A Home for Artists and Surfers by Studio DB

Home for Artists

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When our dear friends—artist Christopher Daniels and his wife, Alice Daniels, the vice president of creative services at Vera Wang—needed an escape from Manhattan’s SoHo (where we had designed a loft for them), they didn’t have to look far. With our help, they began looking at townhouses in the Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn. When we saw a classic, red-brick town house from 1899 with tall, slender windows on a street with mature trees, we knew it had potential. Sure, it was a wreck inside, with extensive water damage and ceilings featuring gorgeous plasterwork that were beginning to cave in, but it didn’t take long for all of us to agree that this was the place. Over the following months, we stripped the house down to the brick walls and rough-hewn framing before painstakingly building it back up. We took pieces of the original moldings and had new plaster knives made so the ceiling medallion sand details could be reproduced. We added antique wood floors and designed simple Shaker-style built-ins, as well as minimalist clean-lined bookcases in the living room that terminate at an ornate baseboard. Christopher brought in weathered mantelpieces that his family had collected in Virginia, which provided an immediate sense of age. To furnish the space, Alice and Christopher collaborated with his sister, interior designer Courtnay Daniels, who added to the sense of timeless comfort. The completed townhouse appears distinguished but never takes itself too seriously.

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Professional Reviews

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“I have worked with StudioDB on several large projects including two gut renovations (of a 4000sq.ft. downtown loft and a 7000sq.ft. townhouse), as well as the conversion of a once derelict 8000sq.ft. yard into a vibrant, beautiful playground at a public hospital in the Bronx. The latter project was a largely philanthropic effort which was completed thanks to extreme generosity of StudioDB's time and spirit. I am THRILLED with all of Studio DB's work. Britt and Damian are an incredible design duo: brilliant, pragmatic, wildly creative and fun! They bring deep experience and indefatigable enthusiasm to every aspect of the design and renovation process. Damian is calm in the storm, unflappable and meets the unexpected hiccup with grace and ease. He worked within my budget and steered me in the right direction about where I needed to spend and where I could save. Damian approaches structural conundrums as an opportunity for creative problem solving. He relishes an architectural challenge seems to have an endless supply of patience and good humor even in the most frustrating of circumstances. Britt brings the spaces to life with her outstanding eye and creativity. Her design sensibility is a rare combination of playfulness and elegance. She goes the extra mile to source materials both new and old from unexpected vendors and places, rendering each space unique. She works tirelessly to get each room right and to ensure that the each space and choice plays well with the others. Britt and Damian (and all of the designers and staff at Studio DB) are a JOY to work with. They encouraged my good ideas and - more importantly - saved me from all sorts of terrible decisions!! I learned so much from the whole process. I could not recommend StudioDB more highly. They are the consummate dream team!!”