views of and access to the rear yard.
Aesthetically, the artist and her design team knew what they did not want: to slavishly re-create a Federal-style home inside a box that had been stripped of detailing. “We did not want a period piece,” Yun says, “yet we did not want to make it a thoroughly modern house.” Instead, they wanted to create a sense of history, layered with the eclectic stylings of an artist. Let’s take a look.
Photography by Devon Banks, courtesy of Yun Architecture.
![susan yun tribeca townhouse exterior](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/susan-yun-tribeca-townhouse-exterior-733x458.jpg)
![susan yun tribeca townhouse living room](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/susan-yun-tribeca-townhouse-living-room-733x484.jpg)
![the furnishings are a mix of the client\2\17;s own collection and new ac 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-living-room-colorful-interiors-1-733x957.jpg)
The homeowner “has a fondness for old things,” says Yun, “which is why she wanted to buy the house.” The wood doors, flooring, and some bath fittings are reclaimed, and “many furnishings are from an earlier era.”
![august designed a custom shelving unit out of painted wood and compressed cork 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-living-room-colorful-interiors-2-733x1136.jpg)
“The client is one of my best friends,” says interior designer August. “We were roommates in our early twenties and have known each other for 30 years.” Their first professional task together was to go shopping “for as many original elements as we could find, including reclaimed floors, old doors, sink, and tubs. The feeling of the interiors came together from there,” she says.
![the client\2\17;s favorite color is yellow, according to yun, and the la 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-purple-yellow-kitchen-1-733x572.jpg)
The overhead lights are custom, designed by August and made by glassblower Andrew O. Hughes in Rosaline colored glass, “reminiscent of the 1920s and ’30s,” says August.
![the countertop (plus backsplash and integrated sink) is made of cast terr 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-purple-yellow-kitchen-2-733x1106.jpg)
The cabinets are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Calluna, and the walls in Benjamin Moore’s Atrium White. The copper faucet is from Waterworks, and the cabinet hardware is made of opal glass.
![the townhouse opens onto the new central staircase, made of reclaimed heart pin 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-central-stair-733x587.jpg)
The panels beneath the staircase are painted millwork; the door leads to the cellar office and studio space.
![the husband\2\17;s office has one of the house\2\17;s four workin 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-office-733x619.jpg)
![according to yun, the client \2\20;wanted one room to feel very old,& 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-wallpaper-sitting-room-733x689.jpg)
![\2\20;the owners have eclectic tastes,\2\2\1; says yun, \2 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-stairway-art-niche-733x1032.jpg)
![susan yun tribeca townhouse bedroom](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/susan-yun-tribeca-townhouse-bedroom-733x488.jpg)
![the fireplace surround is made of ceramic tiles, screen printed with the homeow 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-master-bedroom-beamed-ceilings-733x489.jpg)
![august commissioned the blue swirl ceramic tile from haand; they were inspired 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-master-bath-blue-tiles-733x728.jpg)
![the wife\2\17;s small street level office overlooks the cellar studio sp 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-office-blue-cabinets-733x652.jpg)
![the couple uses the basement level as a studio and exhibition space. the client 31](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-basement-studio-brick-733x622.jpg)
![the existing rear porch was made of wood and was therefore flammable and not co 32](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/remodeled-townhouse-new-york-brick-white-patio-733x1101.jpg)
For more remodels from across our sites, see:
- Midcentury Made Modern: A Very Zen Landscape for an Architectural Gem in Seattle
- Before and After: A Cobble Hill Kitchen Makeover
- Sunny Side Up: A Victorian Makeover in Melbourne
Frequently asked questions
What is the location of the townhouse?
The townhouse is located in Manhattan, New York.
What is the history behind the townhouse?
The townhouse was built in 1828 and has undergone several renovations over the years. It was originally used as a single-family home but has since been converted into apartments and a studio space for the artist who currently resides there.
Who lives in the townhouse?
An artist currently lives in the townhouse and uses it as a studio space, as well as renting out some of the apartments to tenants.
What is the design style of the townhouse?
The townhouse has a mix of design styles, with layers of history and color throughout. The artist who lives there has incorporated their own unique style into the space, which includes eclectic furniture pieces and artwork.
What are some standout features of the townhouse?
Some standout features of the townhouse include the original moldings and details, the unique wallpaper and paint colors throughout, and the artist’s personal touches like the curated bookshelves and artwork.
Is the townhouse available for rent or purchase?
It is not specified in the article whether the townhouse is available for rent or purchase.
Can I visit the townhouse?
It is not specified in the article whether the townhouse is open to public visits.
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