Peter Hassler’s restored 1892 brownstone in Brooklyn, New York, is an artful mixture of modern decor and magnificent historic ornamentation. When he discovered his home almost a decade back, Hassler, of Design Vidal, was drawn to its complex details. “The craftsmanship and stuff alone were items that made this place stand out and left me say, ‘That is it,”’ he states. Ever since that time, he has restored the original flooring and wood detail motifs and given salvaged pieces new life. “The thing that I enjoy about recovery work is the pride of taking something that has seen better days and giving it life in a way that isn’t an exact replica of yesteryear but a representation of it,” Hassler states.
Hassler and his partner, artist Dahn Hiuni, occupy the bottom two floors; the top two floors are rented out. Hassler expects to one day occupy the entire brownstone, so that he tried to not do anything that would be difficult to reverse. “The thought was to remain as true to the original layout as possible,” he states.
at a Glance
Who lives here: Peter Hassler and Dahn Hiuni
Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, New York
Size: About 2,000 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 1/2 bathrooms
Chris A Dorsey Photography
This kitchen was the largest renovation job of Hassler. First he transferred it back to its original site. The following step was removing the layers of Sheetrock and tile floors, common in older structures. Termites had destroyed many of the old ground beams, but he salvaged what he could to repurpose in the home.
Finally, he highlighted the gorgeous complex metal panel ceiling in silver to make it shine.
Vent hood: Jupiter Glass, Futuro Futuro; countertop: Stone Surfaces, New Jersey; cabinets: Poggenpohl
Chris A Dorsey Photography
On one side of this kitchen, Hassler made this seating nook with sterile wood joists. “They have so much personality,” Hassler says of the joists. “You can even find the way that they were sawed and the pattern of this blade.”
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Next to the kitchen nook, a candle sits inside the old fireplace. “I’ve got this notion that I would like to leave a footprint of that which was there,” states Hassler.
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The dining room fireplace is unique to the home. Hassler added the marble surround, slate floor and outer poles. “They were really from a bed frame I discovered in the garbage. I stripped and stained it, and you can barely tell that it is not first,” he explains.
Pendant light: Maskros, Ikea; table: Pacifica, Crate & Barrel (no more available); chairs: Masters Chair, Design Within Reach
Chris A Dorsey Photography
For those restoring an older home and fighting to integrate a brand-new hardwood flooring or trimming, Hassler offers this advice: “It can blend seamlessly, but it is about being creative with distinct material.”
Chris A Dorsey Photography
The home was habitable when Hassler bought it, so he decided to live in it while he decided what could be salvaged and what could be brought in. “It looks seamless today, but a lot of items were missing to begin with,” he states. “The secret is to find a balance between old and new.”
Chris A Dorsey Photography
“When I first renovated the distance, everything was very modern and geometric, but recently I decided to add touches of more lively and whimsical components,” Hassler notes. The artwork on the walls is a mixture of his or her partner’s original pieces.
Pendant light: Maskros, Ikea; couch: Kivik, Ikea; unwanted tables: Chiasso; carpeting: CB2
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Since Hassler is dedicated to the restoration process, some of these furniture pieces are older things given new life, similar to this armchair in the living area. “Before I knew about bedbugs, I picked up this chair off the road,” Hassler states. “It was initially wrapped with torn yellow vinyl, so that I reupholstered it with [leftover] fabric and redid the legs”
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Hassler completely gutted this bathroom. “It’s another contrast of old and new,” he states. “I love contemporary design, and it is well worth going that extra mile”
Sink: Scola, Duravit; shelves: West Elm; vanity light: Soho Checkered Glass Light; tile: Brooklyn Tile (now closed)
Chris A Dorsey Photography
The hallway is adorned with more artwork. “We’re bursting at the seams with artwork,” states Hassler.
Hiuni teaches artwork, and many of the pieces on display are from his students. The couple intentionally constructed more places to exhibit their unique pieces.
Shelf: Ikea
Chris A Dorsey Photography
This hall plaster frieze motif is first to the house, and the timber detailing runs throughout all four floors of this brownstone.
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Of the bedroom, Hassler states, “The details remained mostly intact.” He considers the wood flooring may be cherry. “It’s so lovely and unique,” he states. These gorgeous floor patterns continue on every floor.
Bed: Alpine White, CB2; pendant light, desk chair: West Elm; desk: Ikea
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Hassler believes the bedroom’s floor pattern “tame” and states, “The bigger you go, the crazier the patterns get. One of my renters’ floors has this intricate kaleidoscope pattern.”
The oversize rug is a family room, and the art was created by Hassler and Hiuni.
Bed: CB2; pendant light: West Elm; chair (right): Metropolitan Design Center
Chris A Dorsey Photography
The bedroom fireplace showcases first nature-inspired ornamental carvings and elaborate plaster friezes. Hassler states, “It’s wonderful to incorporate natural elements with modern design.”
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Opposite the bed is the original built-in cupboard that functions as a cupboard.
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This distance was a stained and weathered cupboard in the bedroom when Hassler moved in. He was able to discover vintage tiles in the late 19th century and some woodwork to change it into a half bathroom.
Sink, faucet: Herbeau; mirror: flea market
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Right outside the bedroom is the informal sitting area. “This room was in fairly good shape,” Hassler states. “I included these ceiling medallions and stripped all of the woodwork. The majority of it was stained and dark, covered in paint splatters.” He discovered the two armchairs and reupholstered them.
The unique pendant lamp, made by Ingo Maurer, is made up of dangling pieces of newspaper that are really adore notes written in different languages. To personalize the lamp, Hassler asks buddies who visit to compose letters, then adds people to the piece.
Pendant: Zettel’z, Ingo Maurer; carpeting: Hampen, Ikea; floor lamp: Twigg, Overstock.com
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Opposite the sitting and bedroom space is this workspace. Hassler restored the original parquet flooring.
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Hassler kept all of the original working doors and extra breeding hardware to match during.
Hardware: Signature Hardware
Chris A Dorsey Photography
Proud homeowner Peter Hassler stands at his favourite place: the kitchen. “I love to cook, so the kitchen was extremely valuable to me,” he states. “Sometimes simply to unwind, I’ll come home after a long day on the job and make a three-course meal”
See more photographs of the home
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