A COUPLE OF BROOKLYN natives grew up admiring the borough’s iconic brown- stones with their strong sense of character. Ironically, they realized their vision of a brownstone-style home only after crossing state lines and eventually remodeling in Bergen County’s Woodcliff Lake.
The big question: Would brownstone elegance feel out of place in a five-bedroom suburban colonial? The answer was no with the balanced approach taken by Yana Bouchkanets, principal designer at Ridgewood’s MIF Design, who’d been the owner’s childhood friend.
True, the colonial lacks a brownstone’s signature brick facade. But step inside, and the moody feel captures the brownstone’s ambience—and the hearts of visitors.
“The theme for this renovation was a New York City townhouse vibe while maintaining the traditional East Coast style,” Bouchkanets explains. “Throughout the house, we added townhouse elements by incorporating a moody paint aesthetic, multi-tone handmade tile and brass finishes.” The engaging contrast of black and neutral is also interwoven through the space Bouchkanets describes as “light, cozy and stylish.” The result is a home with a fusion of brownstone elements and individual style—a dramatic change completed in November without the need to knock down a single wall.
“I walk into my house, and it has so much character,” says homeowner Maria, mother of two school-age children. “A lot of new homes are cookie-cutter, and everything is so bland. That’s not our house!”
Before launching the redesign in June, Bouchkanets was guiding Maria and husband Jonathan in finding the right house to replace a Hillsdale split-level they outgrew after three years. The problem? Open houses drew such a crowd “they were giving out numbers,” recalls Maria. The designer’s suggested solution was to avoid the popular turnkey homes and focus on good bones, which is how they landed “the house with a thousand doors,” says Bouchkanets. The team removed lots of doors and created walkways for an airy floor plan and abundant natural light.
The kitchen, a favorite room for chef Maria, offered a generous footprint that Bouchkanets divided into two sections: a breakfast nook with a custom banquette and a centerpiece island in Benjamin Moore’s Dark Olive topped with honed quartz. The island was a first for the family, and Bouchkanets sought to give it the feel of furniture, paired with carved-wood stools by West Elm. A highlight is Bedrosians Cloe glazed tiles that wow both the backsplash and the Thermador range hood. Bouchkanets preserved the room’s spacious look with white-oak open shelving instead of cabinets; two pantries anchor the stainless-steel Bosch fridge for ample storage. Completing the look are Katie Globe pendants, white perimeter cabinets with Calacatta marble-look counters by MSI and mixed metals in a brass-and-black Brizo faucet.
Another favorite—and another family first—is the formal dining room, which reflects that townhouse feel with moody gray shades and a custom brass chandelier by Illuminate Vintage. “I love my dining room,” says Maria. “I feel that when we sit there, I could stare at the walls all day long, they’re so pretty.” A charcoal finish gives the dining table from Anthropologie its own star quality, while oak-and-woven chairs are a softer tie-in with white oak floors and a Serena & Lily rug in neutral ivory.
Satisfying the couple’s wish list also meant creating a light-infused family room where Maria could connect with her kids, ages 9 and 11, even while cooking. Rather than tumble walls, Bouchkanets repurposed a sitting room with double doors that separated it from the kitchen. The Visual Comfort globe lights are the room’s focal point, and the combination of different textures makes it feel inviting.
Family-friendly design includes a soft gray leather sectional by Safavieh Couture over a transitional rug. For more style sizzle, Bouchkanets introduced brass elements—Pottery Barn lamps and a CB2 coffee table—topped with organic-shaped vases. A mirror and console create “a special moment” near the bounteous windows.
To achieve fully her dream of brown- stone décor exceeded the owner’s expectations. Says Maria of her friend the designer: “She really, honestly, knocked this one out of the park.”
TEXT by DONNA ROLANDO
DESIGN by YANA BOUCHKANETS
PHOTOGRAPHY by LINDA PORDON PHOTOGRAPHY