Ceramics Studio, Boerum Hill

Renovations to this Brooklyn brownstone focused more on removing existing elements than adding new ones. The primary objective was to enhance natural light in the cellar where the owner has a ceramics studio, which includes a wheel and kiln. This was accomplished by creating larger openings in the back wall at the basement level and installing a glass floor at the threshold between the interior spaces and the garden. Consequently, a secondary benefit emerged—improved connectivity between the indoor basement spaces and the garden.

The renovated basement spaces are finished in Baltic birch plywood, designed with a minimalistic, carefully detailed aesthetic. These surfaces are intended to guide the eye through the sliding glass doors into the garden. The birch plywood rooms contain minimal furniture and artwork. This choice is both intentional and partially experimental as owners are currently exploring how the rooms can best serve their work and lifestyle. Essentially, all of the renovated spaces serve as multi-functional live/work environments, accommodating activities from ceramics and gardening to exercise and relaxation.