Park Slope Neo-Renaissance

This 1910 limestone rowhouse stands among eight neighboring homes designed by Axel S. Hedman, whose renaissance revival style defines many Brooklyn streetscapes near Prospect Park. The century-old home retained much of its Neo-Renaissance character inside and out, from arched casement windows with glass transoms to original inlay floors, wood paneling, and ornamental plaster. Beyond its distinctive charm, the home presented familiar challenges: windowless interior rooms, a cramped kitchen disconnected from daily life, and antiquated washstands tucked into bedroom closets. Our clients sought to be stewards of the building’s historic character, while needing a home suited for a modern life raising children.

We worked within the home’s existing bones to unlock new possibilities. The kitchen, once dark and isolated, now draws garden light through French casement windows that echo the home’s street-facing facade. An unused alcove on the second floor was transformed into a study, with arched doors crafted to match the surrounding century-old woodwork. A windowless space at the center of the top floor became a light-filled reading nook, where a new skylight floods built-in seating for the kids. Throughout the home, original details such as the grand central stair, the inlay floors, and intricate plaster crown moldings were preserved and renewed.

The residence has been restored to serve another century of family life while honoring the craftsmanship that has allowed it to endure this long. From the street, it remains a pristine example of Hedman’s impact in Park Slope—its limestone facade intact, while within, a new generation makes it home.