Designing a home for a growing family with ever-changing needs is seldom an easy feat. For this project, Jack Ovadia of Ovadia Design Group was tasked with the unique challenge of creating a warm, welcoming environment for a family of six — in a Brooklyn townhouse, no less. So, how does a designer incorporate a half-dozen needs and design perspectives under one roof? For Ovadia, he started by visiting the family’s current home. “Sometimes, when you can study their past, you can get a better understanding of what they want for their future,” the New York-based designer explains.
It quickly became clear to Ovadia that what the family really needed was a healthy mix of public and personal spaces. While the client wanted communal areas to enjoy each other’s company, Ovadia reveals that up until this project, the children shared bedrooms.
The need for more space prompted a to-the-studs renovation with Brooklyn-based architecture firm Cornerstone Designs to transform the townhouse into a restful respite. Though Ovadia was able to add a third floor and a rear addition, the renovation had some limitations. “We were kind of stuck with the low ceiling due to zoning code,” he says. “That was my biggest challenge. How do you make the ceilings not feel low?” Lean into it, of course.
Step inside the main entry foyer, and you’ll notice a wooden ceiling that was intentionally dropped down to create a cocoon-like effect. “We did a little bit of a fluted groove design on the ceilings, which [creates] a cozy, very warm, and kind of intimate feeling,” he explains. However, once you reach the dining room and adjacent seating area, the opposite occurs. “We brought the ceiling up and made big boxes, but it’s also trimmed in the same feature design as the entry foyer ceiling,” he shares. “It allows the space to feel grounded.” The shared space is lined with custom bronze screens from W Industries LLC to both reflect the incoming sunlight and create a sense of privacy, while Ovadia says touches of Porter Teleo wallpaper provide a “wow” moment.”
“As you’re going from one space to the other, you have a continuous motion of uniformity that’s harmonious and balanced,” he shares. “But then every room has a special moment of design like the wallpaper.”
Throughout the home, built-ins and integrated furniture further help create the illusion of a taller space, not to mention craft a contemporary, yet comfortable, ambiance. “It really had to do with integrating all the finishes into the house architecturally, so it didn’t feel overly decorated,” he explains. “There’s not a lot of loose furniture.”
Instead of packing the residence with a surplus of accessories, Ovadia let his rich mix of materials do the talking. “It’s kind of like making a salad,” he says of his signature, textural look. “But you need to use the right ingredients.” In this home, marble is the proverbial lettuce: It anchors the space and creates the illusion of a bright, airy space when natural sunlight was at a premium. “Since the houses are so close to one another, you don’t get the greatest natural light,” he says. “The light slabs on the floor really allowed the light to bounce from the windows.”
Perhaps the best expression of materiality and airiness is found in the kitchen, located in the center of the house. “When you go from the entry foyer to the family room in the back, the kitchen is the room that you actually have to walk through,” Ovadia explains. “We wanted it to feel like it wasn’t only a room, but a conduit through the house.” Here, light millwork from Jonathan Arnold, Inc. and warm hardware from DecoWare shaped a light, layered feel.
The powder room, on the other hand, is a definite departure from the public spaces’ relaxed rhythm and repetition. As it should be, Ovadia says. “The powder room is that one special moment,” he explains. “Everybody wants to know what the powder looks like, and everybody wants to use the powder room—even if they don’t have to go to the bathroom.” Here, moody stone slabs from NSI Granite and accents of Artistic Tile create a dramatic, jewel box moment.
As for the home’s bedrooms? The designs were (mostly) up to their rightful owners. “We brought the design schemes to the kids to be able to be part of the process,” he says. “It is their room, and we want to design something that kind of flows within their needs.”
The secret to creating youthful yet elevated spaces, he said, is a thoughtful use of wallpaper. “You can pick out a thousand different wall wallpapers, but you want to find the one that doesn’t feel childish,” he cautions. “But also feels a little more sophisticated, that they can really grow into.” Panels of a floral John Rosselli & Associates wallpaper were integrated into their girl’s bedroom, while the boys’ spaces were swathed in graphic repeats from Bijou Coverings and Maharam. The result? Spaces that, despite the innate challenge, can adapt to this growing family’s ever-changing needs.
Photography by Brittany Ambridge.
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