Creative alchemy: A budget-conscious transformation documented in real-time.

Featured as a multi-part chronicle in Curbed NY, this project documents the journey of a young creative couple transforming a neglected Ridgewood rowhouse into a vibrant, light-filled home. Working with a strict budget, the design strategy prioritized high-impact architectural moves over expensive finishes, proving that constraints can drive creativity.

The renovation began by blowing open the compartmentalized floor plan. Rather than burying the budget in hidden steel beams, we utilized structural archways to connect the living, dining, and kitchen areas. This move not only saved costs but framed the preserved original tin ceilings, drawing the eye upward and adding a layer of prewar softness to the open plan. The kitchen is a lesson in "high-low" design, utilizing IKEA cabinet boxes upgraded with custom semi-handmade fronts and brass hardware, paired with a repurposed vintage sink found on site.

The transformation extended outward with a complete reimagining of the rear yard. By converting a standard window into a glass door, we created a direct artery from the kitchen to a new outdoor entertaining zone, blurring the lines between the rowhouse and its garden. The result is a playful, unpretentious home that balances the grit of the renovation process with a polished, deeply personal result.. You can find additional information on a featured story on Brownstoner here: https://www.brownstoner.com/interiors-renovation/interior-design-ideas-brooklyn-queens-lead-studios-ridgewood/

Photography by Devon Banks